Cracked Chimney Tiles - Use or install liner
I wanted to get opinions on whether this chimney looks safe to use for coal.
Chimney is around 20' tall and runs up through the inside of the house. It is block and tile. Tiles are 11x7 inside.
There was definitely a chimney fire at one time and there are a cracks throughout the length. Cracks range from hairline to 1/4" or so.
I snaked an old iPhone up the entire length to get an idea of how it looked.
So...what does everyone think? Should I install a liner or use as is?
Chimney is around 20' tall and runs up through the inside of the house. It is block and tile. Tiles are 11x7 inside.
There was definitely a chimney fire at one time and there are a cracks throughout the length. Cracks range from hairline to 1/4" or so.
I snaked an old iPhone up the entire length to get an idea of how it looked.
So...what does everyone think? Should I install a liner or use as is?
Attachments
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30300
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Personally--I'd patch anything I could reach & use it. Pack some insulation where pipe goes into thimble.
- tsb
- Member
- Posts: 2621
- Joined: Wed. Jul. 30, 2008 8:38 pm
- Location: Douglassville, Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Binford 2000
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL Pioneer top vent
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II
- Baseburners & Antiques: Grander Golden Oak , Glenwood # 6
- Coal Size/Type: All of them
For coal, no problem !
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13767
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
A liner is the last thing you need. Fire it up.
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 18004
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
As long as the chimney drafts properly, I would not hesitate to use it with a coal stove. I would make sure there is not a big gap around the thimble where it meets the flue tile, and probably smear furnace cement on what ever gaps I could reach.
- CoalisCoolxWarm
- Member
- Posts: 2323
- Joined: Wed. Jan. 19, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Western PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: old Sears rebuilt, bituminous- offline as of winter 2014
- Coal Size/Type: Anthracite Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Oil Boiler
You can run a test. Make a smokey fire with good draft, lay a piece of something non-flammable over the top to mostly cover it and check your house for smoke or smells of fire.
Don't block it very long, and be advised smoke may come our your furnace if you cut the draft too much.
Pretty much any chimney that leaks smoke is unsafe. If it doesn't when pressurized like this, you'll likely have no problems with coal (not wood), as the chimney should always be creating a negative pressure.
If it was an outside chimney, less worry. Being an indoor chimney, you really have to be certain.
Don't block it very long, and be advised smoke may come our your furnace if you cut the draft too much.
Pretty much any chimney that leaks smoke is unsafe. If it doesn't when pressurized like this, you'll likely have no problems with coal (not wood), as the chimney should always be creating a negative pressure.
If it was an outside chimney, less worry. Being an indoor chimney, you really have to be certain.
Not easy to get up to the top of the chimney. Its a large Victorian with a steep pitched metal roof.CoalisCoolxWarm wrote: ↑Sat. Nov. 25, 2017 3:10 pmYou can run a test. Make a smokey fire with good draft, lay a piece of something non-flammable over the top to mostly cover it and check your house for smoke or smells of fire.
Don't block it very long, and be advised smoke may come our your furnace if you cut the draft too much.
Pretty much any chimney that leaks smoke is unsafe. If it doesn't when pressurized like this, you'll likely have no problems with coal (not wood), as the chimney should always be creating a negative pressure.
If it was an outside chimney, less worry. Being an indoor chimney, you really have to be certain.
The chimney drafts extremely well. Total length from basement to the top of the chimney is probably 35' and around 20' from the thimble.
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 13767
- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
If the chimney is within the walls of the house it's going to draft very well.