Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Fireplace flue replacement - scam or serious?

I have a 20 year old house with a brick fireplace. The fireplace is only woodburning, no woodstove or gas logs. It has been used <10 a year and it is cleaned on a yearly basis.
This year, I used a new chimney sweep. I did call them - it was not a telemarketer/low price deal.

After cleaning the fireplace, they recommended that I replace the flue because the terra cotta tiles that form the flue had chunks of mortar that were missing between them. Cost = $3500.

My tree man was here today, taking down a tree that was directly over the chimney. When I told him that we couldn't use the fireplace until the tree came down and the chimney liner was replaced, he asked for more details. When I told him what the chimney sweeps had told me, he said there was no way in the world I would need a new flue. He pointed out that my chimney flue is encased in cinder blocks, which are then encased inside of brick. He said there was no way my house would catch fire and that telling folks they need a new flue is a common scam. Internet research I did seems to support this. He further said that if my house were 50 years or more older, then he might understand it, since older homes had the fireplace right up against the plaster/framing. Since our house is only 20 years old, we have at least one row of cinder block between the flue and the house, so he felt there really was no need for us to replace the flue.

Now I am confused. Any opionions? What would you do? I am concerned that if I call more chimney people for more opinions, all they are going to do is say, "Oh yes, you do need it!" because they want my $3500.

Thanks in advance.

Get a second opinion. Call a certified chimney sweep. Have chimney inspection done and see what the inspector has to say. Don't tell him about what the first guy told you.

You can type in your zip code to locate a certified chimney sweep here: Chimney Safety Institute of America (http://www.csia.org/)

A certified chimney sweep will tell you if you need to have the flue lined, if crown is in good condition and properly constructed, and if you need a chimney cap.

nrusinak,

I've got a similar situation and was wondering how yours turned out.

Mike - A liner only lasts 5 years? $3500 for only 5 years?

Ignore mike...he's just a spammer...probably in India or China.....

Keeping in mind that he only had a limited view, why not get a powerful lamp and take a look yourself?
It has been known for people to line a chimney with the lining upside down, or even to overlook the fact that the lining is supposed to be able to expand and move with the heat.

Well, the main reason is that I wouldn't know what to look for! If something was really wrong or if everything was perfectly alright - it would look the same to me!

Since you are in Virginia look at at the outer area of the fireplace as well around the top for what is called thermal spalling caused by water getting into the brick the same as a sponge and freezing causing the brick to expand and pop of sections of brick as if it was flaking. I doubt very much your flue has damage. it is common for grout to sometimes fall out of the joints on masonry flues and if you truly have a hand built fireplace the liners are stacked on top of each other the same as a block wall only with the fireplace you also have a wall around the flue and all voids are suppose to be filled with mortar as it is being built. thus you end up with a 8'' wall of block and cement around the flue or even more on some fireplaces. If you realy want to be sure have a sweep with a camera show you the screen as he videos the chimney and make them explain what they see if they say you need a repair. Goodluck

That's what I thought too. My fireplace has a terra cotta pipe flue, surrounded by brick on the outside and cinder block on the interior wall. That mortar that is missing is in between the flue pipes, but there isn't anything to catch fire behind it - just brick or concrete. I see no damage from the outside. The fireplace is in great shape. We replaced the flue cap about 6 years ago and it is in excellent shape.