My chimney
- BlackBetty06
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- Location: Lancaster county PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Stockton Nut
- Other Heating: Jotul 118b woodstove, dual fuel heat pump/condensing propane furnace
I have a 25 foot tall masonry chimney. Brick with 8x8 terra-cotta lining. This chimney was used for fuel oil for 58 years. The previous owner did not maintain the chimney and had no cap of any sort to help keep the rain out. The upper 6-8 feet of terra-cotta is spalling. I know some real old chimneys don’t even have linings of any kind if I recall correctly. Just mortar and bricks? I’m debating if I need to drop a liner but I’ve heard how the SS liners just rot out from anthracite anyway. Just want to make sure I’m operating safely. How are you guys operating out there?
- freetown fred
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Don't see a problem B. I would brush it out.
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Spalling ? Can't translate that to a pic in my head. Chunks falling off? Maybe bust that top one out and slip another in and regrout( or whatever the correct term is) the top to hold it in place.
- BlackBetty06
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- Location: Lancaster county PA
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Here’s a glamour shot down the chimney
Attachments
- BlackBetty06
- Member
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Tue. Jan. 01, 2013 10:44 am
- Location: Lancaster county PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Stockton Nut
- Other Heating: Jotul 118b woodstove, dual fuel heat pump/condensing propane furnace
The Remaining black is from some bituminous I burned last year. Brushed it and vacuumed out the base. Ran all new stove pipe cause it was rotted up more than I like.
- coaledsweat
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Light it up.
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Seems like you or a mason could brush out the spalling stuff and pack in some kind of masonry repair gunk, don't ask me what. Then put on a cap and check it again in another 58 years.
- BlackBetty06
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- Joined: Tue. Jan. 01, 2013 10:44 am
- Location: Lancaster county PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Stockton Nut
- Other Heating: Jotul 118b woodstove, dual fuel heat pump/condensing propane furnace
Sounds good guys. That’s what I was thinking (that it’s ok to burn) but wanted to double check. The guy two down from me is a mason. I’ll ask him what I could use if I shmootz up those spots
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The tiles are not aligned, creating a shoulder for water to be trapped on. I would put on some sort of rain guard and use it.
- coalkirk
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The spalling damage to the terra cotta is typical for a chimney of this age that did not have a rain cap on it. Acid in the flue gases mixes with water and is very corrosive. I agree with the advice you've been given. Sweep it to knock that crap off of the flue liner and put a rain cap on it. If a level lll inspection were done by a chimney sweep per NFPA211 they would insist on a metal liner.
- BlackBetty06
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- Posts: 606
- Joined: Tue. Jan. 01, 2013 10:44 am
- Location: Lancaster county PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Stockton Nut
- Other Heating: Jotul 118b woodstove, dual fuel heat pump/condensing propane furnace
I put a rain cap on when I moved in a few years ago. It wasn’t until last season that I removed the oil appliances and put the 50-93 in its place. The way I see it is anthracite puts nothing other than some dust in the chimney. The chimney is negative in pressure, and 100 years ago it was just a stack of bricks and motor regardless of what was burned. I’d be okay putting the liner in but don’t feel like doing that every 5 years when it rots out. As long as it’s safe I’m happy. The chimney drafts great.
- BlackBetty06
- Member
- Posts: 606
- Joined: Tue. Jan. 01, 2013 10:44 am
- Location: Lancaster county PA
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: Stockton Nut
- Other Heating: Jotul 118b woodstove, dual fuel heat pump/condensing propane furnace
I guess shame on me too for not looking in the chimney when the oil was still hooked up