We've only been burning wood in our wood stove since Jan. 1st, so we don't have any creosote to speak of, but.........we are interviewing Chimney Sweeps for future annual work.
In the meantime, our Furnace & Hot water Chimney is looking like it could use re-pointing; the Wash (Cap, Crown.......whatever you call it) has some cracks that could use filling.
So I'm entertaining estimates right now.
The guy who came today, shined a flashlight in the vent hole for the furnace pipe and showed me what he believes is a crumbling flue pipe. He suggests the chimney is leaning. He wants to do a hatch at the bottom of the cinderblock chimney in the basement (there isn't one now), and he wants to put a liner (stainless steel?) down the flue. He wants to take the bricks apart completely and rebuild the bricks, redo the Wash, and put a stainless steel cap up there, all for $2,000.00
Question: how much of what this guy wants to do is overkill? I'm no Chimney Sweep.......how do "I" really know what's needed?
The first guy who came yesterday, said approx. $875 or so, for a cleaning and repointing, and we have another one coming later in the week.
I don't have brick pieces falling off the chimney, yet it obviously needs some re-grouting or whatever..............just where do I draw the line?
Anyone out there with any experience in these matters?
-Soupy1957
In the meantime, our Furnace & Hot water Chimney is looking like it could use re-pointing; the Wash (Cap, Crown.......whatever you call it) has some cracks that could use filling.
So I'm entertaining estimates right now.
The guy who came today, shined a flashlight in the vent hole for the furnace pipe and showed me what he believes is a crumbling flue pipe. He suggests the chimney is leaning. He wants to do a hatch at the bottom of the cinderblock chimney in the basement (there isn't one now), and he wants to put a liner (stainless steel?) down the flue. He wants to take the bricks apart completely and rebuild the bricks, redo the Wash, and put a stainless steel cap up there, all for $2,000.00
Question: how much of what this guy wants to do is overkill? I'm no Chimney Sweep.......how do "I" really know what's needed?
The first guy who came yesterday, said approx. $875 or so, for a cleaning and repointing, and we have another one coming later in the week.
I don't have brick pieces falling off the chimney, yet it obviously needs some re-grouting or whatever..............just where do I draw the line?
Anyone out there with any experience in these matters?
-Soupy1957