Debris coming down chimney

[edward55]

We have inherited a chimney that is depositing debris on the hearth regularly. As I understand it, it hasn't been used for some years but there is a large louvre chimney pot which hasn't been capped. The previous owner had stuffed a full binbag up at the chimney breast, which we removed to find a lot of debris resting on top. For the few weeks since we removed it we find a handful of dust of assorted colours on the hearth every week (grey dust, white salt-like granules..). It's showing no signs of abating, hence I'm concerned about where it's all coming from.

My question is, does anyone know what this is telling me? Is it eroding brickwork and mortar due to rain getting in?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[arl]

I would get it swept before you start worrying about it too much. If you still get lots of debris after this then maybe you have a problem

 

[Nemesis]

Old and unused flues, in my experience, always shed some old mortar and bits of crumbling stone/brick whatever. Certainly I'd get it swept to bring down as much as possible, and partially blocking it off, as with the bin bag (always leave some room for air) then having a more controlled clear out every now and again is a good plan.

I doubt it's rain, probably simply wind and house movement.

 

[charlie-ia]

the house we live in at the moment is about 100, brick and cement terrace. we have small pebbles regularly appearing in the hearth, maybe 1 every other fire. look like the larger pebbles you would use for making concrete for a footpath. is this normal, or a sign that we need to do something somewhere? it is negligible really at the moment. we sweep fairly regularly and that doesnt seem to bring anything down. it wouldnt be birds dropping stones would it? i think that would be a bit mad.

 

[chuckey]

Charlie-ia, I found a dead frog in a disused flue, I doubt that he hopped in there himself, which leaves us with what? :roll:
Frank

 

[Raylea]

Our house before we moved where we are now was built in 1950s it had a gas fire on the front of the chimney we removed it and it had the potential to have a real fire in it, though we never did there was always debris coming down and I mean big chunks of what look like brick work :shock: I tried not to think about it to often just cleared it up everyday.

Raylea (Though I don't suggest you forget about)

 

[charlie-ia]

dead frog

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

blimey raylea! im glad you didnt try having a fire. our new house is like that, we swept, and a stone fell out. there was lots of sandy debris and bits of old crow, but we got in nice and clean, and the sand slowed to a slow trickle. we tried a gentle fire and it seemed ok, though some smoke leaks. we swept it again after a couple of weeks and it seemed ok. we carried on using the fire, and after about a month the chimney caught light.
its too easy to do. we got away with it as it just smouldered for a few hours and went out. my stepdad is a retd fireman, and he came round to keep an eye on it, but we were so lucky.

not that we would do it again, (at the moment we're not using either fire untill we get them properly sorted) but my stepdad explained to me how that kind of chimney fire is the worst. the smoke leaks out of the chimney through the loose mortar, and then the fire smoulders away in the walls in the tar and soot, often un-noticed, and then you cant put it out cos you cant get the water in.

im a little nervous of chimneys at the moment!

 

[Penners]

I would get it swept before you start worrying about it too much.

I second that. And while the sweep is there, ask his opinion about the falling material (keep some to show him) - and the state of the chimney in general.

 

[Nemesis]

I'd suggest if it's going to be used it is lined though.

We had a previous house where the ceiling joists were charred, some near where the chimney flue passed through it were charred very badly...

I can put my hand into the bedroom fireplaces (which are straight flues up to the outside) and sweep my hand over the lime mortar between the stones and it will crumble to dust. The exterior of the house shows a long standing leaking chimney problem from what was once the parlour - black mark tracing the line of the flue on the gable end. It has been repointed in the past externally, which has solved the leaking to the outside, but we only use it occasionally and are looking at lining (and the stack needs work doing also, a job for next year).