Let's Play What's in My Chimney!?

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:18 pm

Just set up a cleaning/inspection for October 11th. Last year was our first (COLD) winter in this house. We heated primarily with coal in a Harman Stove that is set up through the fireplace. Did pretty well, but come spring time....oooohhh that smell (you know that song!) every time it rained the warmer the stinkier! Oh found out from previous owners the chimney has not been cleaned in a very long time and there is no cap on the chimney!

So who wants to play what's in my chimney!? Honestly I'm crossing my fingers it's not completely destroyed after reading that fly ash can turn to concrete. That being said the previous owners are my in-laws so if it is completely destroyed maybe they'll foot part of the bill........maybe......

So in the meantime if anyone has any guesses as to what's in the chimney I'm taking guesses. In the meantime I will try to self educate myself in this section as to what is needed to vent the coal stove properly. Home ownership is such a BLAST! :shock:


 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:26 pm

You need to ask them what they burned.

Recent wood fires still have nice smoky smell. But, uncleaned, accumulation of old creosote, that gets damp, can be nasty. :shock:

Household trash burned with wood smells like an old house fire, . . . or worse if it was food garbage too ! :shock:

Anthracite fly ash, wet/or dry = not much small at all.

Dead, baked birds, the feathers smell a lot like burning hair. Brush 'em off down wind and the meat is not bad, but it's better done with BBQ sauce. Just kidding it's really bad ! :shock:

Dead, baked squirrel, or raccoon smell like , .... well lets not even go there !

Paul
Last edited by Sunny Boy on Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:30 pm, edited 3 times in total.

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:28 pm

Uhhh... What did you smell? Something dead? or a sulfur like odor?

You do have carbon monoxide detectors right?
Did any sound or get readings??

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:35 pm


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:39 pm

coalnewbie, yer a piece a work... toothy

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:42 pm

My guess would be creosote--my fly ash don't have a smell--wet or dry. Of course you're from Ct. sooo,who knows about your fly ash! :clap: toothy

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:51 pm

Jimmy Hoffa that's a possibility!!!!! I'm hoping it's not Santa..... :?

It smells like PEE! I blamed my dog for the longest time until I actually made the connection between the rain and the smell....I'm thinking there's an animal.....animals......birds....leaves......IF I find reindeer antlers I'm gonna be worried.

As far as I know they burned strictly coal out of this fireplace for the last 8 or 9 years......but it may be as long since the fireplace was cleaned!? We start the coal with wood, but that's pretty minimal....I'm just hoping the whole thing isn't crumbling.

I'm trying to attach a photo, but what are the ugly vents on this fireplace meant for? This whole configuration is UGLY, we hope to update it sometime.....

Thanks!

Attachments

20140926_164647.jpg
.JPG | 108.8KB | 20140926_164647.jpg


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:53 pm

creosote EP The vents are heat-o-laters to distribute heat mostly from wood fires, not so much with a insert--

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:55 pm

HAHA I'm thinking my CT fly ash must smell different, I didn't know they came in flavors!! Maybe I'll try some Cajun coal this year. I thought ALL the coal in the world comes from PA! :P I burned Blaschak all last season.

 
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Post by scalabro » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:56 pm

That's a "Heatalator" fireplace.

I had one when I lived in Sharon, Ct.

Worked pretty good with glass doors.

 
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Post by scalabro » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:57 pm

I see Fred beat me to it.

:clap:

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 4:58 pm

That's what we figured on the vent thing-o-lators, okay well I guess creosote is better than Jimmy Hoffa.....although I might make some money off the latter... ;)

As for chimney caps......I was reading it's a no-brainer....does it make a difference when you are burning coal....?

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 5:00 pm

Ohhhh.. I bet mice are nesting somewhere in the fireplace vents..

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 5:01 pm

Heat-a-lator......wow I can't wait to tell my husband that one. Learn something new every day. I am in Meriden, CT. That's a fun bit of history, too bad I can't just throw coal in the fireplace!!!

 
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EPugs45
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Post by EPugs45 » Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 5:02 pm

That's not a bad guess Light.....I'm shoving the cat up the stove pipe to check it out......or maybe should wait until the day the cleaning guys are coming so they can get him out.... 8-)


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