Question for the experts. Roof / Water Heater / Chimney

House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

bud16415

Fixer Upper
Staff member
Admin
Moderator
Joined
Feb 5, 2013
Messages
7,466
Reaction score
3,028
Location
Erie, PA
I put this in general as it covers a fair amount of areas. First off I need a new roof and Ugggh I’m going to hire it done. Knees are bad it is two full stories etc etc. My guy came today and said the top two foot of the chimney is shot and he could take it down by hand. I knew that and had a plan to eliminate it as the only thing it is now used for is the water heater flu. Water heater is working great it was the one that was in the house when we bought it, regular old 40 gallon job. Could go any day or last for ten more years. The roof guy said it will save quite a bit of money to rip out the chimney down to the roof line patch the hole and forget it was ever there, as opposed to fixing it and redoing all the flashing as it is in the center of the house. Seemed logical. WH is natural gas now so if I stay with gas I need one of those tanks that vents with PVC like the new furnace is. I know nothing about those tanks and setups but willing to learn. The other way to go is an electric tank. I have a 200 amp panel would have to wire in a breaker and cable is all. I’m already heating 500 gallons of water with electric in the hot tub so what’s another 50 gallons.

What say you all? :)
 
I believe the new tank that vents out a wall is expensive. Knock it down to below the roof run the flue inside it down to the old tank.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69e_X3Is3O0[/ame]
 
I believe the new tank that vents out a wall is expensive. Knock it down to below the roof run the flue inside it down to the old tank.


That sounds kind of pricey also and I would still have to run something thru the roof. I will have to think about that a little.
 
That sounds kind of pricey also and I would still have to run something thru the roof. I will have to think about that a little.

Yes but that is a normal boot on the roof and a one time expense.
The more expensive tank would be more the next time too and so on.
 
Thanks guys. That i don't know as of yet. if i could just attach something to the flue in the attic and then thru the roof would be simple and cheep. Will have to see what code says about that.
 
If your exhaust is presently "only" the masonry flue, then without installing a flue liner, how can you safely assure that the removal process did not cause undiscovered faults which in-turn allow exhaust gasses to become trapped within the structure, for you and yours to ingest?
 
If your exhaust is presently "only" the masonry flue, then without installing a flue liner, how can you safely assure that the removal process did not cause undiscovered faults which in-turn allow exhaust gasses to become trapped within the structure, for you and yours to ingest?

I guess the same way I trust the guy installing a flue liner didn’t cause it to have a crack and let gasses out into the living space. We have to trust in God and the guy building it and the parts. We have a gas stove that is unvented so we are getting some combustion gasses already. Someone vented the furnace we have with PVC pipe and I trust those glue joints are also holding.

The flue liner I’m guessing is well over 100 years old. Most of its life it carried furnace gasses from wood, coal, oil, natural gas. It’s one flue is now unused and the other carries the gasses from the natural gas combustion from the WH.
 
The water heater is how old? Chances are its going to be replaced in ?? years? Why not just install a electric water heater and eliminate the need of a flue....just a thought.
 
The water heater is how old? Chances are its going to be replaced in ?? years? Why not just install a electric water heater and eliminate the need of a flue....just a thought.


This is the way I'm leaning also. My guess is it is at least half or more used up. Electric might cost a bit more to run but not that much.

Holly was funny when i told her the plan and she said What we are going to actually throw something away that hasn't blown up yet. She has my number.:)
 
Too bad they don't have the slightest clue on how to install an apron flashing...the bottom should be on top of the shingles. Tuck your rain coat in your paints and wonder why your butt gets wet...

It looks better that way. After all they are Certified Craftsmen.

I think I want nothing sticking out of the roof. Except maybe a cupola I could stick my head up in and look around the neighborhood.
 
It looks better that way. After all they are Certified Craftsmen.

I think I want nothing sticking out of the roof. Except maybe a cupola I could stick my head up in and look around the neighborhood.

A camera would be easier.:p
 
Well the new roof is on and the chimney is gone. The Amish guy took it down to below the roof and I quickly took it down to the attic floor passing the bricks up and out the hole in the roof to save hauling them thru the house. The water heater has been replaced. I left the hole the chimney made and the new steel roofing is above it with ridge venting. With hopes of that and the eve vents on both ends doing a good job of getting some heat out of the attic. It was in the 90’s yesterday so I have some good testing weather coming. The eve vents were originally windows on each end they would open for summer. The windows are still in place but when they did the vinyl siding they put perforated piece on the outside.

Here is my new question. The chimney I believe was original to the house so 137 years old. It is solid except where it was outside. To my surprise a little anyway it had no liner of any type just brick and mortar and it is fairly clean inside. At least not what I expected. It is a straight shot to the basement and would make a great chase for wires if needed. I’m thinking of dropping my antenna wire down it.

Do you guys think I could use it by placing a fan in it in the basement to circulate air out of the basement and into the attic thru the old chimeny. The basement is too cool in the summer months and the attic too warm. Would pushing the cool air into the warm space forcing the hot air out the eves or ridge and then drawing first floor house air down into the basement????

I know they have whole house fans that kind of do something like this. I’m picturing something like a small squirrel cage fan.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top