Ice on chimney = need new boiler?

ed wallace

I doubt you nee a boiler but to test for bad boiler take the top cover off and raise the water level up into the header and look for leaks most likely the liner is cold

Taylor_4

Ice on chimney = need new boiler?

It's 10 degrees this morning, steam heat running all night, I look at the top of the chimney and see....ice.

Is the boiler toast, or does exhaust contain that much moisture on a cold day?

Boiler is about 7 years old, but automatic water feeder runs maybe every couple of days (it has actually run at least twice in the last 24 hours). I have not been able to locate the leak, about to replace all valves (second time in two years). Given state of asbestos insulation (now removed) on some connections, the leak may be there, but nothing visible.

Also got new SS flue about 3 years ago, the ice is on top of that.

ed wallace

ice on chimney

I doubt you nee a boiler but to test for bad boiler take the top cover off and raise the water level up into the header and look for leaks most likely the liner is cold

Taylor_4

Thanks

Just to clarify: the ice is hanging off the chimney top like a wing (best way I can think of to describe it). In other words, it really looks like exhaust from the chimney has frozen up on the way out the chimney.

Quite pretty actually.

Jamie Hall

good buddy...

if it's as cold at your place as it is at mine, that could very well simply be condensation; amazing how much water is created when you burn either oil or natural gas!

Jack

What is the chimneys construction

Is this oil or gas fired? Is the chimney an end wall chimney? How tall is it? What construction is the chimney and the chimney liner? In fact, is it lined at all? What size is the liner? How much rise from the boilers breeching to the point where it connects to the chimney? How much rise and run on that vent connector? What size is that vent connector? What is the input rating on the boiler? Have you had these type isses in the past? Has anything else changed to affect draft issues with the flue? Is the chimney clear all the way to the top? Has an internal portion of it collapsed?

I ask all these questions to get an idea as to whether or not you need a new chimney liner. If your boiler is not leaking then you are more than likely getting condensation of the flue gases which are freezing at the top of the flue. And, yes, you can get a lot of moisture. Approx 1 gal of water vapor per gal of oil or therm of nat. gas burned if the flue gases are cooled all the way to ambient temp. Keep in mind also that while you may not have had this type of icing before that vent degradation typically happens over a long period of time.

Do you have a CO detector in the house? If it is a gas apppliance and there are venting problems, I'd strongly recommend that you get one while you figure things out. I'd get one anyway.

Bob Harper_2

leak?

You need to rule out a leak in the heat exchanger ASAP! Also, what is the Rh% in the CAZ? I've seen this with really soggy rooms. It can lead to chimney fires as it exacerbates condensation.

Regardless of the source, this must be resolved ASAP or else the flue could plug and kill someone.

Need pics--please!!!
Thx,
Bob