I am getting ready to build a new house. I am planning on an oil fired boiler vented with a chimney. The price I got to do a simple 16″x16″ flue lined masonry chimney was a little higher than expected so I am considering using a s.s. flue enclosed in a stick frame “chimney”. Does anyone have experience with the latter? Pros and cons? From an architectural standpoint, I like the stick frame approach because I can “fatten” it up to give it some more mass.
If if went stick frame, I am having trouble detailing how the thing comes out of the ground. My block foundation sits 2 courses out of the ground, then a 2×10 band board with f-c siding above. The s.s. flue has to come out of the basement below grade. What encloses the flue until it comes out of the ground? I was thinking 4″ cmu but that would cause me to pour an addition footing and lay a good bit of masonry, thus defeating the benefits of going with the s.s flue. Am I being stupid? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Craig Zimmerman
Replies
You might want to consider a direct vent boiler. Note that is NOT the same as a power vent. With the direct vent, you will also pull in from outdoors directly all the combustion air you need...so no worry to worry about make up air, sucking CO into the house, etc.
I'm a DIYer, not a professional, but I'd go with the stainless for the chimney rather than masonary if you are only talking about an oil boiler. It should last forever...or at least nearly so.
But, personally, I am (and would recommend) going with direct vent. Again, NOT power vent.
Of course, you need a good place for the direct vent to go...and you also need to make sure you keep your boiler in top shape, else you can get some soot crud on your siding around the venting exhaust...
I looked into both direct and power vent options but discovered that I have no place to put either. I have a ton of windows and couldn't find a spot far enough away from all of them to put the vent. That's why a went back to a chimney. Thanks.
Craig
I hear ya there Craig. My boiler is actually going outside in a shed...some 30' from where the building sits...for similar reasons.
You can ask over on 'The Wall' at http://www.heatinghelp.com Those guys are top notch radiant heat folks...and enjoy helping as well.
Just how do you define "simple" for a chimney?
it sounds to me like this is an exterior chimnay instead of interior. That means you need weather resistant exterior bricks and not simple block lifts. That would be where your cost is.
That aside, I would sugest shoppping the price around. I can install a metal SS chimney for less money than a simple masonry one but when you add surronding it with a framed chase and all the firestop requirements, you end up spending more than masonsry, IMO
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