Flue Liner
At inspection, I was told that I need to have a boiler flue liner installed. The inspector suggested the stainless steel tube type, but also mentioned a ceramic tile option. I have a couple of questions: Is it really important to have a flue liner? The house has been there for 100+ years without. If…
At inspection, I was told that I need to have a boiler flue liner installed. The inspector suggested the stainless steel tube type, but also mentioned a ceramic tile option.
I have a couple of questions:
Is it really important to have a flue liner? The house has been there for 100+ years without. If I don’t have one installed, am I asking for problems down the road?
Stainless steel or ceramic or something else? which is best, less expensive…?
How much is this likely to cost for a three floor + basement brownstone?
While I’m at it, does it make sense to have the fireplace chimneys opened up? What does that generally cost?
Can you recommend a someone who does this?
Thank you!
does anyone know of a good exterior house painter who could paint my window frames and casings?
I recently had a bad experience with Chimney Doctors for installing a flue liner. The estimator walked into my house and within a few minutes asked me what I had paid for it. He then wrote up the specs and told me to expect a call from his supervisor, who called later to say the job would cost $2800 (for 3 stories plus basement). He could/would not explain this price. So I called Brookfield (Gus: 516-840-5285) for a second opinion. He came by and said he could do the job for $2400, and did. He was friendly and efficient. Chimney Doctors later sent a written estimate of $4000 for the job, which they described as installing a liner made of “stainless steal.” Yup. Didn’t explain the huge increase in the estimate. My mama never exactly told me to shop around, but I did anyway and I’m glad.
Lucia Vail
Try calling Brookfield. They are in the phone book. They did a great job for us!
We used “Chimney Doctor II”, 800.479.3377.
They were recommended by the repairman from Keyspan who responded to my call for servive when the furnace shut down. Since we were in a hurry, we did not call anyone else, although we did check with neighbors about the price, which seemed fair. They did a very good job. Although they warned me that opening walls might be necessary, this was not the case–they were able to remove all obstructions from either above or from the cellar.
The only mess was a considerable amount of dust that came through the fireplaces whose flues share a chimney with the furnace flue. BTW, we have a furnace (hot air) rather than a boiler, but I doubt that this makes any differance.
Although we were lucky, I’d still recommend getting a few estimates and asking around to see if any neighbors had similar work done. Chimney Doctor II is very good IMO, but comparison shopping couldn’t hurt–as long as it’s not cold out 🙂
Dear Bob Marvin,
May I ask who you used to do the work (am not the O.P., but am facing a similar issue with my house). It sounds like you were pleased with them.
Thanks.
D.P.
Absent a flue liner,loose bricks or other assorted crud in a deteriorating 100 year old chimney will eventually block your flue. This may do one of two things. If you have a working spill switch on your boiler, it will shut the system down, likely on the coldest day of the year–that happened to me–VERY inconvenient! If you do NOT have a working spill switch,it will kill you and your family–a LOT more inconvenient!! I’d suggest attending to this ASAP.
In my case,I had a stainless steel liner installed. IIRC It cost about $3000 for my 3 story house. It took one day to install and did not require breaking any walls open. I did not explore any other options (as I said, it was very cold). Since the heating season is over, you have a bit more time to do so
The fireplace chimneys would probably require a new liner for EACH flue.If your house, like mine, is ONLY 100 years old they may well have been made for gas.If that is the case, the cost of new flue liners would be insignificant compared with the other costs involved in converting them to burn wood