Easy Clean Drain

[Fidel Gonzales]

Hi All,

Hope someone can help me with this. See pictures. I found this in a 1950's home. The unit is call " Easy clean drain" It appears that its not connected to any gas burning appliances. I did find a dead squirrel when I open the cover.
The vent appear to go all the way out to the chimney and its next to the the spark arrestor. I did recommend a inspection from a chimney company.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Bob Harper]

The pics seem to show a previously stainless, now corroded steel chimney liner mortared into the crown next to a fireplace flue tile that is badly damagd and falling apart. The presence of this clean out at the base of the chimney is puzzling. What does it do? If it is piped directly to the pipe showing at the top of the chimney with no gap or breaching between then all it does is collect rain and channel it to the outlet, which is pointless. In order to serve some benefit assisting with drying the chimney there would have to be some sort of sump or lead sheet pan collecting water and channeling it to a scupper leading to this trap door. Even if there was a vertical weeping tile, it would not collect much unless the inside of the pipe was warmer and drier than the masonry itself.

Someone needs to confirm this is one continuous conduit from top to bottom or if there is a separation or the two are totally unassociated.

These drains must be a regional thing because we don't see them on the east coast.

[Fidel Gonzales]

The pics seem to show a previously stainless, now corroded steel chimney liner mortared into the crown next to a fireplace flue tile that is badly damagd and falling apart. The presence of this clean out at the base of the chimney is puzzling. What does it do? If it is piped directly to the pipe showing at the top of the chimney with no gap or breaching between then all it does is collect rain and channel it to the outlet, which is pointless. In order to serve some benefit assisting with drying the chimney there would have to be some sort of sump or lead sheet pan collecting water and channeling it to a scupper leading to this trap door. Even if there was a vertical weeping tile, it would not collect much unless the inside of the pipe was warmer and drier than the masonry itself.

Someone needs to confirm this is one continuous conduit from top to bottom or if there is a separation or the two are totally unassociated.

These drains must be a regional thing because we don't see them on the east coast.

The (clean out) unit has been abandon and I recommended a chimney company to inspected and perhaps seal it off since in no longer has a purpose. New Hvac system has been installed with a new flue and chimney liner. And yes, the clean drain liner terminates next to the fireplace cap. This Easy Clean Drain must be a Midwest thing. Although this was the first one I've seen.

Thank you for taking time to respond.
Regards, Fidel

[Fidel Gonzales]

[QUOTE=fidel gonzales;192054]Hi All,

Hope someone can help me with this. See pictures. I found this in a 1950's home. The unit is call " Easy clean drain" It appears that its not connected to any gas burning appliances. I did find a dead squirrel when I open the cover.
The vent appear to go all the way out to the chimney and its next to the the spark arrestor. I did recommend a inspection from a chimney company.

Thanks to all that took time to respond