An Unused Chimney Still Needs Annual Inspections and Periodic Sweeping.
Even if you no longer use your fireplace, you should have your chimney cleaned and inspected once a year. Consider it a yearly physical for your home. Because your chimney and flue help your house ``breathe,'' you should keep them in good physical shape.
Just rent a dumpster and get a friend or two to help. Make sure you have the necessary supplies to patch walls, ceilings and floors as you go. I'd also recommend setting up a tarped off area like a paint booth around where the work is done to reduce the amount of dust and soot around the house.
You should only reduce or remove your chimney if you're absolutely sure it isn't providing ventilation or being used as a flue by any heat-producing appliance.
As one of the biggest causes of a draughty home, it can make sense to block a chimney opening, especially for larger unused fireplaces. Fixing a draughty chimney not only makes your home more comfortable, it helps to lower energy costs too.
Fireplace and chimney removal costs $3,000 to $6,000 for an entire demolition with structural support and home repairs. A partial removal costs $500 to $2,500 for a wood-burning stove, gas fireplace insert, chimney stack, or breast. A large brick or stone chimney can cost $4,000 to $10,000 to remove.
Having an unused chimney can result in moisture and air leakage problems. In addition, it will cost you not only charges from thermal loss but also possible damage to your roofing, walls, and home interiors. Chimney capping is one of the ways you can deal with the challenges of an unused chimney.
Why does a chimney breast need a vent? Installing a vent in a chimney breast ensures that constant airflow is created. Without proper ventilation, condensation can build up inside the chimney breast. If left untreated, damp will start to form.
Failure to clean the chimney can jeopardize the health and safety of your family. It can be hazardous for your pets too. The inhalation of smoke, creosote, soot, and other dangerous gases can cause a variety of health issues, especially in children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments.
The cost of chimney sweeping varies based on the specific type of fireplace or stove. Gas fireplaces, which generally accumulate less residue than wood-burning variants, cost on average between £60 to £90 for a sweep. Wood-burning fireplaces, with their traditional design, usually range between £80 to £100.
In fact, chimneys are designed to draw air out and expel it outside. This is so, when you light a fire, the smoke can be carried outside rather than blown into your home. However, when a fire isn't lit, warm air that's created by your heating system can be lost via the chimney.
HETAS encourage having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. The best times to have your chimney swept are just before the start of the heating season and after your stove has not been used over a prolonged period.
Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction. During normal operation, a layer of creosote builds up on the inside of the chimney, restricting the flow. The creosote can also catch fire, setting the chimney (and potentially the entire building) alight. The chimney must be swept to remove the soot.
So, how much does a chimney inspection cost? Depending on the complexity of the work required, expect to pay between $100 and $5,000, but the average chimney inspection costs about $450. The good news is that most chimney inspectors are also licensed as chimney sweeps and will clean the chimney at the same time.
If you have an old chimney that is no longer used, you can block or close it off to prevent birds from nesting, moisture or rain getting in, heat loss up the chimney, noise from outside entering your dwelling.
Our disused chimney cap cowl (aluminium) is designed to cap off unused chimneys and prevent rain, birds, leaves, and vermin from getting into the chimney stack. This chimney cowl is made from aluminium which is beneficial as it is a corrosive-resistant material.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Process
Remove the chimney cap and begin brushing from the top down, adding extension rods as needed. Scrub thoroughly, working the brush up and down to remove all creosote and debris. Once you reach the bottom, clean the smoke shelf and firebox. Use a shop vacuum to remove all loosened debris.
Capping your chimney will help reduce heat loss and keep your home more comfortable. The bottom line is that capping your chimney is always a good idea, even if you don't use your fireplace. It will save you money in the long run and keep your family safe and healthy.
Removing the chimney without providing a new flue for the water heater could fill the home with deadly carbon monoxide gas. If you are absolutely sure the chimney is no longer used by any of the home's fuel-burning appliances, then, yes, by all means, take the chimney down below the roof.
In some cases, even if the original house is no longer present, the chimneys may still stand. The house might have burned down or been demolished, leaving only the chimneys behind. The reasons behind leaving the chimney standing could vary, but it often adds a decorative piece to the landscape.
Yes, chimneys need to breathe, even if they won't be used anymore. The vast majority of problems with chimneys are related to moisture, and that's the issue as regards ventilation. If there is no air flow in the chimney, moisture gets trapped and deterioration of the chimney structure will be accelerated.
The Building Regulations require that buildings remain structurally stable after alterations have been carried out on them. The removal of part or all of a chimney stack will require Building Regulation approval and work will need to be done to ensure the remaining part of the stack is properly supported. 1.2.