Brick chimney without a flue?

[Michael Roberson]

I dont think I have encountered this before. A chimney with no flue liner, only a short clay liner out the top. The brick is in bad shape, with cracked mortar and even loose brick. Triple chimney, 1 for furnace, the other 2 for wood burning fireplaces. Customer is concerned he may have to replace the entire chimney. Is is possible/recommended to repair the brick, and line chimney?

[Joshua L. Frederick]

See them all the time here. Yes a liner is needed. And yes, corrective action is in order. What needs to be done? You know the drill..... Report it & let the chimney professional determine corrective options.

[James L. Keilson]

Yup, what Josh said..

Jim

[Wayne B. Wilson]

I agree with Joshua, we have them here all the time . seen them with out mortar left .
Liners are available. but should be checked for support and so on.

[Michael Larson]

I seen plenty like that. Usually in old homes.

Not good.

[Michael Roberson]

This was a 1974 ish home. Was this a "lets do it quickly and get done today" practice, or was this just common practice of the day?
I do intend to call it out, just a first for me.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Lets do it quickly i would say . Mostly found on homes 50's and later here. they should have known better in the 70's Perhaps the builder was toking lol

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by mroberson

I dont think I have encountered this before. A chimney with no flue liner, only a short clay liner out the top. The brick is in bad shape, with cracked mortar and even loose brick. Triple chimney, 1 for furnace, the other 2 for wood burning fireplaces. Customer is concerned he may have to replace the entire chimney. Is is possible/recommended to repair the brick, and line chimney?

It may very well be that the chimney needs replacing, especially the wood burning fireplaces. I haven't seen a liner dropped down and connected to a masonry wood burning fireplace. I'm envisioning the damper area and how the transition might be made from the throat of the firebox to the new liner...seems problematic, but I haven't seen it all.

With adequate repairs and a liner, a fireplace insert may be more possible. Qualified professionals will have additional options.

[Nick Gromicko]

The way it's repaired is that they put an inflatable sausage-shaped tube down the chimney and then pump grout around it, which fills in all the holes you describe.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Now why does that sound so dirty lolol

[Joe Farsetta]

Mortar may be okay. Recommend a Level II inspection. repair can be as Nick described with pumped concrete or a steel liner )depending on configuration). If the chimney is structurally sound, a liner would do the trick. 'Round these parts, around $5k or so.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

[quote=mroberson;784783]I dont think I have encountered this before. A chimney with no flue liner, only a short clay liner out the top. The brick is in bad shape, with cracked mortar and even loose brick. Triple chimney, 1 for furnace, the other 2 for wood burning fireplaces. Customer is concerned he may have to replace the entire chimney. Is is possible/recommended to repair the brick, and line chimney? [/quote]

This is going to need three liners.......and they will not be separated by a wythe of brick. Looks like a re-build!!

In Canada, each fireplace must have its own flue.

[George P. Wells, CMI]

Originally Posted by mroberson

I dont think I have encountered this before. A chimney with no flue liner, only a short clay liner out the top. The brick is in bad shape, with cracked mortar and even loose brick. Triple chimney, 1 for furnace, the other 2 for wood burning fireplaces. Customer is concerned he may have to replace the entire chimney. Is is possible/recommended to repair the brick, and line chimney?

They are very common all over Michigan and Ohio. I did a fire investigation in Michigan that started at a 1980s vintage masonry chimney. An ember escaped into an interior wall through a gap in the chimney mortar. The house was a total loss. I don't investigate chimney fires but the the C&O investigator noticed a section of missing NM cable in the upstairs bedroom, directly above the fireplace so he called me in. I quickly ruled out electrical. He found the cause while I was still on the scene. The chimney remained standing but everything around it was destroyed.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

See it all the time in Kansas City / Usually in older homes (1900-1950).

Refer them to masonry specialist or chimney specialist for recommendations for repair, relining, etc and keep moving.

[Christopher Currins]

Also observe the quality of flashing installation at chimney/roof deck. Water intrusion can deteriorate non-visible mortar.

Neighbors chimney.....my house.....Tuesday. They're getting a new roof/tear-off done by "friends" (unlicensed roofers).