hypochondrial primitive has fireplace failure

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1158297

Oh my.

mopinko (37,267 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

prefab fireplace failure.

so, about 10 years ago we put a prefab fireplace in our basement. it has had a workout every winter, as it is the only heat down there. we have dutifully had it swept most every winter.

it is "brick" with a metal sheeting inside. not a solid box, but panels on 3 sides, vents on the sides.

so, the panels started warping long ago. we have asked these people about replacing them, and mostly got- 'eh, it's fireproof without them, don't worry about it.'

well, now the brick part of the box is failing. sweeps said it is no longer safe (although there is nothing flammable behind it) and needs to be replaced, all the way to the roof. $8k.

he says the chimney is a snap and lock construction that cannot be undone and redone. it is ul approved and once you monkey with it it isn't ul approved. yada, yada.

he did say that the damage is consistent with a chimney fire and that he would attest to that. we are talking to our insurance about it. but really, the whole thing is chapping my ass to the point of not being able to think of what to do.

imho, it is fine for the remainder of the winter. like i said, this open corner goes nowhere.

i do have a source at the moment for some cheap/poss free real firebrick that would make a dandy REAL fireplace. i just don't have the energy for a project at the moment. in the middle of another one, anyway.

The defrocked warped primitive, she with the face like Hindenberg's:

Warpy (61,993 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

1. Chimney fire? Eeek! Bad juju!

Since the expert has said that has occurred (and there's no reason to doubt him), do NOT use that thing until it is replaced by something else. Chimney fires can do a hell of a lot of damage you can't see and the whole business sounds completely unsafe. Fire insurance won't save you because you've been told the unit is unsafe.

My best advice is to invest in some electric space heaters for this year and try to get the thing replaced over the summer.

Hassin Bin Sober (5,060 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

2. I too installed one here in chicago about ten years ago.

I don't remember those chimney pipes being snap and lock so it sounds like malarky. They fit one on top of eachother with a couple sheet metal screws in the sides. Mostly gravity with strapping to dupport long runs.

i remember considering removing the brick panels when I had to carry the think up three flights of stairs. But I chickened out because they seemed fragile - mine felt like they were still wet from the factory. IIRC, they were bolted in with a couple bolts.

I would be surprised if you had a chimney fire and din't know about it. When I asked my FIL, who had one, he said there is no mistaking it. Besides, those stainless pipes stay really clean. I bought the brush and clean mine but I never get much. Maybe you get more soot because the cooling effect over the long distance to the roof??

mopinko (37,267 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

3. i would be shocked myself.

we always kept it clean. it never got that dirty in the first place.

and the clown charged my the same price to clean my 2' long dryer vent as he did to sweep my chimney. i know. i deserved that. DH bought it. not me.

malarky indeed.

Yeah, yeah, there we go again.

The hypochondrial primitive's always being cheated by honest workmen.

jeff47 (2,642 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

4. You need a new chimneysweep

This part makes no sense:

"well, now the brick part of the box is failing. sweeps said it is no longer safe (although there is nothing flammable behind it) and needs to be replaced, all the way to the roof. $8k."

The "brick part" of the box is just for show in the box itself. There is no "brick part" going to the roof. There's a metal pipe going to the roof. Any bricks on the outside of your chimney are mostly cosmetic and to protect from rain/snow

Unless your original installer did something insane like not connect the fireplace to a flue pipe.

And as a sibling post said, you would be well aware if you had a chimney fire. They are spectacular. If your chimney was not recently acting like a giant blowtorch, you haven't had a chimney fire.

[tanstaafl]

Warpy (61,993 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

1. Chimney fire? Eeek! Bad juju!

Since the expert has said that has occurred (and there's no reason to doubt him), do NOT use that thing until it is replaced by something else. Chimney fires can do a hell of a lot of damage you can't see and the whole business sounds completely unsafe. Fire insurance won't save you because you've been told the unit is unsafe.

My best advice is to invest in some electric space heaters for this year and try to get the thing replaced over the summer.

The defrocked warped wonder sure is eager to convince other DUmmies to spend their hard earned money. Like trying to scam the poor peoples' money for substandard pies while letting the prosperous government workers and teachers slurp down all the pie they want for free.

She probably had a chimney fire once from hanging her freshly washed sheep in front of a fireplace after "processing" them for their raw wool with her washing machine. Then the loose wool left on the poor sheep backs would get sucked into the firebox and up the flue, got stuck the the chimney liner sides where it continued to smolder.

[BattleHymn]

I knew what this primitive did as soon as I saw the title to the thread.

http://www.csia.org/HomeownerResources/ChimneySafetyInfo/YourFireplace/tabid/125/Default.aspx

Most factory built fireplaces are tested and listed as decorative heating appliances and will not withstand the abuse often heaped on their masonry counterparts. Although they are tested to U.L. standards, severe overfiring and chimney fires will often badly damage these units.

so, about 10 years ago we put a prefab fireplace in our basement. it has had a workout every winter, as it is the only heat down there. we have dutifully had it swept most every winter.

Hm, that's a very telling sentence.  It's not the chimney sweep's fault you have been consistently overfiring that unit.  I know you overfired it, because you admit to it in the quote of yours that I snipped.  There is even a good chance you are costing yourself even more money by pulling the warm air in your home right into that firebox, and sending it right up the chimney.  Your chimney sweep probably won't tell you that, though, as he needs a good laugh now and then, and it seems he gets one every year when he gets to service your "fireplace".

     

[GOBUCKS]

I'm sort of speechless from the thought of anyone paying to have a dryer vent cleaned out.

[FreeBorn]

Instead of installing a real fireplace ten years ago DUmmie installed an imitation fake fireplace TEN YEARS AGO and now has much chapping of ass and cannot fathom why it has not lasted forever? 

Besides, killing beautiful trees so that they may be senselessly reduced to ash and fill the atmosphere with carbon is just downright evil. 

[Celtic Rose]

I'm sort of speechless from the thought of anyone paying to have a dryer vent cleaned out.

Seriously, it isn't like it is a difficult or hazardous chore.  Just a little bit tedious.

[BEG]

mopinko (37,267 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

prefab fireplace failure.

so, about 10 years ago we put a prefab fireplace in our basement. it has had a workout every winter, as it is the only heat down there. we have dutifully had it swept most every winter.

it is "brick" with a metal sheeting inside. not a solid box, but panels on 3 sides, vents on the sides.

so, the panels started warping long ago. we have asked these people about replacing them, and mostly got- 'eh, it's fireproof without them, don't worry about it.'

well, now the brick part of the box is failing. sweeps said it is no longer safe (although there is nothing flammable behind it) and needs to be replaced, all the way to the roof. $8k.

he says the chimney is a snap and lock construction that cannot be undone and redone. it is ul approved and once you monkey with it it isn't ul approved. yada, yada.

he did say that the damage is consistent with a chimney fire and that he would attest to that. we are talking to our insurance about it. but really, the whole thing is chapping my ass to the point of not being able to think of what to do.

imho, it is fine for the remainder of the winter. like i said, this open corner goes nowhere.

i do have a source at the moment for some cheap/poss free real firebrick that would make a dandy REAL fireplace. i just don't have the energy for a project at the moment. in the middle of another one, anyway.

Why would anyone make an insurance claim on something like this?  Their deductible is at least 1% so insurance wouldn't help and thir rate will go up if they made a claim.

[Maxiest]

Thanks BEG..  I was wondering if anyone would catch it.

Did no one else see that he is considering insurance fraud?  And that his chimney sweep will attest to it?  I am sure his chimney sweep also builds chimneys/installs fireplaces.  BTW, I might be slow and missing something...  if this is a fake fireplace, with a fake chimney, why does it need a sweep?  Isn't it ran on gas?  I have one and it doesn't have a chimney or need sweep.

Sounds to me like this DUmmie is getting scammed by the sweep, who is also wanting him to scam his insurance so he can make some extra $$ for his hydroponic weed collection.

[shadeaux]

mopinko's husband went cheap and the fireplace is ruined.  Seal it up and get some heaters.

[Maxiest]

mopinko's husband went cheap and the fireplace is ruined.  Seal it up and get some heaters.

Hell for 8k, you get a separate HVAC unit for the basement.

[shadeaux]

That's what I'm talkin' about.  Aren't you glad you aren't a DUmmy.   

[Traveshamockery]

God, these people are idiots.  No wonder they rely on the government for help.  They couldn't take care of themselves ~ physically, emotionally, financially ~ if their lives depended on it. 

They make everything so hard and it ends up costing all of us dearly.  If you have a house, be prepared to be paying out some dough every once in awhile for repairs.  Be prepared. 

I can tell you one thing I've learned since joining this group of conservatives here - I must have lived a very sheltered life because for all of the things they demand of others, for all of their ailments, for all of their trouble paying their bills, and the trouble they get themselves into, I was never once taught to approach problems the way DUmmies do. 

I was taught the concept of self-reliance and making good on promises; something these DUmmies never were. 

The ignorance of these people is astounding.  Truly astounding.

 

[BattleHymn]

 BTW, I might be slow and missing something...  if this is a fake fireplace, with a fake chimney, why does it need a sweep?  Isn't it ran on gas?  I have one and it doesn't have a chimney or need sweep.

Some of them burn wood.  You just have to be careful of the type of wood (nothing that burns really hot) and it is an occasional use only type of thing- not for home heating purposes.  My brother has one at his home.  It's worthless, and takes up an entire corner in the living room, but he thinks it adds to the value of the home... 

[catsmtrods]

God, these people are idiots.  No wonder they rely on the government for help.  They couldn't take care of themselves ~ physically, emotionally, financially ~ if their lives depended on it.  

They make everything so hard and it ends up costing all of us dearly.  If you have a house, be prepared to be paying out some dough every once in awhile for repairs.  Be prepared.  

I can tell you one thing I've learned since joining this group of conservatives here - I must have lived a very sheltered life because for all of the things they demand of others, for all of their ailments, for all of their trouble paying their bills, and the trouble they get themselves into, I was never once taught to approach problems the way DUmmies do.  

I was taught the concept of self-reliance and making good on promises; something these DUmmies never were.  

The ignorance of these people is astounding.  Truly astounding.

 

It is!! First off the only place a fireplace heats is the radiant right in front of it! It sucks the heat out the rest of the house! Idiot!

[jukin]

God, these people are idiots.  No wonder they rely on the government for help.  They couldn't take care of themselves ~ physically, emotionally, financially ~ if their lives depended on it. 

They make everything so hard and it ends up costing all of us dearly.  If you have a house, be prepared to be paying out some dough every once in awhile for repairs.  Be prepared. 

I can tell you one thing I've learned since joining this group of conservatives here - I must have lived a very sheltered life because for all of the things they demand of others, for all of their ailments, for all of their trouble paying their bills, and the trouble they get themselves into, I was never once taught to approach problems the way DUmmies do. 

I was taught the concept of self-reliance and making good on promises; something these DUmmies never were. 

The ignorance of these people is astounding.  Truly astounding.

 

The truly sad part is that the DUches reveal in their sickness, their inability to make good decisions, and their ignorance. My best guess is that they get more out of blaming others and living in their squalor then getting the satisfaction of self reliance and accomplishment. Perhaps there is a set percentage of the population that is mentally defective this way and evidently the Liberals know how to use them to get power for themselves. Then again maybe it's the indoctrination centers we are forced to send the kids to.