We have all heard the expression about water, and sewage, always running down hill. When dealing with water, that is true except, of course, in those instances where it is not true. For example, if wind or some other force is overriding gravity.

In the case of fireplaces or wood stoves and chimneys, when the fireplace or stove down below is full of ash, soot and creosote, you can figure that the chimney above is going to show the some characteristics. When people use the fireplace or stove to burn all the trash, now that can really make a mess in the stove and up above.

Case in point: A peak inside the wood burning stove down below.

Case in point #2: The metal chimney up above on the roof. 

 

Case in point #2: The wood stove chimney up above on the roof.

The National Fire Protection Association has stated that an in-depth Level 2 chimney inspection should be part of every sale or transfer of property with a wood burning device.  Such an inspection may reveal defects that are not apparent to the home inspector who is a generalist. Based on my experiences out in the field, as an inspector, I think the NFPA has hit the nail on the head with that recommendation.

 

 

        

        

Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's.  I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.

           

 
Post is included in group: Home Inspectors across the country
Post is included in group: Puget Sound - WA Real Estate

3 Comments on What Comes From Down Below, Must Go Up

APR
01
2011
242,684 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

This makes sense because heat rises and anything that flows with the heat, such as ash, will rise with it and the tar and other chemicals would ask as glue. It makes perfect sense.
2:25pm • #1
155,778 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Amen to that conclusion.We have different regulatory bodies but the thrust is the same.

Its hard written into my reports that (1) further inspection and cleaning be done by a WETT (Wood Energy Transfer technology) certified chimney sweep. That (2) Equipment manuels be aquired (or researched) and that (3) availability of insurance coverage be verified, all prior to finalizing sale of the property.

Some urban areas will no longer issue permits for new chimneys, wood fireplaces and wood burning stoves or even major repairs to existing installations.

They prefer conversion to gas appliances or abandonment completely. Air quailty environmentalists and city fire departments are encouraging this.
4:23pm • #2
975,971 Points 351 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I hate to be contrarian, but I think instead that it is not true, except in instances that it is true.
10:07pm • #3

Login or register to leave a comment
 
Steve%20truck Rainmaker_large

Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc

Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office Phone: (360) 676-6908

Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038

Email Me

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog