| Author |
Message |
    
Kws
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 2:07 pm: |     |
Hey folks,
I just had my oil furnace flu cleaned for $29.95. And of course with this kind of a deal, they find problems...expensive ones.
The photo they took of my flu shows what I would expect a 75 year old flu to look like. Old and worn with an empty gap where a brick used to be.
Who knows when it fell out.
Their estimate for a new steel liner is $3700.00.
I already have plans to replace my old oil furnace (at least 45 years old) with a new one this year.
My question is do I need a new liner with a new furnace? I think most of the damage to the flu is the result of the extreme temperatures of the waste heat going up the stack. Am I right about this?
Are the new furnaces so energy and heat efficient that I can slide by with my old flu as it exists?
Any recommendations on a furnace and somebody to install it?
Thank you in advance.
Kirk |
Euclidean
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 6:55 pm: | |
I would think that a chimney liner helps contain carbon monoxide in addition to preventing the chimney from deteriorating. Also, if a more efficient furnace has cooler exhaust gases, you will have more condensation and this will increase the value of a liner.
I know that some types of furnaces are so efficient that the exhaust is vented out the side of the house (like a dryer vent) using PVC pipe. I know this option exists for gas hot air furnaces. I don't know about hot water. If you have steam heat, I don't think it is an option. Anyhow, potentially, you can save the cost of a chimney liner.
Regarding plumbing and heating people, I think that Weltman is very good, but they charge a lot more than other plumbers. |
Sac
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 8:44 pm: | |
I would get a second opinion from a Chimney contractor who is not into telemarketing or artificially low cost cleanings, etc. I had good experience with Chimneys Unlimited, as a result of referrals by this board. I've also seen Top Hat & Tails highly recommended here. |
Rheims
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 3:38 pm: | |
I would be curious to know who recommended you get a chimney liner. When I moved in this summer, a chimney company called and said they hadn't cleaned the chimney in a while; were we interested? They were looking for the now divorced previous owner's husband, so it had been a while, so I said ok. They cleaned it out, put on two new chimney caps (although later reflection suggested we were only missing one), then gave me a song dance about a chimney liner. I looked down the chimney myself, but what do I know? And who are they? It smells like a scam, but everything does to me. I'm interested to see if you've got the same feeling/experience. |
Euclidean
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 6:58 pm: | |
When I moved into my house, I hired a chimney sweep to check out my chimney. In my 70 year old house, the chimney simply had not liner above the first floor. Evidently, the original contractor figured he could save a few bucks. My chimney contractor was able to lower in ceramic liner sections into the chimney and cement them in place so that I didn't have to get a steel liner. He said that a steel liner would cost about $4K. I think I used a company named Precision Chimneys. I would recommend them. |
Kws
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 10:36 am: | |
Rheims,
The company that did the cleaning and recommended the liner was United Chimney out of Teaneck. And yes I sense a hustle here...3700 for what? A days worth of work!!??
But it still leaves me scratching my head wondering if I may really need a liner.
Time to do some research... |
Nursie
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 12:45 pm: | |
I had a guy come out last year to clean the chimney, it was cheap and one of the few tele-marketers I have ever reponded to. They did the cleaning then came the chimny liner pitch. The house is old, and could need one but not for $4000.00. I got a second opinion and was told it was okay for now. I think it is a scam too, and it is so easy for them because most of us don't know what we are looking for. They also tried to intimidate me by telling me how dangerous the chimney was! |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 1:55 pm: | |
I was not a victim of one of these scams, but it didn't stop someone from trying.
I, too, received a phone call about 2 months after I moved in from a company in Long Island who asked for me specifically. They told me that they had the contract from the prior owner to do the chimney cleaning and wanted to know if I was interested in a cleaning and a free evaluation. Of course, I declined. I wouldn't normally buy anything from a telemarketer under any circumstances.
I didn't understand why the previous owner used someone from Long Island to clean the chimney, and how could it possibly be cost-effective? Well, now with all the postings here, I would guess that this company didn't have a contract with the prior owners, and wanted to get their foot in the door to sell me some unneeded service. I'm glad I didn't get involved. |
Joso
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2001 - 3:02 pm: | |
We recently bought a 130 year old house. Our inspector (a very reputable fellow) said that it would be dangerous for us to use the fireplaces unless they were lined. I think it has to do with the age of the chimneys and the concern that the mortar has deteriorated to the point that heat or sparks could leak through to start a fire. I do not know if this is of equal concern on a newer (1920's) house. |
Greenetree
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2001 - 1:42 pm: | |
Yes- sometimes a new liner is necessary. I have a 70-year old house and just replaced the liner last fall.
I cannot say enough good things about Top Hat & Tails. Bob- the owner/chimney sweep, came out after our carbon monoxide detector went off. To make a long story short, we had many problems that defied usual (and less expensive) remedies. Bob came up with several solutions, most of which involved him getting no business from us. When I had another contractor come out to look at the furnace, Bob had already spoken with the service manager to describe the situation (the furnace and chimney were involved). Bob called me every step of the way to let me know what he had found when investigating solutions. In the end, he came up with a remedy for a new liner that ran $2500. This included masonry work, as a bend in our chimney required the removal of sections of bricks.
Bob is now the neighborhood chimney sweep, as I have recommended him to others & everyone loves him. His number is 761-1054. |
Greenetree
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 31, 2001 - 1:42 pm: | |
Yes- sometimes a new liner is necessary. I have a 70-year old house and just replaced the liner last fall.
I cannot say enough good things about Top Hat & Tails. Bob- the owner/chimney sweep, came out after our carbon monoxide detector went off. To make a long story short, we had many problems that defied usual (and less expensive) remedies. Bob came up with several solutions, most of which involved him getting no business from us. When I had another contractor come out to look at the furnace, Bob had already spoken with the service manager to describe the situation (the furnace and chimney were involved). Bob called me every step of the way to let me know what he had found when investigating solutions. In the end, he came up with a remedy for a new liner that ran $2500. This included masonry work, as a bend in our chimney required the removal of sections of bricks.
Bob is now the neighborhood chimney sweep, as I have recommended him to others & everyone loves him. His number is 761-1054. |
Peterdsandman
| | Posted on Saturday, February 3, 2001 - 12:59 am: | |
a new liner? If it helps you sleep at night , than do it.You will only make your house a safer place and raise the value of your home.Cant put a price on peace of mind. |
Lebl1166
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 11:42 am: | |
I recently moved to a 60 year old house and also got a call from a company called Safety First saying that they had serviced the previous owners and our flues needed to be cleaned for $29.29. They also found that there are bigger problems with the chimney. They said that we need to insulate the chimney with thermo-flu and install a double cement crown to avoid further damage to the chimney and for safety reasons. They gave me an estimate of $1250. Has anyone had a similar experience? Does this sound reasonable? Is this something the inspector should have seen? |
Ken
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 11:48 am: | |
I would be careful. This could be a scam. They could have found out that you have just moved in and are trying to pull a fast one.
Or it could be true. Get a second opinion first. Check their references. |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 12:03 pm: | |
DEFINITELY a scam. You can research more in the attic; it's been discussed before.
However, you should call Bob at Top Hat, who I use, as do many of my neighbors. He'll give you a "second" opinion, which may be the same as the first, but at least you'll have an honest company. BTW, did you call the previous owner? If you do, and they say they did not use Safety First, you know they're scamming. If they DID use Safety First, why didn't they notice it at last cleaning? |
Mayhewdrive
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 1:21 pm: | |
We also got a call 2 months after we moved in from someone who said they had a contract with the previous owner to clean the chimney. Ironically, the call came the week after the sale was listed in the newspaper under "recent real-estate transactions".
coincidence? I think not.
It is a scam & i told the guy on the phone to take a leap! |
Lebl1166
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 7:31 pm: | |
Thanks to all who responded. I think it's a scam too. Particularly, because I just received another phone call from another company saying they used to service the prior owners and they wanted to come and clean the chimney flues. I will definitely check it out and get a second opinion. |
Sac
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 - 10:16 pm: | |
Search in the archives on chimney contractors. If you need (or think you might need) anything more than a routine cleaning, you want to get someone who doesn't engage in this form of marketing. We used Chimneys Unlimited based on recommendations from this board and were very happy. Top Hat and Tails also came well recommended and there may have been a few others. Beware the telemarketers! They will nearly always find something wrong (and costly to remedy) in the process of doing their bargain cleaning. |
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