Coalpail.com Forum

I have a fireplace in my living room, when I bought my house about 5 years ago it was inspected and cleaned. There are several hairline cracks in the flue, so I know it's not safe to burn wood.

But my question is, would it be fine to burn in it for a few hours on Christmas day.

No offense, but that's an odd question. You tell us it isn't safe to use, then ask us if it is safe to use and it's been 5 years since it was inspected. Anything could have happened in there.

I meant it's not safe to use it continuously due to cresote build up and if there was a Chimney fire it would be difficult to put it out due to the cracked liner.

It's been 5 years since it's been inspected, however it has not been used for anything at all since it was last cleaned and inspected.

I guess I should have worded the original post better. I just want to burn in it for an hour or two.

Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?

Really can't tell ya squat without some pix of what you're talkin about.

SWPaDon wrote:Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?

It doesn't have a damper, and last year I looked up in and all the tile are intact, just some hairline cracks.

xandrew245x wrote:

SWPaDon wrote:Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?

It doesn't have a damper, and last year I looked up in and all the tile are intact, just some hairline cracks.

How do you keep the house air from going up the chimney?

It has a cap that closes at the top that is attached by cable to the fireplace, I also have a block of plate installed.

xandrew245x wrote:It has a cap that closes at the top that is attached by cable to the fireplace, I also have a block of plate installed.

Interesting.
Can you post pics like FF asked Earlier?

Were you offered a price on a flex liner by this inspector fellow?

Hairline cracks are of no consern in a liner...unless you have a sales job to bait a fish with.

McGiever wrote:Were you offered a price on a flex liner by this inspector fellow?

Hairline cracks are of no consern in a liner...unless you have a sales job to bait a fish with.

Surprisingly he said it wouldn't be worth installing a liner due to the expense and how little it would be used. I feel it was probably more of a liability issue of saying it yeah it's fine to burn it then something happens.

I have an inspection port in my plate I'll take out and look up in and see if anything has changed.

I will get a pic when I get home.

Without getting on my roof I wouldn't be able to get a good picture, but this is exactly what it looks like. I just remembered though when I installed my block off plate I broke the cable so now the damper is open at the top.

Interesting setup. I've never seen one before.

I did vent my pellet stove into this chimney for about 2 months before I sold the pellet stove, I actually completely forgot about that until I looked in the chimney. I took a peak in and as far up as I can see I can't see any cracks, it is a bit dusty right now, I might buy one of the brushes can clean it and look at it a little better.

A hairline crack is nothing. When the tiles open up or pieces start falling out you have a problem.