Essay,
The attached picture was of interest to me since I have seen this wrong in many homes. The smaller appliance being vented above the larger appliance. In my area water heaters are usually vented incorrectly and is a mood point during many inspections.
This photo shows a cracked crown, spalling brick, crumbling mortar joints and missing caps/spark arrestors (a wood stove is connected to each of the flues). This chimney requires a lot of work by a chimney specialist. In its current condition, the chimney is being penetrated by water and possibly emitting burning embers. By repairing the chimney crown, brick and mortar, the water penetration will cease. By adding caps and spark arrestors to the flues, hot embers will cease to leave the chimney and the inner flue will be protected from water, snow and ice penetration. At the time of these repairs, the chimney should receive an inspection by a chimney specialist to ensure it is safe to operate.
I read “Chimney Inspections: Preventing Collapse”, as further reading to this course.
The article further explained the fact that a chimney is one of the largest structures of a home that is susceptible to structural failure. Areas of high winds and/or earthquakes serve to exacerbate this potential problem.
It is crucial to inspect chimneys for signs of undersize/incorrect footings, cracking mortar joints, separation from the main structure, crown defects, etc, during an inspection. Failure to note the required repairs could lead to bricks falling or worse yet, an entire chimney collapse.
Firestopping is vital in slowing the spread of fire across a home or a multi-family dwelling. The penetrations of flues and chimneys through floors and ceilings should be sealed to prevent fire from spreading up into the attic. Appropriate materials should be used for firestopping, such as intumescent material, firestop mortar, sheet metal or fire rated sheetrock. Fire stop pillows can also be used to fill in gaps in a fire barrier,
Kickout flashing, also known as diverter flashing, is a special type of flashing that diverts rainwater away from the cladding and into the gutter. InterNACHI inspectors should make sure that kickouts are present where they are needed and that they are installed correctly. Water penetration into the cladding can occasionally be observed on the exterior wall in the form of vertical water stains, although inspectors should not rely on visual identification. There may be severe damage with little or no visible evidence. The kickout flashing is usually not installed so be aware.
Upon inspection of the chimney there was some mortar joints missing on the top 5-6 rows of bricks. Joints must be filled. If joints are not filled water may seap down behind the bricks and
When inspecting the chimney is very important to look for cracking and damaged mortar joints. These voids can allow moisture to penetrate to the inside of the chimney and flue. This moisture can then cause spalling and damages that are not visible with out a more invasive inspection.
The article I have researched was “Fire safety for the home”, I believe this is one of the most overlooked areas of safety for the home owner. Smoke and CO detectors should be the first line of defense and in every home. Basic knowledge of combustion appliances, fireplace safety, garage fire protection and electrical issues should be on every inspectors radar.
Checking a fireplace at a home we were working on for habitat for humanity; and found insulation touching the flue. If you look close you can see that the insulation was discolored because of the heat. When the insulation was moved we found that the frame clearance was less than an inch away from the flue. I cut and replaced the frame and gave it a 4" clearance along with a 6" lip to keep the insulation clear.
I saw this and am still trying to figure it out. Liner was replaced recently but the crown is falling apart. How did they do that?
Looking into the flashing types and installation on chimneys. There are several different flashings on a chimney and each serves a purpose and 1 doesnt work without another in many situations. Lots to watch for in chimney inspections.
I was inspecting a home that was previously visited by a professional HVAC repair company which after reading their notes didn’t help me much with possible issues with the system. After further inspection of the condensing unit outside I found that even when the system was calling for cool air it never turned on. I checked the voltage going to the unit and it was sufficient; knowing this news I informed the agent that the condensing unit is malfunctioning. The agent said “the units were looked at and everything was working fine”, because they heard the blower kick on. I informed the agent that the blower will turn on even if the outside unit is inoperable. This is why it is very important to use a thermal gun at the registers to see the 15 degree difference between the return and the registers. Always check the outside condenser for proper operation and double check it with a thermal gun at the registers. It is a good practice to check all the registers so as to rule out venting issues.
[FONT=Times New Roman]How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course[/FONT]
Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse by Nick Gromicko
The heaviest component of a home is the chimney, this is also the most vulnerable component as well. A chimney collapse can cause costly damages to the home, surrounding property, and including harm to individuals in the immediate area.
The deterioration and/or collapse of a chimney can be contribute to the follow; not properly maintained, wind/weather, falling treelimbs, poor design, earthquakes, age of the chimney, poor building materials, footing defects, poor soil/erosion around and/or beneath the footing and insufficient lateral supports, etc.… are just a few examples which can cause deterioration and/or collapse of a chimney.
This is why it’s important to perform a proper inspection of the chimney and all its components to provide a safeguard for all parties.
Thank You
Matt
Just starting this course. New to Home Inspections, and do not have any Construction knowledge so this is foreign to me right now. I’m taking my time through the material, and if I have questions I will post them here.
How to inspect fireplaces, stoves and chimneys essay: This is a picture of a chimney with cracked and missing mortar joints. The joints should be repointed. Also the wash is improperly sloped towards the flue and should be corrected to slope away.
Aluminum Wiring
Solid strand aluminum wiring was substituted for copper in 1965 and continued to be used until around 1973. Use was discontinued when it was discovered that it created a potential fire hazard. Aluminum wiring deteriorates over time causing poor connections, which in turn creates resistance and possible overheating. It is prone to galvanic corrosion when in contact with dissimilar metals, and expands and contracts at a higher rate than copper all leading to poor connections. The wiring can be identified by observing the marking on the jacket (AL), or visually by the wire color. An inspector should always note the presence of aluminum wiring in the report. There are several countermeasures a licensed and qualified electrician can recommend after a proper evaluation.
This is an image of a fresh air intake of a wood burning fire place insert installed in an attic. This is an extremely dangerous application as any back draft could shower the attic with sparks or embers. I noted this as a defect in my report and emphasized to the renters the importance of not using it until repairs could be made.
How to Inspect Fireplaces, Stoves, and Chimneys Course
Fireplace Fuel:
Its very important to be mindful of what your burning in your fireplace or wood burning stove/appliance. A variety of different types of wood/fuel can cause serious health problems if burned, for example pressure treated lumber and painted wood can be hazardous to burn. Dried cut firewood should be used in fireplaces and wood burning stoves along with some types of pallets and falling tree limbs.
subject vent less fireplaces; The fireplace had a U.L. label on it, but after some research on that vent less fireplace. the U.L. label was for the plug in cord on it so be careful inspection of vent less fireplace.
Fireplaces
When inspecting fireplaces, be sure to use lights and mirrors, if necessary, to look at as much of the flue as possible. Creosote build up is extremely flammable and is the cause of most chimney fires. I will usually suggest cleaning by a certified chimney sweep just to be safe.
