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Roger's Home Journal
Roger's Home JournalChimney Damage a Deadly Hazard
By Roger Faris
Apr 04, 2001 -- Our recent Nisqually Earthquake may yet claim a few lives. Inspections of damaged chimneys have revealed many partially or completely blocked furnace flues. The problem is that our oil and gas heating systems produce combustion gasses, which include carbon monoxide. When a chimney is blocked with loose bricks and mortar the occupants of the house can become seriously ill, or die.My friend Bob Martin, a chimney repair expert, has fascinating stories about what he found in the days after the earthquake. Bob couldn't help but notice the very precarious brickwork looming above many homes. He responded by volunteering to help people who were living under the most dangerous situations. Bob has the experience and skill to solve problems involving tons of bricks and mortar. It was no surprise to me that he leapt into action. His employer agreed to his request for several days' absence from his position as facilities manager at a local school.
The first job was to take down an enormous chimney on Queen Anne Hill. It had cracked and twisted at the roof line, and the great hulking thing teetered in a most menacing way. Bob decided to lasso it wild-west style and pull it into the side yard. (The homeowner solemnly promised not to sue him if the monster fell the wrong way.) It came down as a single unit and buried itself over two feet into the earth.
In the days that followed, Bob was able to dismantle other loose brickwork with more control and less drama. He came across several instances of plugged furnace chimney flues. Some of these life-threatening hazards were not visible from out on the sidewalk. Many chimneys are divided into two sections, so that they can serve a fireplace and a furnace. The brick divider between the sections is called a Wythe Wall. (This sort of information can only be obtained by hanging around with an English brickmason.) The mortar holding that wall together is often severely deteriorated. For decades the byproducts of combustion have mixed with rainwater to produce a mortar-dissolving acid. Even a small shake can send the bricks tumbling to the bottom.
The easiest way to see if the furnace flue is blocked is to hire a furnace service expert (and have the entire system checked and tuned). A homeowner may also be able to pull the metal vent pipe from the connection with the chimney and use a flashlight to peer within. The presence of bricks, mortar, soot, and other debris is pretty obvious. Beware, though, of what can happen if you attempt to remove fallen bricks through that small opening. Bob once found himself in a painful predicament. The pile of bricks shifted and his right arm became trapped. It took two hours of left-handed chipping with a masonry hammer, but he successfully rescued himself. The familiar warning is appropriate: Don't try this at home!
One indication that you might have a furnace hazard is the presence of heavy water droplet condensation on your windows. Burning natural gas produces a lot of water vapor, as well as deadly carbon monoxide. Not feeling well is another possible clue, but that can be caused by germs, viruses, lifestyle issues or other factors. Even if your chimney is in fine shape, any wood, oil, or gas heating appliance may have some other deadly flaw. Get them checked once a year, and after each earthquake. Also, please test your smoke detectors, and invest in a carbon monoxide detector if you don't already have one. They're sold in hardware stores and are a real bargain.
Roger Faris is the director of the Well Home Program at the Phinney Neighborhood Association. The program provides advice, encouragement, tools and classes for home improvement and repair. Call (206) 789-4993 for information. For the Earthquake Home Retrofit Program, call (206) 382-2159. Bob Martin will be teaching (more volunteer work!) a masonry repair class for us on Wednesday, May 30. You'd better register today!
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