Chimney pots - Rain water and stuff

[GTIR]

While up on my roof trying to get the bloody flue liner down the chimney (we couldnt) I noticed a lot of my neighbours had pots (mostly Victorian/Edwardian) most not being used. I was wondering that as they are now defunct will all the water going down the chimney damage anything?

Mine hadn't been used since god knows when and that's a lot of water over a 40 year period.
I've now got a hat bird cowl (plus I cemented the pot as it was being held in place by gravity and moss) on it as ive installed a wood burner but what about 80% of the people who don't - does it damage anything not having one on?

Cheers

The Dave

[TooLateForAName]

Yep.

The original chimney will have been lined with a parge coat of mortar and that will have gone. Also the mortar between the bricks will have decayed - especially if the chimney used to be used but now isnt.

Did you notice that the inside of your chimney needed repointing when you had the pot off?

Oh, well done for attempting to put your own liner in - you did put it the right way up?

What was the problem? Did you put rope down so someone could pull as you manipulate it on top?

Edited by TooLateForAName on Friday 19th November 14:41

[GTIR]

Yes. Rope, pushing and pulling but the chimney narrows about three meters from the fireplace and there's no way the liner 5in will fit. I'm getting the pros in.
We even did it the other way but no luck.

My chimney sweep tested it and said I didn't need a liner, but, I'll get one fitted anyways. Seeing as I've already bought it!

[Simpo Two]

I've never worked out what happens to all the water that goes down the chimney in a rainstorm - it never comes out in the fireplace.

[GTIR]

This is why I posted this question. Seems a hell of a big hole to just leave open. Most chimneys are not straight so maybe the water soaks into the brickwork?

[TooLateForAName]

Yep.

You may even notice damp spots on the chimney breast at the points where the flue bends.

[Spudler]

GTIR said:

Most chimneys are not straight so maybe the water soaks into the brickwork?

[GuinnessMK]

I thought that if the chimney was open at the top and bottom the natural flue effect carrying hot air from the habitable rooms up the chimney tended to dry any moisture that came down through the top.

If you block the fireplace up, but leave the top open, that's when you get problems?

[jjones]

took three attempts to get my liner down, i fabricated a wooden nose cone with an eye bolt for rope attachment. The rope makes it to the bottom and then wrapped it around an iron bar that was then used as a lever against the back wall of the chimney breast, that got the f^^^^^r down!

Edited by jjones on Sunday 21st November 18:46