OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
On 3/1/2019 12:48 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
> Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
> in rec.woodworking the following:
>> On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>>
>>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>>
>>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>>
>>
>> Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>> squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
>
> There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
> furnace was installed.
>
> Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
> cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
> Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
>
Perhaps there should be a cap but I can show you tens of thousands of
houses that don't have them
As for sealing the cleanout, sure, but seal it with the idea it may have
to be opened.
On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 7:40:05 PM UTC-5, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>
> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>
> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
I'm pretty sure that this was brought in the previous thread:
The moisture may mean that water is getting into the chimney. I would
suggest getting a chimney expert out to have a look.
If it's not rain, it could be condensation caused by the flue, which is
also not a good thing.
Covering it up will certainly solve one problem: you won't see the mold.
Out of sight, out of mind...until it gets really bad. Covering it would
*not* be something that I would suggest.
On 3/1/2019 4:36 PM, Markem wrote:
> On Fri, 1 Mar 2019 15:57:35 -0500, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 3/1/2019 12:48 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
>>> Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
>>> in rec.woodworking the following:
>>>> On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>>>>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>>>>
>>>>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>>>>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>>>>
>>>>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>>>>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>>>>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>>>> squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
>>>
>>> There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
>>> furnace was installed.
>>>
>>> Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
>>> cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
>>> Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
>>>
>>
>> Perhaps there should be a cap but I can show you tens of thousands of
>> houses that don't have them
>>
>> As for sealing the cleanout, sure, but seal it with the idea it may have
>> to be opened.
>
> Best bet is ask the building inspection department whether it is
> needed for comply with code.
>
Code does not matter if a squirrel gets down there. Accessibility does.
On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>
> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>
> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>
Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
On Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:31:39 -0600, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>
>These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>
>So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
I ASS U ME the gas "flue" is a stainless steel liner? If so it NEEDS
to have a cap on the top to keep water from getting into the original
masonary flue, as well as keeping water out of the stainless flue.
Side effect of keeping critters out of the chimney. Mine has a seal
around the stainless vent in the clay flue, with a metal cap over it
with about 6 inches of expanded metal "screen" all the way around. The
metal "roof" sits about 6 inches above the chimney top.
On Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:31:39 -0600, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>
>These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>
>So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
If that chimney is still in use, I believe it needs a cleanout. When
I had the furnace in a previous house converted from oil to gas, the
gas company insisted that it have a cleanout (it should have had one
all along).
On Sat, 2 Mar 2019 00:20:58 -0500, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 3/1/2019 4:36 PM, Markem wrote:
>> On Fri, 1 Mar 2019 15:57:35 -0500, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> On 3/1/2019 12:48 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
>>>> Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
>>>> in rec.woodworking the following:
>>>>> On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>>>>>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>>>>>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>>>>>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>>>>>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>>>>> squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
>>>>
>>>> There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
>>>> furnace was installed.
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
>>>> cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
>>>> Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Perhaps there should be a cap but I can show you tens of thousands of
>>> houses that don't have them
>>>
>>> As for sealing the cleanout, sure, but seal it with the idea it may have
>>> to be opened.
>>
>> Best bet is ask the building inspection department whether it is
>> needed for comply with code.
>>
>Code does not matter if a squirrel gets down there. Accessibility does.
If a squirrel is a problem use a blood thinner.
Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
in rec.woodworking the following:
>On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>
>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>
>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>
>
>Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
furnace was installed.
Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
--
pyotr filipivich
Next month's Panel: Graft - Boon or blessing?
On Fri, 1 Mar 2019 15:57:35 -0500, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 3/1/2019 12:48 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
>> Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
>> in rec.woodworking the following:
>>> On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>>>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>>>
>>>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>>>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>>>
>>>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>>>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>>>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>>> squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
>>
>> There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
>> furnace was installed.
>>
>> Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
>> cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
>> Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
>>
>
>Perhaps there should be a cap but I can show you tens of thousands of
>houses that don't have them
>
>As for sealing the cleanout, sure, but seal it with the idea it may have
>to be opened.
Best bet is ask the building inspection department whether it is
needed for comply with code.
Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Fri, 1 Mar 2019 15:57:35 -0500 typed in
rec.woodworking the following:
>On 3/1/2019 12:48 PM, pyotr filipivich wrote:
>> Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> on Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:15:53 -0500 typed
>> in rec.woodworking the following:
>>> On 2/27/2019 7:31 PM, Tim Daneliuk wrote:
>>>> OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>>>>
>>>> These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>>>> is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>>>>
>>>> So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>>>> back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>>>> Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Is there a cap? If not you may still need a cleanout to get out
>>> squirrels or birds. I'd replace it and cap the chimney.
>>
>> There _should be_ a cap on the chimney when the flue for the gas
>> furnace was installed.
>>
>> Otherwise, just 'seal' the clean out door. plastic/metal/
>> cement-board, brick, tile, your brother-in-law cask of amaretto.
>> Caulk/ "plaster" well, and ignore it.
>>
>
>Perhaps there should be a cap but I can show you tens of thousands of
>houses that don't have them
How many people have thought "no big deal" - until something went
"wrong"?
Like the chimney which starts halfway up the wall in the kitchen?
>
>As for sealing the cleanout, sure, but seal it with the idea it may have
>to be opened.
Yeah, Maybe bricking your brother in law in with a cask of
Amaretto might be a bad idea.
--
pyotr filipivich
Next month's Panel: Graft - Boon or blessing?
On Wed, 27 Feb 2019 18:31:39 -0600, Tim Daneliuk <[email protected]>
wrote:
>OK, you were all correct. The mystery door was a chimney cleanout.
>
>These days, the flue for a gas furnace goes up that chimney. The door itself
>is badly corroded and is allowing moisture to produce mold on the basement wall.
>
>So ... what is the 'Wreckommendation here? There really isn't a reason to get
>back there. Can it just be covered up with a metal plate caulked to the wall?
>Bricked in? Or does it really need to be replaced as it was?
I would put in a clean out door if the chimney is open at the top, by
the time it needs to be replace the chimney will probably need to be
tuck pointed. If the chimney is not lined the exhaust from the furnace
is acidic and will eat the mortar. Yes the fun of home ownership.
On 3/1/2019 11:20 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 3/1/2019 4:36 PM, Markem wrote:
...
>> Best bet is ask the building inspection department whether it is
>> needed for comply with code.
>>
> Code does not matter if a squirrel gets down there. Accessibility does.
Or a pair of barn owls decide to raise a brood at the bottom...may need
earplugs as well...
<DAMHITTM(ention)T>
One way to learn the varmint cover has gotten blown off in a storm; not
recommended as the "first choice" one, however.
--