Have no idea....

[Russell J. Hensel]

Just inspected a house here in SW Florida and to admit my short comings, I am not the most educated on Chimneys for wood burning fireplaces. Because we run into them one time every....maybe every other year. Not to much of a need for them down here.

Upon inspecting this older home I looked up the metal prefabricated flue and saw a wind turbine. The turbine is connected to the actual flue of the chimney. I have never seen this before and am seeking further guideance. How would this be properly written up?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

I have never seen it being done. Was the fireplace still in use? Wood, Gas???

http://www.volko.com/turbine.htm

[Russell J. Hensel]

Still useable...Prolly has not been used for years, but if its there, it has to be condsidered USEABLE...Wood fireplace.

[James A. Levy]

It looked awfully clear up that chimney. Was there a damper?

[Russell J. Hensel]

Damper was there and operates as intended.

[David C. Macy]

Wind turbines are for roof ventilation.

Improper type cap for a chimney.

Call it out!

Lets see if I was reporting,

Safety concern: Improper type cap in use, potential for down drafts, recommend review by a qualified specialist to repair or replace as needed before closing.

What is the other picture of?

[Larry D. Kage]

Wind turbines are for roof ventilation.

Improper type cap for a chimney.

Call it out!

http://www.volko.com/turbine.htm

From above site:

Turbine Ventilators

for attic ventilation and chimney draft assist

Our Turbines all metal construction allow for chimney use.

Empire Turbine Ventilators are available in galvanized steel, aluminum, copper or stainless steel.

Turbines can be used to help a poor drafting chimney.

[David C. Macy]

Well I guess I stand corrected,

But I am trying to figure out from his post and I was not there,

I have never seen a turbine vent installed on a chimney before.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by dmacy

I have never seen a turbine vent installed on a chimney before.

Me neither...

I see they're making them completely out of metal so the plastic parts that some have don't melt.

[Jae Williams]

It would seem to me that once that turbine got up a good head of steam, the suction would draw more heat and create more speed in the turbine, which then would draw more heat, which would then create more speed, which would draw more heat, which would...


...until the uplift in the turbine would lift the house off its foundation and send it spinning into the sky until the turbine finally broke from over-use and the house came down in Kansas.

[Brian C. Hoagland]

Originally Posted by jwilliams4

It would seem to me that once that turbine got up a good head of steam, the suction would draw more heat and create more speed in the turbine, which then would draw more heat, which would then create more speed, which would draw more heat, which would...


...until the uplift in the turbine would lift the house off its foundation and send it spinning into the sky until the turbine finally broke from over-use and the house came down in Kansas.

Didn't you mean to say OZ?

[Russell J. Hensel]

Thanks guys....as always NACHI Rocks.

[Paul Alexander, Jr.]

The chimney cap must be a listed component. Suggest further evaluation by a qualified licensed chimney specialist to verify that this was a listed component for this particular chimney system.

[Bob Elliott]

Seems a turbine would just cause the outside opening to decrease in size and thus impede proper exit of exhaust gases in the same way a Louvered door opening impedes makeup air from entering a utility closet.

You can't count on it spinning and exhaust depends on natural rising through convection.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

It was probably installed to prevent down draft i seen them used a lot in Canada.