New wood burner here and worried sick about chimney..

[Rod]

I installed a wood furnace this summer and I have a 26 year old brick chimney with clay liner. The problem is that i'm getting ice build up about a foot above my clean out and creosote water is laying on top of the ice just below the furnace connection pipe. I had to get out with torch now 3 times to melt ice and release the water. I'm worried about that water finding its way back into stove pipe one day and the water is wicking its way through the brick on back of the chimney. Any ideas to get me through this winter so I can put up new prefab chimney in the summer?

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

lots of variables there. I would have the chimney inspected and ask for a proposal for a SS liner, sealing chimney(top and sides) add a cap. If the inspection reveals chimney fire damage, check with your homeowners insurance for coverage.
I haven't been to Newfoundland since 1988. great fishing there!

 

[maple1]

Does the chimney have any kind of cap on it?

You guys have a ton of snow over there (I think) - I assume the water is coming from snow getting in the top? Maybe see if a chimney guy can get a cap on it to get you through the winter.

 

[Rod]

lots of variables there. I would have the chimney inspected and ask for a proposal for a SS liner, sealing chimney(top and sides) add a cap. If the inspection reveals chimney fire damage, check with your homeowners insurance for coverage.
I haven't been to Newfoundland since 1988. great fishing there!

Thanks for the comeback! There is no cap on it either. I'm keeping a close eye on it and hoping that the latest cold snap we had of -30 windshield had a lot to do with it. Hoping that I can make it through winter like it then a pre-fab set up the summer but if I can't control the ice a SS liner might have to go in.

Ps Where did you fish to on the island?

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Went there in High school in 1987 for 2 weeks and again in 1988 I was invited to drive-LOL
I would need to look up the area again, but we where fly fishing for land Locked Salmon. Science teacher had a place there. Been dreaming of taking the ride to nova scotia on the Bike and Maybe just maybe take the boat over.

 

[Rod]

Went there in High school in 1987 for 2 weeks and again in 1988 I was invited to drive-LOL
I would need to look up the area again, but we where fly fishing for land Locked Salmon. Science teacher had a place there. Been dreaming of taking the ride to nova scotia on the Bike and Maybe just maybe take the boat over.

Sounds like fun! If you ever need any advice on ports to visit or any other info about the island let me know.

 

[maple1]

Last time I went over, we got trapped on the Argentia boat coming back due to the tail end of a hurricane coming through. They loaded, shut the doors, and sat at the dock for 12 hours before we even went anywhere. That was brutal - felt like we were in the middle of the ocean even though we were tied up. I loaded up on Gravol before we got there, but the guy I was travelling with didn't - what a mess he was in. Maybe the Gods were paying him back for the week before that spent entirely on George Street.


But I want to get back there with the rest of the family, and visit some relatives. Been way too long.

Ooops, derail....

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Will do!

What furnace and what species wood you burning?

 

[Rod]

I have the Newmac WB100 furnace and mostly burning Spruce.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Spruce that's what I saw up there! It needs to be very dry to burn in a clay chimney. I would brush that chimney weekly and install a cap. a few bricks on top of chimney and a flat piece of steel for temporary would keep rain out. I would guess you have had several fires inside the chimney. Easy to check the clay liner from the top(tap it) very distinct sound to clay when not cracked. I assume it runs full out and then cools off and then you reload often? Outside chimney?

 

[Rod]

I've been in this house now three years and I was talking to previous owner couple days ago and he said that he had 2 chimney fires back like 15 years ago and he don't no if liner was ever replaced. Yes the chimney is outside and clay runs full length of chimney.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Time to reline and point up the brick and seal top and sides depending on type of brick to keep moisture out. I would think an insulated liner would be best

 

[timberr]

Rod,

Is your chimeny on the exterior of the house by any chance?

 

[Rod]

Yes chimney is on exterior of house.

 

[Vizsla]

Can you add a clean out tee or drip tee?

 

[Rod]

Sorry but what's that?

 

[timberr]

I have a buddy with an Eko 25 and he was having the same problem with his chimney (also exterior). Seems that the flue can't stay warm enough and condensation forms in the chimney and runs down the sides until it freezes. This summer he had a liner put in and problme has gone away,

Doesn't help you any this year.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Lots of information on this site regarding SS liners and suppliers. You can save a bunch if you can DIY.

Still can't stress enough to get it inspected or at least inspect your self. can be a quick fire in the chimney and hard to put out if clay liner is all ready cracked. Safety!

Liner wont take a good company long to install. If you have one on the island.

I see your Furnace requires 8" flue also so a bit more money.

Take some pics of chimney with dimensions and post here. Lots of solutions.

 

[Fred61]

Masonry chimney butted up against a concrete foundation is a huge heat sink. Without a liner it's going to be impossible to warm that area enough to stop condensation from depositing and , in your case, freezing. On a home I built in 1979 I predicted the problem and had the masons leave a 2 inch space around the clay liner and I had them fill it with insulation.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

My past exterior chimneys including my present chimney all have/had cracked clay liners.

In my experiences the ice and condensation was created by cold air infiltration through cracks in the clay liner or bad seams at connections created from many small undetected chimney fires.
Insulation around clay is an interesting idea.