My chimney

Post Reply
 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 4:08 pm

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?

 
User avatar
freetown fred
Member
Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 4:28 pm

Don't see a problem B. I would brush it out.

 
waytomany?s
Member
Posts: 3747
Joined: Fri. Aug. 16, 2019 3:02 pm
Location: Oneida, N.Y.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harmon Mark II
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Looking
Baseburners & Antiques: Looking
Coal Size/Type: Nut
Other Heating: newmac wood/coal combo furnace

Post by waytomany?s » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:17 pm

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.

 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:40 pm

Here’s a glamour shot down the chimney

Attachments



 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:41 pm

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.

 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:50 pm

Light it up.

 
rberq
Member
Posts: 6445
Joined: Mon. Apr. 16, 2007 9:34 pm
Location: Central Maine
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine 1300 with hopper
Coal Size/Type: Blaschak Anthracite Nut
Other Heating: Oil hot water radiators (fuel oil); propane

Post by rberq » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:51 pm

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.

 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 6:57 pm

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


 
franco b
Site Moderator
Posts: 11416
Joined: Wed. Nov. 05, 2008 5:11 pm
Location: Kent CT
Hand Fed Coal Stove: V ermont Castings 2310, Franco Belge 262
Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114
Coal Size/Type: nut and pea

Post by franco b » Fri. Oct. 02, 2020 7:21 pm

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.

 
User avatar
coalkirk
Member
Posts: 5185
Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
Location: Forest Hill MD
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Sat. Oct. 03, 2020 7:54 am

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.

 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Sat. Oct. 03, 2020 9:13 am

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.

 
User avatar
BlackBetty06
Member
Posts: 603
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

Post by BlackBetty06 » Sat. Oct. 03, 2020 9:13 am

I guess shame on me too for not looking in the chimney when the oil was still hooked up

Post Reply

Return to “Coal Bins, Chimneys, CO Detectors & Thermostats”