[hellohello]

A friend of mine wants me to remove his chimney. It's coming through a roof that is steeply pitched on a 45, and it has some large 100-pound stones in it. The roof currently has some solar panels on it, but they would be removed before beginning demolition. I'm wondering what the most efficient and safe way would be to do this. I think a large boom lift would be necessary, with some fall-arrest gear hooked up to it (and of course to me). Then I'd use a rotary hammer to chip away at the stones, or the mortar joints so I could remove each stone whole.

I'm actually not so much worried about my safety as I am about losing control of one of those large stones and having it crash through the roof below. Or onto the driveway below and banging up the blacktop. Or even one of the stones falling on me in the boom lift. Lots of liability here. Any suggestions on the best way to get it done? What would you do? I'm leaning towards not doing it, but I'm still interested in hearing your ideas.

See the pics below.

http://share.pho.to/A3V0c/dl/
http://share.pho.to/A3V0c/ky/

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

thats an accident looking to happen, I watched a few guys upstate try and take down a chimney like that on a church..it came down alright..right through the roof and into the church..lots of damage, luckily noone was hurt...I dont do heights and if I did, I would let a company that has done that work do it..

 

[Oso954]

+1 on hiring a company experienced in removing chimneys.

 

[Daniel Holzman]

I would never touch a job like that if I were unable to get adequate insurance to cover any possible accident, including injury to yourself, third parties, the homeowner, his house, and any contents. From my experience, the only way you can get that type of insurance is if you already have experience doing that type of demolition, which from the sounds of it you don't, so I would walk.

 

[Bondo]

I'm leaning towards not doing it,

Ayuh,.... Probably a Good idea,....

To do that job, you'd need to set up stagin', it several levels to get to it, 'n then a shoot to slide the stones down into a waitin' dump truck or dumpster,....

You'd need stagin' access 'round all 4 sides of the chimney, 'n be able to lower it, 'n the shoot to the dumpster, as ya tear it down,....

A Big job, 'n lotsa liabilities,...

 

[ZZZZZ]

That's not a bad looking chimney. I think it adds to the character of the house. And it coordinates well with the other stone on the side of the house and the porch.

If the chimney is in good shape, why not keep it?

 

[hellohello]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. Looks like I should leave this one to the pros.

That's not a bad looking chimney. I think it adds to the character of the house. And it coordinates well with the other stone on the side of the house and the porch.

If the chimney is in good shape, why not keep it?

I agree with you Z. However, the solar panels (only a year old) on the roof are producing well below the amount of electricity that the solar installer said they should be, and he claims this is because the chimney is blocking the sun from completely hitting the panels. And since the chimney is no longer in use, the homeowner feels he should remove it to see if the solar installer's claims are true. If the panels still don't produce as much electricity after chimney removal as the installer originally said they should, then the homeowner will be filing suit.

 

[Daniel Holzman]

It is possible that the solar panels are producing below theoretical because the panels are wired in series (very common way to wire panels). In that case, the output is limited by the output of the most shaded panel in the string. It is possible to wire the panels using microinverters, in which case a shaded panel will not affect any other panel. This is a more efficient way to wire the system, especially if specific panels are likely to be shaded by the chimney. Perhaps you can tell the homeowner about this option. The amount he saves by not taking down the chimney could perhaps pay to change his wiring plan.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,... If that chimney is blockin' the sun from the panels, I'd think they were installed on the wrong side of the house, or the house sets so that direct light ain't gonna be sufficient anyways,....

A solar survey shoulda been done, before the funds were pissed away on a bad installation,....

 

[ZZZZZ]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. Looks like I should leave this one to the pros.

I agree with you Z. However, the solar panels (only a year old) on the roof are producing well below the amount of electricity that the solar installer said they should be, and he claims this is because the chimney is blocking the sun from completely hitting the panels. And since the chimney is no longer in use, the homeowner feels he should remove it to see if the solar installer's claims are true. If the panels still don't produce as much electricity after chimney removal as the installer originally said they should, then the homeowner will be filing suit.

It doesn't make sense to me that the chimney would be blocking the sun at all. If the solar panels are indeed facing south, then the chimney would never be in the way.

If the solar panels are not facing south, that is why they are not generating much juice.

Either way, it might cost less to relocate the solar panels than to take down the chimney.

 

[hellohello]

It is possible that the solar panels are producing below theoretical because the panels are wired in series (very common way to wire panels). In that case, the output is limited by the output of the most shaded panel in the string. It is possible to wire the panels using microinverters, in which case a shaded panel will not affect any other panel. This is a more efficient way to wire the system, especially if specific panels are likely to be shaded by the chimney. Perhaps you can tell the homeowner about this option. The amount he saves by not taking down the chimney could perhaps pay to change his wiring plan.

Good to know, I will let my friend know about this!

Ayuh,... If that chimney is blockin' the sun from the panels, I'd think they were installed on the wrong side of the house, or the house sets so that direct light ain't gonna be sufficient anyways,....

A solar survey shoulda been done, before the funds were pissed away on a bad installation,....

A solar survey was done by the installer beforehand, and he said that the panels should produce "x" amount of kW. However, they're only producing two-thirds "x".

It doesn't make sense to me that the chimney would be blocking the sun at all. If the solar panels are indeed facing south, then the chimney would never be in the way.

If the solar panels are not facing south, that is why they are not generating much juice.

Either way, it might cost less to relocate the solar panels than to take down the chimney.

The side of the roof where the panels are is facing ESE, which isn't ideal, but was the only option, since the other side of the roof faces WNW. I like your idea about relocating the panels though. We'll see if that's an option.

I think what I can also recommend in the meantime is setting up a camera on a sunny day to do a time-lapse of how much shadow the chimney actually casts throughout the day, because I'm with you in that I can't imagine how the chimney could be blocking THAT much sunlight.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

Thanks for your opinions everyone. Looks like I should leave this one to the pros.



I agree with you Z. However, the solar panels (only a year old) on the roof are producing well below the amount of electricity that the solar installer said they should be, and he claims this is because the chimney is blocking the sun from completely hitting the panels. And since the chimney is no longer in use, the homeowner feels he should remove it to see if the solar installer's claims are true. If the panels still don't produce as much electricity after chimney removal as the installer originally said they should, then the homeowner will be filing suit.

just have him file suit, most of the solar panel claims are bull $hit...the small shadow the chimney gives should not effect the panels, get a solar engineer in( 3rd party) and have him report..

 

[hellohello]

just have him file suit, most of the solar panel claims are bull $hit...the small shadow the chimney gives should not effect the panels, get a solar engineer in( 3rd party) and have him report..

Yup, he does have a third-party (another professional solar engineer) who said it could be possible that the chimney is causing the loss of output, which is why the homeowner wants to pursue this more than ever. This third party would be the one removing the panels before chimney demolition (if demo will even occur).

 

[ZZZZZ]

Good to know, I will let my friend know about this!



A solar survey was done by the installer beforehand, and he said that the panels should produce "x" amount of kW. However, they're only producing two-thirds "x".



The side of the roof where the panels are is facing ESE, which isn't ideal, but was the only option, since the other side of the roof faces WNW. I like your idea about relocating the panels though. We'll see if that's an option.

I think what I can also recommend in the meantime is setting up a camera on a sunny day to do a time-lapse of how much shadow the chimney actually casts throughout the day, because I'm with you in that I can't imagine how the chimney could be blocking THAT much sunlight.

The solar panels do not need to lay flat on the roof, though that is usually the low-cost installation option. The panels can be propped up sort of like a billboard and angled to the correct position for maximum solar exposure,

And if this house is in Philly, you probably get a lot of semi-cloudy days that reduce the panel output.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

Yup, he does have a third-party (another professional solar engineer) who said it could be possible that the chimney is causing the loss of output, which is why the homeowner wants to pursue this more than ever. This third party would be the one removing the panels before chimney demolition (if demo will even occur).

most solar panels are a scam, it will cost more in the end than if you save anything on your electric bill, now add the cost of demoing the chimney..is he going to save anything?? you cant make electric for as cheap as you can buy it from the power company, as long as you are on the grid already...

 

[GrayHair]

From what I'm reading here, I'd say the solar company may have pushed the limits of panel positioning a little too far. Now they're looking for safe harbor from a storm fueled by an irate customer.

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

the new solar scam in my area is that the sales companies sell the homeowner a bill of goods and cheap monthly payments for 20 or 30 years, and in the fine print on the contract, you sign the right for them to put a lein on your house, so if you sell the house and the new owner doesnt want the solar, you are stuck paying for it even after you move out of your house, and they collect to release the lein on your house so you can sell it..SCAM!!!

 

[Oso954]

I think think you friend needs to do some cost benefit analysis. What will be the total cost of the chimney removal (incl. r+r panels) vs the return based on increased production over x years. If there is 30 percent missing, what if he only gains 10% or 20% ?

There is no guarantee mentioned that he will recover the entire 30%.

Taking the original installer to court really depends on the contract. Some are written to guarantee performance of the system, others have a bunch of weasle words that make it real hard to collect on the difference between the "forecast" and actual performance.

Speaking of actual performance, how long have they been in service ?
I wouldn't be in a hurry to do anything if they haven't been in service for at least a year or longer.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... At this point in time, once ya get past any tax credits still available, it's all a scam anyways,....

 

[ZZZZZ]

to digress for one post, OTOH solar hot water can be very cost effective.

And cheap. At a former house of mine, I built a solar hot water pre-heater for about $50. An old hot water tank, a plywood box, an old sliding glass door and some piping. The water entering the house's electric water heater came into the tank at about 120 degrees, rather than 50 degrees out of the ground. Cut the electric bill by about 40%.