The chimney that my boiler vents into is deteriorating and I am debating what to do.
There appears to be a few different factors working together to destroy this chimney, from the inside and from the outside. It is brick and it is integrated with the brick wall of the house. I presume it has a ceramic liner. There are at least two chambers and I don't think either is straight. There is also a small window in the middle of the chimney.
If money were no object and if I were confident this would be my own house forever, I would certainly abandon this chimney, demolish it at the roof line and replace the boiler with a new high efficiency one. Having that chimney gone would also make it much easier to build the roof out on that back side of the house the way I think it should be, (with an overhang like is on the front of the house).
My status being what it is though, I am considering fixing this chimney and trying to figure out what's practical. If this chimney is going to be used again next winter it will need one of those metal liners installed. I'm trying to figure out if that's doable, if it's something I can do or someone else can do and if it'd be worth it.
** I'm also trying to figure out if it is possible to transition from masonry to B-vent or something metal and engineered for the purpose. **
I think it would be a lot easier and cleaner job if I could demo the chimney down to the roofline. I'd be eliminating variables and going for a streamlined design, with fewer drainage/flashing/mortar/maintenance issues and also much easier access for installing the liner. And I'd be able to build the roof out more sensibly.
I'm not sure if it's to code, if a liner might make it to code, and how the transition should work. I don't plan on being inspected but I like to prepare for it and obviously I like it to be functional and safe, if not proper.
Can it be done?
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