Santa’s Chimney Concerns

Q: Should I be concerned about Santa’s size and what he may do to my chimney?

A: Christmas is just a few days away so yes, you should be very concerned. It really helps to believe in the magic surrounding the holiday, however Santa is a big dude that hasn’t missed a meal in years. The possibility that damage will occur from top to bottom can’t be ignored especially if you expect lots of large gifts. I would suspect bicycles and most fitness equipment are particularly challenging and that’s where magic comes in.

Please remember even if damaged, this will probably not be covered by insurance due to the “Santa Clause”. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) would have a heyday the way Santa never wears a harness or is even certified for this type of work.

As much as there is a fair amount of snow on the roof after this week’s snowfall it is not a bad time to inspect your chimney(s). Pretty much all homes have some sort of venting out of the roof and masonry and metal B-vents are prone to damage just from battling the elements and portly men in red furry suits.

Brick chimneys will last generations, but the tops deteriorate and the masonry holding the bricks dissolves. Some of these older flues don’t even have a terracotta liner so integrity can be really sketchy. We build custom caps and line these types of chimneys with flexible aluminum liners. There are rules for the ways chimneys are designed but often they need to be shortened to get back to solid materials.

The bases of these chimneys are easier to inspect but serious issues can be discovered if one looks closely. First off hopefully the masonry sits on a foundation of some sort. A “bracket chimney” is one that built on a wooden shelf and Kalispell has plenty of those around. Different rules apply for that design and the best suggestion is to get rid of them before the inevitable failure.
Most chimneys are open on top and water will make its way to the base leaving standing water or just wet masonry. Products of combustion including soot will be rinsed down after the years and this sediment can deteriorate the base with devastating results. A ton of bricks is easily stacked up and gravity will have its way given the right conditions. A residue of white mineral around the base is also a bad sign as this is normally an indicator of flue gas condensation and certain damage is being done.

Many older homes in Kalispell wear their chimneys like a crown but a considerable amount of the chimneys are more of a liability. Most all of our furnace and boiler systems can sidewall vent now and many water heaters can do the same. Short sweet vents made in PVC will last indefinitely.

Capping off these old chimneys or removing them all together might upset Santa so he just might need to find another way in (try knocking). Because modern heating systems don’t need a chimney the equipment can be situated just about anywhere. This opens up big possibilities for any basement remodel where a beautiful old boiler is front and center however a big screen TV might not be a bad idea either.

So, for help with your flue, old or new, give us a call at AirWorks Inc. (406) 257-1341.