Chimney Flue terminated under Chase Cap

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M

musk-rat

Member
Nov 3, 2012
3
Hello,

I just had a new roof put on and a new chimney chase cap. We have two fireplace flues running in the chase. The contractor removed the old chase cap and upper flues, put on a new cap and had a single 8" flue on top of the chase cap. Neither flue is connected and is terminated under the cap. They are trying to tell me this is OK, personal I feel the flue gas will fill the attic and house. Can someone provide me with clarification if this is legal?

Thank
 

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musk-rat said:
Hello,

I just had a new roof put on and a new chimney chase cap. We have two fireplace flues running in the chase. The contractor removed the old chase cap and upper flues, put on a new cap and had a single 8" flue on top of the chase cap. Neither flue is connected and is terminated under the cap. They are trying to tell me this is OK, personal I feel the flue gas will fill the attic and house. Can someone provide me with clarification if this is legal?

Thank
Click to expand...
No it is not ok make them fix it.
 
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This is pretty blatant. Will the work get inspected? It's unbelievable that the contractor is willing to play a crapshoot with safety and human lives to save some bucks. I'd be looking for other places where corners may have been cut.
 
No way not OK. Even a total shoemaker hack would do a better safer job.
 
Is this for real? It’s one of the craziest things I’ve seen suggested on this site! Nobody in their right mind would suggest this.
Hopefully he didn’t destroy the old caps, they may not be available any longer.
 
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jetsam said:
Looks good to me!

View attachment 242820
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Funny, but as bad as this is I would feel safer sleeping in this house than the one the OP posted a picture of, not funny.

A month ago my neighbors house burned to the ground thanks to a unsafe wood stove set up. He died, not funny.

Do not light a fire in your stove if you value your life or pay the person who built this crap if you value your money.

I’m no expert on proper stove installations but know enough to know that you have a death trap on your hands based on that picture.
 
webby3650 said:
Is this for real? It’s one of the craziest things I’ve seen suggested on this site!
Click to expand...
Sadly I have seen it a couple times some contractors are completely clueless.

We had one where a contractor took a working furnace chimney down below the roof and roofed over it.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am not paying them and they are making it right. They thought it was a gas stove. Still how can you not vent something to the outside regardless of the fuel source. Main reason I checked this out when I only saw one upper flue.
I did my homework before hiring them. They are a 5 start rated company and licensed. I am luck I work with an home inspector so everything will be getting inspected before any personal or insurance money is paid out.
 
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Just to clarify, your chase is built out of OSB, which is made of wood chips and glue and is therefore about as fire resistant as you would expect. Sparks and embers may exit the top of the flue during normal stove operation, especially if you have a cat stove with a bypass or an old smoke dragon- or, much worse, an open fireplace. So every day, sparks and embers in the wood framing. You can guess how that will work out.

You also have a framed, osb-clad chase inside the structure, and the chase is completely full of combustion gasses even if the chase hasn't caught fire yet. This is better for the house than a house fire, but it's about the same level of deadly hazard for the occupants.

I would open my call to the contractor by mentioning that someone had asked if the flues were safe, and ask if he's ever done that type of termination below the top of the chase before. Once he knows that you know that his install is extremely dangerous, he won't be as forthcoming about previous jobs.
 
musk-rat said:
Thanks for the replies. I am not paying them and they are making it right. They thought it was a gas stove. Still how can you not vent something to the outside regardless of the fuel source. Main reason I checked this out when I only saw one upper flue.
I did my homework before hiring them. They are a 5 start rated company and licensed. I am luck I work with an home inspector so everything will be getting inspected before any personal or insurance money is paid out.
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Unfortunately even top rated companies can and will hire completely unqualified people ( the scary issue is you had asked previously and were reassured by this professional ) most people would leave it at that , because the professionals told you it was safe . I’m glad you continued to ask. Theoretically if it was a vent for a gas appliance the humidity and vapor would rot your entire roof and give major mold issues . so again really shady answer from your installer
 
musk-rat said:
Thanks for the replies. I am not paying them and they are making it right. They thought it was a gas stove. Still how can you not vent something to the outside regardless of the fuel source. Main reason I checked this out when I only saw one upper flue.
I did my homework before hiring them. They are a 5 start rated company and licensed. I am luck I work with an home inspector so everything will be getting inspected before any personal or insurance money is paid out.
Click to expand...
I'm glad to hear this. The excuses given are BS. Be on the lookout for other corners being cut. Have clearances double-checked. Is there a firestop in place? They may be a top rated company but sometimes that is not worth a lot. I have seen work done by the local best that was horrible including unlevel floors and unsquare framing in new construction. Makes it hell for the finishing contractor.
 
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BG mentioned a firestop. Although it’s not the responsibility of this contractor, unless he installed it originally. This is a perfect time to seal it up properly. Looking down from the top it should be blocked off at ceiling level with insulation and proper insulation shielding around the pipes. Also, I would insist on a stainless steel chase cover that has a cross break in it to prevent water ponding.
 
So the company came out yesterday to look at the problem. Their solution was to tie into the 12" outer section of the flue with a single wall pipe and make two vertical stacks. I told them I wanted the pipe to be doubled wall to match the original 8" and 12" flue pipes as I don't want any fire issues. They are going to get back to me today with what they can do. I told them if they can't do what I wanted they could just leave what I have now and I will get someone who can do the work and they eat the cost.

Also there is no firestops in the chase. I planned to install them this summer and to cover the massive hole to the attic that the original builder left open to help with my heating and cooling
 
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You are taking the right approach muskrat , these guys sound like they do some dangerous stuff with no regard other than getting paid .
 
You have an incompetent contractor who repaired your house in an unsafe manor that likely would have ended up burning your house down or killing you from asphyxiation. He then lied to you about why they did something totally unsafe..They did it for one reason and one reason only. To save money, making more profit for the company. Now that he is caught, his recommended repair for the unsafe work is not a proper, safe repair. Personally I would be questioning everything that was done. You are seeing the tip of the iceberg.
 
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