Chimney problems

Ihatehalloween

I have an open fire and last night about ten minutes after lighting it several large pieces of sooty looking mortar fell into the firegrate as a result the cement between the fireback and the chimney is now broken and looks similar to whatever fell down the chimney. We only ever burn wood or turf about 3 nights a week. I don't think it was the liner as the liner is orange and the debris that fell looking like mortar.

Any ideas?

Sir Arthur Daley

How new/old is your chimney?

GY A1

was it lump soot that fell down

Ihatehalloween

Hi guys
The house was built in the mid 80's and what fell down looks like large pieces of mortar, possibly called creosote from burning wood, waiting on a company to call as we speak.

Thanks for the replies

hallo dare

Ihatehalloween wrote: »

Hi guys
The house was built in the mid 80's and what fell down looks like large pieces of mortar, possibly called creosote from burning wood, waiting on a company to call as we speak.

Thanks for the replies

when was it last cleaned?

Ihatehalloween

About 3 years ago

john kinsella

You have more than likely had a chimney fire at some stage which has caused damage to the flue.

You will need to have it re-lined with new clay liners or one of those flexi flues.

You should contact your insurance company as it is covered under the fire peril.

hallo dare

there you go, it needs cleaning every year if your using it consistently.

hallo dare

there you go, it needs cleaning every year if your using it consistently.

Ihatehalloween

It is rarely used so I can't see how it would have gone on fire

Ihatehalloween

Turns out it was some of the rendering from the top had come loose. All sorted

Sir Arthur Daley

Ihatehalloween wrote: »

Turns out it was some of the rendering from the top had come loose. All sorted

Do you mean rendering as in plaster? how could that fall down the liners?

Ihatehalloween

WikiHow wrote: »

Do you mean rendering as in plaster? how could that fall down the liners?

I understand your scepticism, I felt the same so I had someone else do a CCTV check and it was exactly as the other company said. It was mortar holding the different sections of the clay liner together that had deteriorated and fell down.
Lucky enough it was simple enough to sort out. Don't need big hassle this time of year.