rusty chimney?

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FisherZip

Member
Hearth Supporter
Mar 11, 2009
32
Finger Lakes NY
what causes a rusty chimney? as in rust stains weeping down the outside of the masonry and down the nearby shingles. maybe previous owner had a cheap cap on there for some time? it's curious, it's only around the one flu, but down all 3 of its external sides.
cheers
 

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Our house had a similar rusted nasty mess when we moved in. What are you going to do with it?
 
I can't tell what I'm looking at, what is used for a cap now?
 
That is the result of rain dissolving the creosote on the chimney top and cap and running down the sides of the chimney and onto the roof. Not rust.
 
Looks like a cheap piece of steel or old galvanized metal was used in this poor example of a chimney cap. If it was stainless, this would not be happening.

It would also help if the two flues were not of the same height. But that is a separate issue.
 
creosote. damn. ok, thanks chief. no real surprise there I guess. I just gotta get an EPA stove, this old Fisher is a waste and a hazard, and I don't want it doing THAT to my new metal roof going in this week! any cat users here in the Finger Lakes region, maybe near 13021? I am really keen on a cat, but I would love to meet with an owner/operator and see first hand the ins and outs before I commit. I'll bring the homebrew! any takers? SolarAndWood, you're in Syracuse??
cheers
 
FisherZip said:
creosote. damn. ok, thanks chief. no real surprise there I guess. I just gotta get an EPA stove, this old Fisher is a waste and a hazard, and I don't want it doing THAT to my new metal roof going in this week! any cat users here in the Finger Lakes region, maybe near 13021? I am really keen on a cat, but I would love to meet with an owner/operator and see first hand the ins and outs before I commit. I'll bring the homebrew! any takers? SolarAndWood, you're in Syracuse??
cheers
Just to confirm my thought and that it could be what BeGreen said, a steel chimney cap that has rusted......What is the chimney cap material? Its just that I have seen this exact situation many times and it was disolved creosote.
 
not sure how long cap rust would persist, but I know that this chimney has not had a metal cap in at least 4 years. the current "cap" is a piece of slate propped over the top on a couple piles of bricks, something I just make-shifted to keep out the rain. amazingly almost no powdery or chunky creosote in this chimney, I can't believe how little material comes through the cleanout, but some serious glaze.
 
for the record, the flue on the right has not been used in a LONG time. I think it used to connect to a wood furnace in the basement...there's a rusty crusty one in a corner down there...but now there's a propane furnace hooked up that has probably been there a decade.
 
FisherZip said:
not sure how long cap rust would persist, but I know that this chimney has not had a metal cap in at least 4 years. the current "cap" is a piece of slate propped over the top on a couple piles of bricks, something I just make-shifted to keep out the rain. amazingly almost no powdery or chunky creosote in this chimney, I can't believe how little material comes through the cleanout, but some serious glaze.
OK, I am sticking with creosote then. The glazed creosote is hard and won't fall and is very difficult to even brush out.
 
FisherZip said:
I'll bring the homebrew! any takers? SolarAndWood, you're in Syracuse??
cheers

You are more than welcome to stop by and check it out. I am maybe 1/2 an hour from Auburn. PM me.
 
Rust is red. That looks black. It may be the color cast since this LCD at work is terrible.

We had similar problems when we first bought this house where the previous owner had done a DIY job of making a spark arrester. In addition to redoing the chimney cap, I ended up taking a steel brush and brushing the bricks. If you do feel a need to do this, be careful not to brush out too much mortar.
 
here's another shot where you can really see (1) that nasty stuff dripping down the outside of the chimney and (2) my beautiful new roof going up in the background.
cheers
 

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FisherZip said:
not sure how long cap rust would persist, but I know that this chimney has not had a metal cap in at least 4 years. the current "cap" is a piece of slate propped over the top on a couple piles of bricks, something I just make-shifted to keep out the rain. amazingly almost no powdery or chunky creosote in this chimney, I can't believe how little material comes through the cleanout, but some serious glaze.
Glazed is the most dangerous, powdery is ideal, you have got to deal with that glaze before it is too late!
 
[/quote]Glazed is the most dangerous, powdery is ideal, you have got to deal with that glaze before it is too late![/quote]

i've heard that--hard to ignite, but burns like a mutha once it is going. i have been trying ACS powder on it for about a month, supposed to be the best of those powders, but not much of a dent really. so for safety, efficiency, and my new roof, it's finally time to go EPA. what should i do with the old chimney? it is pretty rough on the inside, not so hot on the outside, and too small to take a liner of the size i need for the stove i need...
 
How big is the tile in the chimney? Might have to break out the clay, but I bet a liner will go just fine! Most new EPA stoves are 6" never had a problem getting a 6" down.
 
Knock it down before the roofers get there and go straight up with triple wall through the ceiling/ridge.
 
webby3650 said:
How big is the tile in the chimney? Might have to break out the clay, but I bet a liner will go just fine! Most new EPA stoves are 6" never had a problem getting a 6" down.

~7x10.5" inside, enough for 6", not for 8". might be the difference between the BK King and Princess...
although I would lose that crappy old chimney in a heartbeat if I decide I really need the King. we'll see after this weekend.
 
SolarAndWood said:
Knock it down before the roofers get there and go straight up with triple wall through the ceiling/ridge.

if only i had known, probably not going to happen before they come back to finish tomorrow morning! hmmm, I could have them leave that end undone for now, but I bet they want to finish and git gone.
 
FisherZip said:
~7x10.5" inside, enough for 6", not for 8". might be the difference between the BK King and Princess...
although I would lose that crappy old chimney in a heartbeat if I decide I really need the King. we'll see after this weekend.

The output of the King and Princess aren't that different. You are really only buying burntime with the King.
 
FisherZip said:
hmmm, I could have them leave that end undone for now

Its light early enough that a few swings of the sledge would get the top out of the way for them:) I would ask them how they recommend getting triple wall through their roof system and whether it needs to be done now or if it is not such a big deal to do it later.
 
You could knock down the chimney, then fix the soffit and fascia, then replace the siding, then put up class A chimney, or, break out those tiles and reline the chimney already in place, not to mention having another roof penetration in a metal roof.
 
I did find a rectangular flexible liner that will fit my existing flue and give me enough cross sectional area to still have an 8" stove. (broken link removed). but (a) with such a tight fit I'm not sure how you're supposed to get a T down to the thimble to connect to the black stove pipe coming out, and (b) at that price I could start over with a brand new class A triple-wall through-attic system. hmmm....
 
FisherZip said:
I did find a rectangular flexible liner that will fit my existing flue and give me enough cross sectional area to still have an 8" stove. (broken link removed). but (a) with such a tight fit I'm not sure how you're supposed to get a T down to the thimble to connect to the black stove pipe coming out, and (b) at that price I could start over with a brand new class A triple-wall through-attic system. hmmm....
You will want that liner insulated, you will have to break out those tiles to make way for it. You won't need a heavy wall liner either, you should be able to pick up a kit for about $650 for 6".
 
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