Need Chimney Experts opinion

Hello,

My stone chimney was pointed last year and the crown cemented also.

The guy did an awesome job for us.

We used to have no stains on the top.

Since then the top of our chimney has rust stains down the sides.

Can anybody tell me what you think these could be caused by?

I know the liner is good or at least was 8 months ago.

Thanks!

Rain caps

Ditto...
You have some steel in those caps...
It rusts...
now staining the stonework...

I think that fly ash is accumulating on the rain caps and mixing with moisture. This combination creates sulfuric acid that is acting as a catalyst to produce rust. Then the rust is being washed onto the chimney when it rains. I dunno. I'm just guessing.

Also, do you burn any wood in either of those flues??? creosote on those caps will do that--at least MY creosote does--PLUS--that wire (keep the critters out crap) rusts like a bastard

freetown fred wrote:Also, do you burn any wood in either of those flues??? creosote on those caps will do that--at least MY creosote does--PLUS--that wire (keep the critters out crap) rusts like a bastard

Bingo. I had the same issue, and it didn't take much wood to do it.

Just wondering what kind of liner it is you mentioned was good about 8 months ago? Terra cotta or a SS insert?

freetown fred wrote:Also, do you burn any wood in either of those flues??? creosote on those caps will do that--at least MY creosote does--PLUS--that wire (keep the critters out crap) rusts like a bastard

i agree with f fred i have the same problem here rust stains...remedy...take those caps off

Get rid of the metal caps and put a stone witch catcher up there, somethin fitting of that nice chimney. Too maybe somethig copper?

Now----if you want to talk copper--get hold of FORUM member "oliver power"

Thanks everyone.

I have 5" stainless steel liner.....as of 8 months ago chimney sweep siad it looked very good.

I guess I'll replace the caps after I shut down the coal stove.

Could it be anything else causing the stains?

thanks!

Im a mason 41 years .Cap is probably not stainless thats causing rust .Den034071 jack

Red Ash Coal is laden w/ iron...some coals much more iron than others. Whatever goes in...must come out somewhere.

So sorry to hear you have a SS liner.
Is it possible to have it removed?

arggg, another consumer sold on a $2k stainless liner anyways... that Chimney is fantastic and deserves a stone cap or pure copper cap. Were those same caps present before the work you had done? if not then its most likely the caps, if those were the same caps then the person working up their used a flange or something of poor material (steel, iron, galv, etc.) in doing whatever he did (Im sure he built up cement to shed rain water and sometimes they use drip flanges, etc. in doing this. When you do replace the cap try to put some distance between the bottom of the cap and the top of the flu (10" +).

just to show you the simplicity of a stone cap here is a photo... There are a lot of folks here who give their right arm for a chimney like you have (me included!) and this is the proper way to cap it

I can guarantee it will be cheaper to build that stone cap ...

Now, does anyone know if it's better to have the 2 open ends facing INTO the prevailing wind direction, or perpendicular to it? Or am I not seeing the other 2 ends being open?