HELP!!!!Chimney Severe Roofing Condensation

JUGHNE

Do you need a Cricket if under 30" wide?

This looks to be less than that.

ChrisJ

JUGHNE said:

Do you need a Cricket if under 30" wide?

This looks to be less than that.

I'd guess 18" but could be far off from pictures.
That chimney has been there for decades without any condensation issues. Why now?

pecmsg

JUGHNE said:

Do you need a Cricket if under 30" wide? This looks to be less than that.

It eliminates the question. 

Also stops debris from sitting there and rotting. 

nde

Is it oil or gas? The liner will help if gas for sure. You should have combustion check done. Is that exterior of the chimney sealed with paint? Could be your problem for sure. Most paint will trap moisture in the mortar brick if it does not breath. The just condenses where it can breath just below the roof line. If that is the issue probably cheapest to just take the chimney down to roof and rebuild. There are chimney designed sealants that allow the moisture out but not in. The tend to need reapplication every 5 years or so. But just painting a chimney is bad idea as any moisture that leaks from top down or interior out cannot breath and is going to just run down chimney.

If you line with ss liner, and then cap the top to keep rain/snow out then might be same as chimney rebuild. The cap would need to be one that covers entire top and has drip edge (usually these are customized based on measurments). Worth it over cheap box store caps that only really keep animals out.

pecmsg

https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/editor/ct/h5jlni86he69.jpg

Why no clay liner?

Jamie Hall

The condensation is coming from moist air from the house and is condensing out of the coldest places. Somehow you have to improve the ventilation of the attic space and reduce the infiltration from the house.

JakeCK

I could only see one vent for the attic behind the chimney. If that's the only one it is not enough. Also check for soffit or at least gable vents. 

Also it does look like he has a clay liner but it stops just before the breeching for the appliances.

Ciupaga_PL1

mockas_owner said:

Ciupaga, PL1,

See roofing pictures attached and the flashing.
Again, roofing shingles were removed and no wetness or water stains detected, unlike underneath......so its clearly condensation.

There is plenty of air flow around 3 sides of the chimney, 4th is poor....there are vents in the soffit 

Older homes sometimes have piece of 1/4 inch plywood around the perimeter and new soffit but the original piece of 1/4 original plywood right behind it needs holes cut otherwise its just blocking airflow. 

ChrisJ

Ciupaga_PL1 said:

mockas_owner said:

Ciupaga, PL1,

See roofing pictures attached and the flashing.
Again, roofing shingles were removed and no wetness or water stains detected, unlike underneath......so its clearly condensation.

There is plenty of air flow around 3 sides of the chimney, 4th is poor....there are vents in the soffit 

Older homes sometimes have piece of 1/4 inch plywood around the perimeter and new soffit but the original piece of 1/4 original plywood right behind it needs holes cut otherwise its just blocking airflow. 

Plywood didn't exist when older homes were built.

Ciupaga_PL1

ChrisJ said:

mockas_owner said:

Ciupaga, PL1,

See roofing pictures attached and the flashing.
Again, roofing shingles were removed and no wetness or water stains detected, unlike underneath......so its clearly condensation.

There is plenty of air flow around 3 sides of the chimney, 4th is poor....there are vents in the soffit 

Older homes sometimes have piece of 1/4 inch plywood around the perimeter and new soffit but the original piece of 1/4 original plywood right behind it needs holes cut otherwise its just blocking airflow. 

Plywood didn't exist when older homes were built.

ChrisJ said:

mockas_owner said:

Ciupaga, PL1,

See roofing pictures attached and the flashing.
Again, roofing shingles were removed and no wetness or water stains detected, unlike underneath......so its clearly condensation.

There is plenty of air flow around 3 sides of the chimney, 4th is poor....there are vents in the soffit 

Older homes sometimes have piece of 1/4 inch plywood around the perimeter and new soffit but the original piece of 1/4 original plywood right behind it needs holes cut otherwise its just blocking airflow. 

Plywood didn't exist when older homes were built.
70's early 80's is a older home 

mockas_owner

Well, new chimney liner was installed today, let see what happens now!

The liner should confine all the fumes to the new conduit!

If this doesn't work, not sure what else to do or try!

PC7060

mockas_owner said:

Well, new chimney liner was installed today, let see what happens now!

The liner should confine all the fumes to the new conduit!

If this doesn't work, not sure what else to do or try!

Make sure your attic is well ventilated ridge and eaves. 

And nice job getting the liner installed!

gmcinnes

@mockas_owner Good luck with the new liner!

To be fair, if around the chimney is the only place you're seeing condensation then it's either humid flue gases escaping the chimney, or that where the chimney goes through the roof is particularly cold for some reason. Otherwise you'd be getting condensation throughout your attic like I do

Keep us posted.

mockas_owner

It's been snowing all morning but not super cold. After the liner installation a fan was put to circulate air in the affected area.

Snow has been melting and went to check on the thing, it's early and with the fan running, not sure but everything points to sucess.....no more wetness was detected....I'm inclined to think there were fumes escaping the chimney.
When we installed the liner we could see mortar gaps between the clay liner joints...
I will update you in the next days for sure!