chimney height, pitched roof?

The brick chimney on my colonial house is in rough shape. I received a quote to replace it with a steel pipe (after relining the flue). The company said the pipe will only be several feet high. I’ve been told that a chimney should terminate a minimum of 3ft. _above_ any structure within 10ft of the chimney. The peak of my pitched roof is definitely within 10 feet of the chimney, and a pipe that is 3-5 feet high will not extend above this peak — not even close. The chimney company (who is highly recommended on these forums) said that I shouldn’t worry about it– they do it this way all the time. Extending the chimney above the peak of the roof would be much more work, of course. So, it’s tempting to go with what seems like the easier solution. But, I’m worried this could cause problems in the future– both in terms of code and safety. Thoughts? Thanks.

tcflatbsh

in Chimney and Fireplace 9 years and 5 months ago

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bk123 | 8 years and 7 months ago

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the wind flowing over the roof can push down the chimney, that’s why it needs to be higher also.

kaarina.mackenzie | 8 years and 7 months ago

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I think the height of the chimney and roof must be proportionate, so that there should not be any problem created due to height and size. Therefore, before fixing chimney at your home, you must consult[chimney specialist Suffolk County](http://www.chimneygenie.com/chimney-services/experts/).

thetinkerswagon | 9 years and 5 months ago

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if the chimney is not higher than the highest point on the house, then the house will become the chimney and draw down through the flue and up through the roof. there is something called “stack effect”. why not test the man trying to tell you he does these all the time and ask him what “stack effect” is? if he knows and can explain it and can justify how the chimney can function lower than the highest point on the roof, maybe he knows something you or I don’t. maybe there are exceptions (I doubt it, I am with Dork here, I am just playing the devil’s advocate). FYI, stack effect is the downward pressure of the atmosphere pushing up through a flue releasing at a higher elevation and into an area of lower pressure; it functions all the time whether or not the appliance (boiler) is on – when I remove the flue from the boiler in the basement, it is like a vacuum cleaner sucking dust up through the chimney. the definition is mine from experience, not one i looked up, and the reason i tell you this is not to brag but to show you that if someone is selling chimneys, then he is a specialist well beyond what I am as I hate brick work and do not climb and do not know anything about the code for chimneys, and if this guy (me) has an idea what stack effect is, then the chimney salesman damn well better too and if he doesn’t find someone else who does. if you educate yourself on a few terms and some theory and then pose questions to some of these folks, their entire story will fall apart fast and they will start talking in circles. it can be comical if you have the time to waste. the reason i am down on people who pretend to be experts on things they are not is that legitimate contractors have to compete against these people. it makes it hard for everyone including the homeowners. that said, there is still some question here. as I have said, I am not the expert and maybe this guy knows something we do not. let him explain the code and his theory on why this exception is ok and follow up on it. at the best you will learn a lot and at the worst you waste some time.

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 5 months ago

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I will say that I had a “we do it that way all the time” people who are recommended on the forum that did not do things to code – and in fact did not even know the code (yes, it changes!) because i tested them (or rather i schooled them after some unneeded conflict). You should not fall for this and tell them you want it done to code, period. If you have to get out the ruler to check what height is needed, so be it. This should have (or should be) in the contract. If the word “chimney” is not in their name, and they are known more for doing things like stoops or brownstone repair for example, then i would look elsewhere – as this was the mistake i made. Sure, sure you can point to 20 chimneys in the neighborhood that you did (and i feel sorry for them because none of them have a clean-out, and if a bird nest or raccoon plugs it they could die if the CO detector does not work). A professional does not pull this crap and it really gets me hot under the collar. Remember, someone who works on your chimney and / or venting is putting your life in their hands with carbon monoxide… and the third world attitude is not acceptable to me (and it shouldn’t be to you if they pull the “don’t worry, i’m the expert, i do everyone’s chimney trust me schtick). These people do not write building code and many of them have no idea why the code is written as it is. sorry, rant over.