Flue liners hindering check of flue

stevenknaub

My son’s chimney has an aluminum Flue liner. Utica. Boiler manufacturer, suggest putting a mirror in the flue at the bottom of the chimney. When I do so in broad daylight, I cannot see any sunlight.

Is this normal?

Jamie Hall

Too many questions open. Is the mirror even in the liner? Or does the liner stop further up? Is the flue straight or does it have an offset? Is there a flue cap?

And,, what is the concern?

stevenknaub

so, the liner is continuous from a 90 degree turn in the basement, to the top of the chimney, a distance of approximately 34 feet or so.
There is a rain cap on the top.

The flue is straight

I did put the mirror into the liner until it encountered the far outside edge of the liner, but saw no light at the top.

The concern is that I cannot verify that no animal or bird has made a nest out of the liner during the summer months

HydronicMike

You’re not going to be able to see up the chimney. It should have a cap with the liner. You may be able to send a boroscope up there to get a look.
But probably the only true way to inspect is by dropping down a camera.

ChrisJ

Pull the cap off and shine a decent flash light down it while looking up with the mirror?

HydronicMike

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1869333#Comment_1869333

Probably in the OP's case the liner goes a little long horizontally then sweeps up. I have a boroscope about 30” long that works pretty good in this case. Basically just showing a full round or square bright light indicating no obstruction…unless theres an offset.

mattmia2

the cap may be keeping the light out