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Helpful Chimney Information....
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Most people don't realize that heating equipment is the biggest fire
culprit December through January, and the third leading cause of
fire deaths in American homes.
Common mistakes that too often turn deadly include
failing to clean chimneys, improper fueling and venting
of fueled heating devices.
CHECKLIST FOR A SAFE HEATING SEASON:
***Furnace [oil and gas], fireplace, woodstove, pellet stove flues
and pipes should be inspected at the start of EVERY heating season
and cleaned, if necessary!
***Most oil/gas furnace cleaning companies DO NOT clean your
chimney flues they generally clean to the smoke pipe [connects
furnace to chimney].
***Well maintained chimney flues help ensure a properly drafting
chimney and a better burn, potentially saving the homeowner money!
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Some Basic Chimney Definitions
--- A "chimney" can be masonry or a chase [resembles the exterior of your home].
It is the "Container" for your flues.
--- "Flue" is a "Tube" [may be terracotta or metal] by which fumes are exhausted.
Many chimney's contain multiple flues. An oil heated home with one fireplace typically
will have '2' flues within '1' chimney.
--- "Damper" is the mechanical piece that Opens and Closes a flue.
--- The "Crown" is the top most area on a chimney. On masonry chimney's it is generally
cement/concrete. On chase chimney's it is generally a metal [often galvanized] lid.
--- "Chimney Cap" can be masonry [resembles a brick/bluestone table covering your
chimney] or a manufactured Galvanized, Stainless, Copper Lid. Chimney caps help protect
the crown, mortar, damper and flues from deterioration due to rain, snow, weather.
Manufactured caps have the added feature of wire mesh sides to protect against
'un-invited visitors' [Raccoons, Squirrels, Birds] from taking up residence in a flue.
--- "Unlined Chimney" can be found in older homes. Generally a brick/ cinderblock
tube, mortar failure can lead to Carbon Monoxide entering the house.
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As wood or oil smoke pass through an unlined chimney, combustible liquids are deposited on the unprotected inner walls. These liquids attack the mortar joints, rapidly soaking completely through the chimney structure.
This saturation CANNOT be completely removed, and could ignite in the event of a chimney fire, resulting in open flames on the outside of the chimney.
Gas exhaust contains a mixture of water and nitric acid, which attacks the unprotected mortar joints, dissolving the binder that holds the structure together. When the binder is gone, the water saturates the mortar, turning it into mush. The water soaks into surrounding walls, causing dry-rot, the chimney eventually can collapse. |
Older homes that originally were Oil/Coal Furnaces that
converted to Gas without installing a liner [prior to
the code change].
"Must be sure to have their chimney's inspected annually".
All homes should have, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, but especially those
with UNLINED CHIMNEY'S.
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Dampers
*** Poker Style Damper: The homeowner must reach into the firebox to open and
close the damper plate[s] via movement of a lever / handle.
*** Rotary Style Damper: The homeowner will have a knob external on the facade
of the fireplace. The twisting of the knob opens and closes the damper plate[s].
Energy-efficient Dampers [Lock-Top Damper System]
[Great in Condominiums/Apartments where one unit's fireplace/woodstove smoke
is entering another patron's unit]
The standard ...poker / rotary style damper system designs we rely on have not
changed in many years. A typical fireplace damper could be costing you more
than $200 a year! Allowing cold air drafts in, as well as your
heat up and out your chimney.
The "Lock-Top Damper" seals tight with a silicone rubber gasket Keep Heat
and Energy In...Rain Out!! That's right, the Lock-Top Damper seals with a rubber
gasket, not metal to metal like your current damper.
A Lock-Top Damper seals tight, so virtually no air, and thus no heat or air
conditioning gets lost up your chimney.
The Lock-Top Damper Lock-Top also eliminates downdrafts, seals out rain which
can deteriorate the inside of your chimney. It can also ensure no unwanted visitors
[birds, squirrels, raccoons] come down the flue.
The Lock-Top Damper mounts on top of your chimney that is the perfect location
to create an airtight seal. A cable drops down your flue and attaches to a handle
which mounts where you can reach it for convenient opening and closing. Superior
stainless steel and cast-aluminum construction equal a lifetime warranty
The Lock-Top Damper is made of cast-aluminum and stainless steel, precision
fitted with our special silicone rubber gasket. These high-quality materials add up
to a factory lifetime warranty for you. Lock-Top Dampers are only available from
chimney and hearth professionals because it takes a professional for
proper sizing and installation.
See for yourself how this damper works:
http://www.locktop.com/content/locktop/locktop_videos.aspx
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Information about 'Direct Vent Oil' System ( Photo courtesy of "The Chimney Swift Ltd.")
This photo shows the external termination of an oil Direct/Power-vent furnace.
It depicts the complaints associated with this system.
The incomplete by-product of the combustion of fuel oil is unburned carbon and sulfur - called oil soot.
| Soot’s composition often includes hundreds of different chemical elements, including sulfates, ammonium, nitrates, elemental carbon, condensed organic compounds, and even carcinogenic compounds and heavy metals such as arsenic, selenium, cadmium and zinc. |
1) Note the black oil soot stain beneath the window - Not an uncommon sight with this type vent.
** Oil Soot is very corrosive **. - It will kill any plant matter in that area.
2) The brick in the area of the vent can also deteriorate. As is happening here, note the
discoloration around the vent - The vent itself in this photo is corroding, effected by the oil soot.
3) Termination under window Toxic fumes could easily enter the house. These problems
can be corrected by the installation of a metal all-fuel chimney.
4) We hear complaints of motor failures [costly repair/replacement], noisey motors.
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WHY WATERPROOF?
**Protect Your Investment. Water causes over 1 billion dollars in damage.
**All masonry chimneys are susceptible to water damage and, even if repaired, chimneys will
continue to deteriorate if they are not protected.
Ashes Away uses "ChimneySaver" water repellent which comes with a manufacturers 10 year warranty!.
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