Is Golden Flue the answer?

[Chase2023]

Hi. We have a home built in 1915 with 7 fireplaces, and two chimneys. We’ve lived here for 7 years and have never used the fireplaces and have no plans to do so. A mason looked at the exterior of the chimneys and said they were fine, considering their age. They each have proper flashing and a chimney cap. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that in all of the fireplaces, there is a sand-like substance that falls onto the floor of every firebox that I have to periodically vacuum out (pic attached). Based on my research, I would assume that this means that the flue mortar is disintegrating and that the flues should be reclined? I would also assume that a cast-in-place flue liner—like Golden Flue—is the only fix for this? Further, there was a fire in one of the fireplaces, long before we bought the house, and the firebox clearly needs to be rebuilt. In that fireplace, I have to vacuum up leaves (pic also attached)! Would a cast-in-place liner fix this problem, as well? Finally—thank you for your patience—my understanding is that the cast-in-place is done for each chimney, which then vents into separate fireplaces, which would mean that we would need, if appropriate, two casts? I’ve tried to educate myself before bothering folks on a forum, but I can’t seem to get clear on these issues on my own. Thank you.

 

[bholler]

Hi. We have a home built in 1915 with 7 fireplaces, and two chimneys. We’ve lived here for 7 years and have never used the fireplaces and have no plans to do so. A mason looked at the exterior of the chimneys and said they were fine, considering their age. They each have proper flashing and a chimney cap. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that in all of the fireplaces, there is a sand-like substance that falls onto the floor of every firebox that I have to periodically vacuum out (pic attached). Based on my research, I would assume that this means that the flue mortar is disintegrating and that the flues should be reclined? I would also assume that a cast-in-place flue liner—like Golden Flue—is the only fix for this? Further, there was a fire in one of the fireplaces, long before we bought the house, and the firebox clearly needs to be rebuilt. In that fireplace, I have to vacuum up leaves (pic also attached)! Would a cast-in-place liner fix this problem, as well? Finally—thank you for your patience—my understanding is that the cast-in-place is done for each chimney, which then vents into separate fireplaces, which would mean that we would need, if appropriate, two casts? I’ve tried to educate myself before bothering folks on a forum, but I can’t seem to get clear on these issues on my own. Thank you.

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If you have no intention of using the fireplaces why would you pay to line them?

 

[Chase2023]

Thank you for the quick reply! I thought that relining would stop the mortar deterioration (if that’s what it is)? I’d hate to see bricks start falling into the room.

 

[bholler]

Thank you for the quick reply! I thought that relining would stop the mortar deterioration (if that’s what it is)? I’d hate to see bricks start falling into the room.

It's probably going to be several thousand dollars each flue.

 

[Chase2023]

It's probably going to be several thousand dollars each flue.

Several thousand dollars for each fireplace? Or for each chimney? Thanks.

 

[armanidog]

I have a house in NE Georgia built in 1906. Same thing as yours, debris falls into the fireplaces.
I just covered them up and forgot about them. Also I sealed the top of the unused chimneys to keep rain and critters out of the chimneys. One chimney is used for my wood stove.
You could use cement board to seal the top of the chimneys.

 

[bholler]

Several thousand dollars for each fireplace? Or for each chimney? Thanks.

Each fireplace

 

[Chase2023]

Interesting, thank you. So debris stopped falling after you sealed the chimneys? Our chimneys have caps, but you’re saying that this doesn’t keep out the rain and that cement board will do that? I’m thinking that the bits of mortar sand (if that’s what it is) that fall into the fireplace are the result of moisture?

 

[bholler]

Interesting, thank you. So debris stopped falling after you sealed the chimneys? Our chimneys have caps, but you’re saying that this doesn’t keep out the rain and that cement board will do that? I’m thinking that the bits of mortar sand (if that’s what it is) that fall into the fireplace are the result of moisture?

Most of the debris will stop falling but not all of it. But if it's closed off it doesn't matter much. A poured liner may not be a bad option if you were trying to make a fireplace functional again. But I don't see that it makes any sense just to stop debris from falling

 

[armanidog]

Interesting, thank you. So debris stopped falling after you sealed the chimneys? Our chimneys have caps, but you’re saying that this doesn’t keep out the rain and that cement board will do that? I’m thinking that the bits of mortar sand (if that’s what it is) that fall into the fireplace are the result of moisture?

"Out of sight and out of mind"

 

[Chase2023]

Most of the debris will stop falling but not all of it. But if it's closed off it doesn't matter much. A poured liner may not be a bad option if you were trying to make a fireplace functional again. But I don't see that it makes any sense just to stop debris from falling

Thank you so much.