Cider Press Hill

And it begins

I am freezing! My body literally began shivering a little while ago—I knew it was time to pull out the fuzzy socks and my fuzzy sweatshirt. And it’s only 55 degrees out! But the house is 68 degrees and, after several months of it being in the upper 70’s to mid 80s in here, that’s cold. And gonna get colder. I’m not turning on the furnace and I can’t fire up the stove yet and don’t want to, anyway. I should be well conditioned by the time the end of October rolls around.

This evening I spoke with two chimney sweeps. I don’t dare start a fire in the stove until that’s been completed. It was a surprise to me when they both said they could come out sometime late next week. Last year when I called in August, they were booked solid through the middle of November. One of the sweeps started making noises about the possibility of finding damage requiring a new chimney liner. Yes, I know that is always a possibility. I’ve had to replace a chimney liner before and let me tell you it isn’t cheap. So, I’d really rather not think about that right now.

On the other hand, I had an incident in March that made me wonder. There was nothing that overtly suggested a chimney fire, but there was a sudden and loud blowback into the wood stove one night. That could have been strong wind catching the chimney at just the right angle, but it’s also something that happens with a chimney fire. You’d think I’d know if there was one, but I guess that’s not always the case. It could have left a damaged chimney liner with little fanfare.

The other chimney sweep said he’d be happy to come out and do the job without elaborating on all the possibilities. Now, I know that if he found anything dangerous, he’d tell me, but he wasn’t into (gleefully) telling me all the horrible things he might (and hoped to) find. I think I’ll choose chimney sweep number two and keep my fingers crossed.

Posted on 09/13/07 at 09:38 PM
 




cyn

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too since we had our entire chimney replaced last year.  A very expensive proposition.  Ours was cause there were a few holes on the outside that were getting bigger. (Builder had used the wrong bricks)).  Anyway, when they pulled the bricks off to replace them, they discovered (and showed us) the condition of the liners.  Scary.  We were awfully lucky nothing had ever happened.  Our neighbors all came to see the liners and more then a few were concerned about what might be going on in the inside of their chimneys.  Of course, most of them never use their fireplaces.  But we use ours a fair amount so.........

United States   Posted by cyn on 09/13/07  at  09:45 PM





Kate

I feel for you, Cyn. That’s a very scary-expensive job. Having gone through that once before, I’d get nothing other than a stainless steel liner. They’re indestructible and should outlive the average human. I know that my current one isn’t and it will need to be replaced sooner or later. Just hope it isn’t this year.

United States   Posted by Kate on 09/13/07  at  09:48 PM





cassie-b

Some years ago when we were living in Scotland, our landlady came dashing into our apartment yelling “chimney fire!” Up until that moment I had never heard the expression.  It was a bit scary, but other than a bit of soot in the living room, there was no damage.  And the chimney was clean as a whistle when the fire was out.

Cas
I hope you don’t have to get a new liner.

United States   Posted by cassie-b on 09/14/07  at  09:37 AM





Kate

Thanks, Cassie.

They must have some stout chimneys in Scotland. Are they made of stone or brick or what? And you lived there? How wicked cool is that!

United States   Posted by Kate on 09/14/07  at  01:23 PM





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