Horizontal Masonry Chimney

[Gunnar Alquist]

Not a question. I just have never seen anything like this before. The fireplace was in the middle of the house and the chimney came out of the top of the fireplace, but there was no chimney in the rooms or attic above. It turned nearly horizontal under the house and ran to the rear.

The house is on an upslope lot. So, the top floor is full width of the house, but the bottom floor was half crawlspace. Looked like a regular masonry fireplace from the interior. No throat damper. Fiberglass insulation stuffed into the base of the chimney. When I walked around the exterior, looked like a regular (old, decrepit) masonry chimney. But, there was this big room above the fireplace that had no chimney. I initially thought the chimney had been dismantled, but when I got into the crawl, I found the chimney extending out at a shallow angle toward the rear exterior. Just too weird.

I love this job! :first:

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[Mark Reinmiller]

The metal plate at the top of the firebox tells you that it does not draw properly.

[JC Warner]

That is so bizarre! I do my own chimney sweeping. I can only imagine the creosote in THAT one. :crazy:

[Gunnar Alquist]

One quick question. In the second pic, does the rear of the firebox appear to have been partially dismantled or do you think it was built that way? There is no damper.

[Mark Reinmiller]

One quick question. In the second pic, does the rear of the firebox appear to have been partially dismantled or do you think it was built that way? There is no damper.

It's hard to say since this thing is a mess. I suspect it was built that way.

[Gunnar Alquist]

It's hard to say since this thing is a mess. I suspect it was built that way.

Thanks Mark,

Since it looked like a brick was missing, I assumed it had been partially dismantled (possibly to put in a wood-burning stove) and then got chewed-out by the seller who said I was wrong. Looking back at the pic, I am beginning to think it was built that way.

But, yes. I still have concerns.

- - - Updated - - -


It's hard to say since this thing is a mess. I suspect it was built that way.

Thanks Mark,

Since it looked like a brick was missing, I assumed it had been partially dismantled (possibly to put in a wood-burning stove) and then got chewed-out by the seller who said I was wrong. Looking back at the pic, I am beginning to think it was built that way.

But, yes. I still have concerns.

[John Kogel]

Gunnar, you are in California so you should know this. That's access for a handicapped Santa Claus. ;)

[Jerry Peck]

Gunnar, you are in California so you should know this. That's access for a handicapped Santa Claus. ;)

I keep waiting for someone to post this, and John came close:

Dude, it's California. We have earthquakes here. If I build the chimney horizontal ... it can't fall on anyone. Know what I mean, Man.

[Bob Harper]

Yeah but you have to use Smart Smoke...

[Ashley Eldridge]

Yeah but you have to use Smart Smoke...

Good luck with that one Bob. I would guess the operator would have to be just the opposite. There is no way I would recommend that anyone consider using this fireplace. It could hardly have been built worse. Your best bet is to recommend complete removal before there is loss of life or property, in my opinion.

Ashley Eldridge
CSIA Director of education
www.csia.org (http://www.csia.org)

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Slope is required.
1/4" for every 1 foot.

[Bob Harper]

Slope is required.
1/4" for every 1 foot.

For connectors. This is a chimney.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Thanks!
My mistake. I thought is was lined.

Recommend an masonry chimney installer evaluate the installation.

It ain't no chimney.
Chimney; the vertical channel that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire place / box or furnace and "typically" through the roof of a building but not always.