San Jose chimney and fireplace service by local pros

A chase that serves more than one unit needs each appliance to keep its own path to the outside, and that is where problems hide. A factory-built chase may hold two fireplaces, or a fireplace beside the vent of another appliance. Each one runs its own listed chimney or vent from its collar to its own termination, and the chase cover on top has a collar for each pipe with its own storm collar.

The listings also set how far apart the terminations have to be, so that exhaust from one does not get drawn into another. On the masonry side, a chimney with several flues keeps them apart with masonry between the flue linings, and the residential code asks for a wythe of at least 4 inches where flues sit side by side.

The mechanical code does not let a fireplace that burns wood share a flue with any other appliance. Problems show up when a new appliance has been added into an existing flue, when two vents have been joined in the chase, when a chase cover has been cut for a second pipe without its own collar, or when one termination sits too close to another.

Water entry is also more complicated, since a chase cover with several collars has more joints to seal. We trace each pipe from its appliance to its termination, check the chase top and collars, and look at the spacing against each listing. The estimate names each appliance and vent separately. Each appliance's manual also names the vent parts it allows, and mixing vent pipe from different makers breaks the listing unless both makers allow it.

A chase cover with several collars also needs each collar sealed and each storm collar fitted to its own pipe, since one open seam lets water into the whole chase. On a shared chase in San Jose, our first question is which pipe serves which unit. Pick up the phone and dial (904) 920-5495 to get your San Jose visit on the calendar.