So you want a high efficiency boiler for your home to cut energy costs and join the green movement right? Good idea! We can help you with that. Chimney problems caused by high efficiency boilers are becoming more common as our communities move toward more energy efficient and cost effective methods of heating their homes. One of the biggest problems created by these new boilers is the sense of false security. Read on to find out what we mean by that.
Whether you are using an oil, propane, or natural gas fired condensing boiler, here is one thing to keep in mind. Ice, snow, and sleet from the outside freezes your bricks. When the condensing air inside the frozen chimney rises it looses heat quickly. Now, it's freezing. One customer's chimney in Portland Maine we serviced had a thick layer of ice forming on the inside of his chimney. We couldn't even sweep it! When Billy put the camera inside the flue to see what was there it was actually snowing inside, not outside, the chimney.
What can happen next is called efflorescence and it's not good for your chimney. Ever see a nice chimney with this kind of white film, barely noticible, and positioned vertically on one side? The root of this chimney problem has to do with the fact that the bricks' core have a concentration of salts. When the core of the bricks on your heating system side of the chimney get wet they begin to loose their integrity and let more water in, eventually spalling the brick face entirely. As the salts move from the core of the brick out to the edges, they leave a white deposit called, efflorescence. If this isn't caught in time, your chimney may fall apart. You'll need a chimney sweep whose chimney services are expert at solving complex chimney problems. You'll need to know the condition of your chimney lining system. Call us, your plumber or heating contractor would.
This could happen to your chimney in a short number of years with a new high efficiency gas boiler so please make sure you have your chimney inspected annually for deterioration and efflorescence. Proper maintenence of your chimney and it's lining system avoid you the trouble and inconvenience of a future emergency situation.
Now, let's balance this out. We love high efficiency in almost everything. If you choose a high efficiency condensing boiler for your home, hire us to inspect, properly line, and warranty your chimney. Our chimney lining products are warrantied for life and even our labor is unconditionally warrantied for one year. Don't bargain your safety away by hiring the cheaper competition. We're here for the long haul, they may not be. Get it done now. Get it done right, the first time.