Fireplace With Cracked Liner

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 8:34 am

I have a fireplace in my living room, when I bought my house about 5 years ago it was inspected and cleaned. There are several hairline cracks in the flue, so I know it's not safe to burn wood.

But my question is, would it be fine to burn in it for a few hours on Christmas day.


 
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SWPaDon
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Post by SWPaDon » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 9:08 am

No offense, but that's an odd question. You tell us it isn't safe to use, then ask us if it is safe to use and it's been 5 years since it was inspected. Anything could have happened in there. :confused:

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 10:56 am

I meant it's not safe to use it continuously due to cresote build up and if there was a Chimney fire it would be difficult to put it out due to the cracked liner.

It's been 5 years since it's been inspected, however it has not been used for anything at all since it was last cleaned and inspected.

I guess I should have worded the original post better. I just want to burn in it for an hour or two.

 
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SWPaDon
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Post by SWPaDon » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 11:07 am

Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?

 
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Post by freetown fred » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 11:25 am

Really can't tell ya squat without some pix of what you're talkin about.

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 11:59 am

SWPaDon wrote:Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?
It doesn't have a damper, and last year I looked up in and all the tile are intact, just some hairline cracks.

 
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SWPaDon
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Post by SWPaDon » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 1:17 pm

xandrew245x wrote:
SWPaDon wrote:Have you opened the damper on it to see if any chunks of liner fall out?
It doesn't have a damper, and last year I looked up in and all the tile are intact, just some hairline cracks.
How do you keep the house air from going up the chimney?


 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 1:42 pm

It has a cap that closes at the top that is attached by cable to the fireplace, I also have a block of plate installed.

 
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Post by SWPaDon » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 1:50 pm

xandrew245x wrote:It has a cap that closes at the top that is attached by cable to the fireplace, I also have a block of plate installed.
Interesting.
Can you post pics like FF asked Earlier?

 
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Post by McGiever » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 2:02 pm

Were you offered a price on a flex liner by this inspector fellow?

Hairline cracks are of no consern in a liner...unless you have a sales job to bait a fish with. :roll:

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 2:16 pm

McGiever wrote:Were you offered a price on a flex liner by this inspector fellow?

Hairline cracks are of no consern in a liner...unless you have a sales job to bait a fish with. :roll:
Surprisingly he said it wouldn't be worth installing a liner due to the expense and how little it would be used. I feel it was probably more of a liability issue of saying it yeah it's fine to burn it then something happens.

I have an inspection port in my plate I'll take out and look up in and see if anything has changed.

I will get a pic when I get home.

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 3:04 pm

Without getting on my roof I wouldn't be able to get a good picture, but this is exactly what it looks like.
cat_dampers.jpg
.JPG | 22.3KB | cat_dampers.jpg
I just remembered though when I installed my block off plate I broke the cable so now the damper is open at the top.

 
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Post by SWPaDon » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 3:18 pm

Interesting setup. I've never seen one before.

 
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Post by xandrew245x » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 3:30 pm

I did vent my pellet stove into this chimney for about 2 months before I sold the pellet stove, I actually completely forgot about that until I looked in the chimney. I took a peak in and as far up as I can see I can't see any cracks, it is a bit dusty right now, I might buy one of the brushes can clean it and look at it a little better.

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 4:02 pm

A hairline crack is nothing. When the tiles open up or pieces start falling out you have a problem.


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