Unused Chimney stack ventilation
 

I have a 1950's built house with two rather high chimney stacks, each
with two chambers - one for the lounge and bedroom above, one for the
dining room and bedroom above.
The roof is steeply pitched and the chimneys are built out from the
outside wall and are around 35 courses of bricks above gutter level -
access is difficult.

Only the lounge chimney is occasionally used for an open fire. The
fireplaces for the others are bricked up and have internal ventilation
bricks.

Currently we are having the top 6 courses of each chimney being
rebuilt. Scaffolding is up and work is in progress as I write.

Question:
I'm wondering, late in the day, if we should add a chimney pot insert
to each of the 3 unused stacks the prevent rain ingress. I'm looking at
some from Redbank Manufacturing http://www.redbankmfg.co.uk/ - look
under Chimney inserts.

We've been in this house 6 years and I'm not aware of any problems with
the open pots.
Clearly the insert would reduce rain ingress, but I just wonder if the
more restricted ventilation of the insert might negate any benefit this
offers?

I'm totally ignorant in this area so any direction or pearls of wisdom
would be appreciated.

Mike A.

Unused Chimney stack ventilation
 

In article . com,
Mike A. writes
I have a 1950's built house with two rather high chimney stacks, each
with two chambers - one for the lounge and bedroom above, one for the
dining room and bedroom above.
The roof is steeply pitched and the chimneys are built out from the
outside wall and are around 35 courses of bricks above gutter level -
access is difficult.

Only the lounge chimney is occasionally used for an open fire. The
fireplaces for the others are bricked up and have internal ventilation
bricks.

Currently we are having the top 6 courses of each chimney being
rebuilt. Scaffolding is up and work is in progress as I write.

Question:
I'm wondering, late in the day, if we should add a chimney pot insert
to each of the 3 unused stacks the prevent rain ingress. I'm looking at
some from Redbank Manufacturing http://www.redbankmfg.co.uk/ - look
under Chimney inserts.

We've been in this house 6 years and I'm not aware of any problems with
the open pots.
Clearly the insert would reduce rain ingress, but I just wonder if the
more restricted ventilation of the insert might negate any benefit this
offers?

I'm totally ignorant in this area so any direction or pearls of wisdom
would be appreciated.

A cap is definitely a good idea for the unused flues, as well as the ones you
point out you can just add a separate aftermarket cap:
http://www.flues.co.uk/acatalog/Flue...apper_214.html
http://www.fluesystems.com/cowls/index_disused.htm
You'll not need much of a draught to keep it dry and leaving it fully open will
result in a lot of warm air being lost through the vent.

IMO an internal room vent (as you have) is best as warm air from the room
rises up through the chimney by convection keeping it dry but others here
have successfully vented the base of the chimney to the outside and claim
there is sufficient airflow to keep it dry.
--
fred
Plusnet - I hope you like vanilla

Unused Chimney stack ventilation
 

fred wrote:

A cap is definitely a good idea for the unused flues, as well as the ones you
point out you can just add a separate aftermarket cap...

Fred,
Thanks for the info - very useful.

Mike A.