CHECK 3 - CHIMNEY CROWN CONDITION.
Damage from condensate usually shows up first in the crown. If any of the following trouble signs are present, the condition of the crown is not satisfactory:
a)Crown leaning
b)Bricks missing
c)Mortar missing
d)Tile liner cracked
e)No tile liner
f)Salt staining at mortar joints. (White stains, and mortar becomes sandy and/or erodes.)
For problems a, b, or c, see Fix 3. If problems d, e, or f are present, see Fix 4. IMPORTANT: It may be necessary to follow both Fix 3 and Fix 4.
CHECK 4 - DEBRIS IN CLEANOUT
A cleanout (dropleg) must be present such that the upper edge of the cleanout cover is at least 12 inches below the lower edge of the lowest chimney inlet opening.
A chimney without a cleanout could become partially blocked by debris. If no cleanout is present, the chimney must be refined (Fix 4). Remove the cleanout cover, and examine the cleanout for debris. If significant amounts of any of the following are found:
•Fuel oil residue
•Bricks
•Mortar or sand
•Pieces of the tile liner
•Rusted pieces of the metallic liner - reline the chimney (Fix 4).
CHECK 5 - LINER CONDITION.
If a metal liner is present, it must be checked. It cannot be assumed that all existing metal liners are correctly installed and in good condition.
Remove the lowest existing vent connector, and examine the inside of the elbow or tee at the base of the liner. A small amount of soot may be considered acceptable, provided the installer vacuums it away. If rusted pieces of the liner have collected here, the metal liner must be removed and replaced (Fix 4).
Next, gently tap the inside of the liner with a Phillips screwdriver. If the screwdriver perforates the liner, or if the tapping does not sound like metal hitting metal, the liner must be removed and replaced (Fix 4).
Remember that all appliances must be vented inside the liner. Venting one appliance inside the liner and another appliance outside the liner is not acceptable.
Next, use a flashlight and small mirror to sight up the liner. B vent must be supported so as to not come into direct contact with the chimney walls or tile liner. If it is not, it can probably be rehung so as to be acceptable. A thimble or fire stop may be helpful here.
Flexible liners should be hung straight or nearly straight. If it is spiraled in the chimney and in good condition, it should be rehung. To do this, break the top seal; pull up and cut off the excess liner length, and refit the top seal. Use caution when doing this, as the cut edges of flexible liners may be sharp.
The surfaces of the liner must be physically sound. If gaps or holes are present, the metal liner must be removed and replaced (Fix 4). Finally, confirm that the metal liner is the correct size for the appliances to be installed. Use the GAMA tables and rules.
If a metal liner is not present, a clay tile liner must be present, or the chimney must be lined (Fix 4).
Use a flashlight and small mirror at the cleanout or vent connector to inspect the clay tile liner. If any of the following problems are present:
•Tile sections misaligned
•Tile sections missing
•Gaps between tile sections
•Signs of condensate drainage at the cleanout or vent connectors
•Mortar protruding from between tile sections
•Use of sewer pipe or drainage pipe rather than an approved fire clay tile reline the chimney (Fix 4).
Next, measure the size of the liner. It may be possible to do this from the cleanout. The liner must be at least as large as the minimum size established by the tables in National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 - latest edition and in the National Standard of Canada, CAN/CSA B149.1 and CAN/CSA B149.2 - latest editions and amendments. If the liner is too small or too large, then the chimney must be relined (Fix 4).
CHECK 6 - DILUTION AIR.
If gas-fired appliances are to be vented into a clay tile liner, a source of dilution air is required.
Dilution air cannot be obtained through:
•Induced draft appliances
•Natural draft appliances with vent dampers
Sufficient dilution air can ordinarily be obtained through the draft hood of a natural draft appliance only if the appliance’s vent connector does not include a vent damper. If dilution air will not be available, the chimney must be relined (Fix 4).
CHECK 7 - COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION.
If Checks 1 through 6 have been satisfactory, and the liner is an acceptable size as determined by the tables in National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 - latest edition and in the National Standard of Canada, CAN/CSA B149.1 and CAN/CSA B149.2 - latest editions and amendments, then the clay tile liner can probably be used as a vent for the gas appliances. However, the installer must keep in mind the following factors which may render the tile liner unsuitable for use as a vent:
•Extremely cold weather
•Long vent connectors
•Masonry chimneys with no air gap between the liner and the bricks. (In practice, this can be difficult to detect.)
•Exterior chimneys (The tables in National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 - latest edition and in the National Standard of Canada, CAN/CSA B149.1 and CAN/CSA B149.2 - latest editions and amendments assume interior chimneys.)
If, in the judgment of the local gas utility, installer, and/or local codes; one or more of the above factors is likely to present a problem, the chimney must be relined (Fix 4).
FIX 1 - LINER TERMINATION
Any cap or roof assembly used with a liner must be approved by the liner manufacturer for such use. The liner and cap/roof assembly must then terminate above the roof in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
