Chimney relining - help????

[RobNJ]

I just had my furnace serviced and was told that the clay tiles have broken and fallen into the chimney. I was in the basement when the tech opened the flue and showed me the broken tiles and soot.

Does anyone have advice about what to ask when the chimney relining company comes tomorrow? I don't know anyone who has had this done recently. The oil company tech predicted that the cost should be between 2500 and 3000.

I hear horror stories about people being taken advantage of.

I also called the insurance company. If there is proof that this may have been caused by a fire in the flue, insurance will cover. Has anyone had experience with this?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Help!!!!!

I am in north New Jersey.

 

[shortbun]

Make sure they use a liner suited for oil and gas. There are different kinds of stainless steel. That is assuming this is for an oil burning furnace. The liner should be a 5" liner at the most. If it's for a wood stove, the tiles all have to be removed and the flue completely relined - more expensive, wider liner. An oil and gas furnace wouldn't need all the tiles chipped out if they can get a liner down inside the broken tiles. Liners are now stainless, not tiles. The expense depends on the length of the liner and the width as well. We're in Ohio and prices are lower here. My husband owns a chimney repair company and says that price is probably close for east coast work as it's slightly higher. Good luck. Maybe call two companies and be sure about prices that way.

 

[artesian]

one thing you can consider is ditching oil all together at this point. if you convert to gas and go with a high efficiency furnace you won't need the chimmney at all. I have a navien combi unit for both heat and hot water and it vents out of the side of the house. it's compact and saves quite a bit because it no longer heats hot water until you need it. You can install this type of system for under 6k. I'm in NJ also and thnk my stars I got away from oil when I did

 

[RobNJ]

The furnace is only 8 years old so changing from oil to gas won't happen right now. Thanks for the info about the pipe size.

 

[kmacht]

The best way to make sure you aren't being taken advantage of is to get multiple quotes, ask for refernces, and get a specific breakdown of the charges on each quote. Don't just hire the first person who comes out for a look and really be suspicious if it is your furnace guy who recommended them.

Keith

 

[pat fan]

I see you answered it's an oil furnace chimney, so I'm no help with that. I did want to comment though if anyone is lining a chimney for a wood stove.

If it's for a wood stove, the tiles all have to be removed and the flue completely relined - more expensive, wider liner

That is not true. We had cracked tiles in our chimney and it was making a mess with creosote and not burning well so we had it relined with stainless pipe and it works awesome. They did NOT take out all the tiles, just ran the pipe through the chimney and cost nowwhere near the 3,000 quoted by the OP (different system though, so maybe that's the differance?).

 

[RobNJ]

Here is what I have learned so far. We had the chimney cleaned and big chunks of the liner tile were knocked out. The first estimate is $2885 to reline the chimney with stainless lining. They said that we would need 35 feet of lining. (Oh, the joys of living in a house that is nearly 100 years old!)

Now I am reaching out to others for recommendations of a reliable company in north New Jersey to get more estimates.

Any suggestions?