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My house was built originally in 1980 and since then I think it has used every common type of heat since then. I think originally they had electric heat so they supplemented it with a large woodstove in the basement that has a vent to the main hallway upstairs. Then the owners that I bought the house from eliminated the electric heat for oil heated hot water BB about 1996 or so.
My question is, currently the output from the oil burner enters a common chimney above the output from the woodstove. Someone mentioned that this may be a safety issue sharing a common chimney. Any thoughts on this?
The previous owner used the woodstove on a regular basis, but I haven’t used it in the two years I have been there. We were thinking of replacing the exiting stove with a newer less utilitarian one than we have, but this chimney issue surfaced again in my mind.
Thanks
SJ
Replies
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I don't think a common chimney is prohibited, but a common flue is. My notation of the code UBC 802.4, CABO shows n/a, is that no solid & gas/oil in same vent (I read that as Flue). I hope this helps.
Nathan
*Code or no code, never use the same flue for wood and oil. Oil burners produce a sticky exhaust film that coats the inside of the chimney, the wood ash will stick to this film and along with creosote will create quite the hazard. In addition to the above you could under the right conditions have a back draft problem, such as forcing the oil burner exhaust back into the house via the wood stove, we had a family up here get really sick from carbon monoxide under similar conditions.
*Thanks for the repsonses guys.I am hoping they are in separate flues, however since I have not been sure on this I have never used the stove for fear of having a problem. On one hand I would like to think that they could not have changed heating systems without having it inspected, then again I know that the world isn't always perfect in regards to things like this either.SJ
*If you have not already done this, please, have the chimney cleaned by a reputable sweep. He will know immediately how many flues there are and should be able to tell you what is vented into which flue. Cleaning chimneys is an extremely important maintenance item that is often overlooked, and when forgotten, can lead to an extremely dangerous situation. Bill
*Might be able to run a 6" or 8" round stainless steel pipe for one, and have the other one exhaust in the space around it. But someone with more knowledge than me would have to figure out if you had a big enough area to do that.
*Common flue is not allowed, and additional comments posted have equal merit for your safety. One item to add is shielding from oil burner vent. since stated it was installed above stove pipe keep at least 18" clearance from any combustible framing members, or shield wood w/ cement bd..or similar fire retardant shielding.