The mason was a rocket surgeon for bricking over the top of the chimney. That always makes for easy cleaning
I wonder how much this cost vs. a sweep? The two I remember from my childhood were brief but intense, barely time enough to recognize them and go outside to see the flame show before they ran out of fuel. This one must have been building up fuel for some time.
Yeah, honest. The guy told me so. Like Dave said, and I bet the house is now a lake. Penny wise......pound foolish.
Cold water down a blazing hot brick and mortar chimney too............................Bet it's toast now!!!!
I was discussing liners with my friend the other day, insisting that old chimneys with clay liners should be retrofitted with stainless liners but he disagreed with me. At the least he should have someone to do a camera inspection from top to bottom to make sure the old clay liner is intact, no gaps in the mortar and no cracks in the liner. He is using an old stove, not an epa one.
People have been burning for years without clay liners. People have been burning for years with clay liners. People have been burning with only stainless liners. Of all three categories, I would say that the first is the one that has seen to most time wise for burning. Not necessarily the first choice now-a-days, but if you think about it, the company that usually inspects the chimney is also the same company that will install and or repair your chimney......See a conflict (or self-serving) interest here?
Remember, Kimberly-when you are burning an an old stove (like your friend) the flue temps are likely hotter as the stoves are not as efficient. The hotter chimney also helps prevent the buildup of creosote. Kinda like one hand washing another. Think of it this way, there are a lot of people burning non-epa stoves (probably more than epa stoves). That in itself does not mean they are unsafe or dangerous. Yes, a new safe up to date chimney would be ideal, but not quite necessary, ya know?
Just glad the home was saved.. Reaffirms my decision to spend money on busting out the tile and having a wrapped ss liner installed rather than a top notch stove.. Just really glad they saved the home..
You have a point here, one of my chimneys had been burned with multiple stoves hooked into it for over 150 years with only single brick. I was baffled by this when I lined it and cut a hole in that brick.
It is not unusual for the chimney around these parts (built many decades ago) for only the top few feet to have a clay liner. Up untill the last few feet, it is just brick. Coal burning was also very common here.
I am also very glad that the home is saved! You can be just as safe by burning dry wood and keeping chimney clean.
