Crumbling furnace chimney, can it be removed?

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 02:44 AM

Hello, I need help!
8 years ago I replaced my home's original furnace. The contractor did not put a liner in. Since then, slowly but surely the chimney has deteriorated from the ground up. I have had several masons out for estimates. Each was more than I could afford. Finally one suggested, because of today's high efficiency furnaces, the chimney could be removed. Is this an alternative?

**oh'mike** · 04-19-2011, 06:00 AM

re you planning to change to a high efficiency furnace?

gregzoll · 04-19-2011, 08:16 AM

EyeatDIY, I took a couple of bids to take down our chimney, that used to be for the Octopus furnace, and both came around $1500. One was to tear below the roof line and rebuild, the other was to tear, leave the debris inside the flue at the bottom, and fix the roof where it used to be.

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh'mike

re you planning to change to a high efficiency furnace?

thanks for your responce...
Yes, I will if it cost effective. The contractor I feel the most confident in, quoted 4,800 to tear down and rebuild the chimney.

What i have to consider...
Quoted, cost of new high efficiency furnace including installation is 2,300.
The hot water heater's need of ventilation(?)
Tearing down the old chimney (?)
Cost of Re-bricking ( coming up with a pleasing aesthetic... Original brick is not available)(?)
Roof modification (?)

Ultimately... Is there one professional who can help me determine what I should do? A general contractor, mason, heating and cooling, roof or what?

Hmmm?

Wildie · 04-19-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeAtDIY

thanks for your responce...
Yes, I will if it cost effective. The contractor I feel the most confident in, quoted 4,800 to tear down and rebuild the chimney.

What i have to consider...
Quoted, cost of new high efficiency furnace including installation is 2,300.
The hot water heater's need of ventilation(?)
Tearing down the old chimney (?)
Cost of Re-bricking ( coming up with a pleasing aesthetic... Original brick is not available)(?)
Roof modification (?)

Ultimately... Is there one professional who can help me determine what I should do? A general contractor, mason, heating and cooling, roof or what?

Hmmm?

Go for the high efficiency furnace and hot water. Then tear the old chimney down. You will never regret it.
In my house I already had a h/e furnace, so when I had a new roof put on, I had the roofers remove the old chimney.
They charged me $300 extra to do this. Including closing the hole in the roof!

**oh'mike** · 04-19-2011, 07:50 PM

By all means upgrade the furnace and water heater and get rid if the old chimney--

There are a bunch of good HVAC tecs here--one will chime in soon enough--Mike---

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 08:00 PM

Hvac?

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildie

Go for the high efficiency furnace and hot water. Then tear the old chimney down. You will never regret it.
In my house I already had a h/e furnace, so when I had a new roof put on, I had the roofers remove the old chimney.
They charged me $300 extra to do this. Including closing the hole in the roof!

The roof, furnace and hot hot water heater are all relatively new. And in good working order. Is there a market for used furnaces and/or hot water heaters?

**oh'mike** · 04-19-2011, 08:09 PM

HVAC--Heating--ventilating--air conditioning--

We have a section just for that type of question--hvac ! If you have questions about what system will be best for your home--post there--Mike---

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh'mike

HVAC--Heating--ventilating--air conditioning--

We have a section just for that type of question--hvac ! If you have questions about what system will be best for your home--post there--Mike---

Cost is a HUGE factor! I just pulled the brochure of my existing furnace and hot water heater.
What should I look for to see if my furnace needs the chimney?

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeAtDIY

Cost is a HUGE factor! I just pulled the brochure of my existing furnace and hot water heater.
What should I look for to see if my furnace needs the chimney?

"user information Manual." says it is power ventilated gas furnace. Is that adequate?

**oh'mike** · 04-19-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeAtDIY

"user information Manual." says it is power ventilated gas furnace. Is that adequate?

Start a new post in 'HVAC' those guys will answer your questions---

Most of them never look into the 'Building and construction section---

Just a suggestion----Mike----

Wildie · 04-19-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeAtDIY

The roof, furnace and hot hot water heater are all relatively new. And in good working order. Is there a market for used furnaces and/or hot water heaters?

For the hot water heater there is likely a good market for these. For the furnace, not likely because it costs too much to install them, for the limited remaining lifespan.

New furnaces are available, at good prices these days, so you will have to weigh the cost of a h/e furnace against the cost of the chimney.

I would only consider redoing the chimney only as a last resort.

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh'mike

Start a new post in 'HVAC' those guys will answer your questions---

Most of them never look into the 'Building and construction section---

Just a suggestion----Mike----

New to the chat, Just understood your suggestion, Will do! Thanks so much!

EyeAtDIY · 04-19-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildie

For the hot water heater there is likely a good market for these. For the furnace, not likely because it costs too much to install them, for the limited remaining lifespan.

New furnaces are available, at good prices these days, so you will have to weigh the cost of a h/e furnace against the cost of the chimney.

I would only consider redoing the chimney only as a last resort.

Thank you!