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Chimneys and Flues: Inspection Methods, Diagnosis, Safety, Repairs ChimAPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com How to inspect chimneys Unlined flue safety inspections & repairs Carbon monoxide & flue gas hazards Heating safety inspections Heating and chimney product recalls Woodstove safety inspections

Chimneys and Flues: Inspection Methods, Diagnosis, Safety, Repairs

This document explains how to inspect and detect defects and hazards in chimneys and flues. We also provide chimney repair advice, chimney repair alternatives. Chimney and flue safety hazards such as carbon monoxide gas leaks, fire hazards, and chimney inspection and testing are addressed.

In the photo shown here, a single wythe brick flue had lost some of its bricks. The owner "fixed" this condition by propping a board against a piece of aluminum flashing to cover the hole in the chimney. Where do you think the missing bricks were? They were not on the attic floor. I had been called to the building to investigate a basement water entry problem. This is what I found: a single wythe brick chimney in a tall two story house with full basement. The water on basement walls was condensate from flue gas spillage from the gas fired heating boiler whose flue was totally blocked by the fallen bricks and debris. This was a serious carbon monoxide hazard and a dangerous chimney. The details of this case are presented at "Unlined Chimney Flues" - see links below. Criticism and content suggestions are invited. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

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• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, building inspection for CO hazards
• Chimneys & Flues, safety concerns, chimney inspection methods, chimney repair methods, chimney relining methods, chimney replacement, new installation alternatives; and direct-vent alternatives to chimneys for heating furnaces & boilers
• Chimney Inspection Photo Guide to performing chimney safety inspections outside and indoors in attics, living area, and attic
• Unlined Chimney Flues: Inspection Procedures, Advice Safety Requirements for old chimneys - photos, dangerous carbon monoxide and blocked flue case report, chimney flue standards, chimney inspection suggestions
• Chimney Safety Alert for Wood Burning Appliances - US CPSC Alert Document 5017, wood stoves, fireplace inserts
• Chimney Safety Alert for Metal Chimneys - US CPSC Alert Document 5047, metal chimneys, wood and coal stove safety
• Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
• Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
• Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
• Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
• Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
• Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues - Safety Hazards of deteriorated or blocked asbestos transite chimneys
• Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair

Critical Defects

• Life Safety Hazards such as visual evidence of unsafe chimneys, missing or damaged safety devices (relief valves, emergency shutoffs), and visual evidence of dangerous overheating or leaks. Responsibly conducted, an inspection of a gas-fired furnace, for example, might discover that the furnace has been exposed to severe rust-producing conditions which risk an unsafe heat exchanger and a carbon monoxide hazard which could be fatal to building occupants. Even though the interior of a chimney or flue is not fully visible, the contextual clues around the chimney, if they are visually obvious, should be translated into a level of concern by the inspector, and where appropriate, translated into a recommendation for action. This does not mean "failing" every chimney to be on the "safe side", it means responsible inspecting and reporting.
• Costly defects such as evidence of movement and damage to masonry flues, rust, leaks and damage to metal flues, and obvious gaps, openings, or lack of clearance to combustibles should be reported.

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