Lots of white smoke from neighbor's chimney

meofbillions

No other chimney in the neighborhood belches such smoke, which is probably condensed water, because it vanishes. But I'm wondering if there's a problem with their heating system, for instance: with a water-based system, there could be a hole in the heat exchanger, spurting water into the combustion chamber, causing steam? This is the second year now that I notice this about that chimney, every morning when the weather is cool.

Jamie Hall

Most likely.

EBEBRATT-Ed

is it oil or gas? Gas will look like white smoke when it is cold outside as the flue gas condenses.

EdTheHeaterMan

White Smoke!

Maybe he elected a new POPE!

ChrisJ

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

is it oil or gas? Gas will look like white smoke when it is cold outside as the flue gas condenses.

I get some white smoke when it's really cold out. Near or below 10F
I don't think I notice it if it's in the 20s out though.

meofbillions

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

is it oil or gas? Gas will look like white smoke when it is cold outside as the flue gas condenses.

Why would fuel type matter? A water leak into any combustion chamber would produce steam.

bburd

Gas fired systems produce visible water vapor in the exhaust whenever it’s very cold outside. Oil fired systems don’t, or at least not until it’s a great deal colder, unless there is an internal leak in a steam boiler above the waterline. The difference is due to the much higher hydrogen content of gas, which produces more water vapor in the products of combustion.

Steamhead

If it's a steam system, the boiler probably has a leak above the waterline.

mattmia2

Could it be a condensing boiler or furnace using the chimney as a chase?

HVACNUT

@meofbillions, is your neighbor even aware?

Jamie Hall

Quite true that a gas fired boiler or furnace will produce some white smoke -- but not a lot of it. If it's lots of white smoke, it's a leak.