Leaking chimney on multi fuel stove

[Ace 01]

Hi

 

We had our NB built last year and collected it in the summer, we are currently in a marina and have recently noticed trickles of water running down the chimney, this has caused a little rust at the base of the chimney. My husband queried this with the company who installed the the stove and was told that this is a common thing and that we have to reseal(externally) on a regular basis, they recommended the type of sealant to use.

 

I'm wondering if this info is correct or has the stove not been fitted correctly? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

 

Ann

[bizzard]

Hi

 

We had our NB built last year and collected it in the summer, we are currently in a marina and have recently noticed trickles of water running down the chimney, this has caused a little rust at the base of the chimney. My husband queried this with the company who installed the the stove and was told that this is a common thing and that we have to reseal(externally) on a regular basis, they recommended the type of sealant to use.

 

I'm wondering if this info is correct or has the stove not been fitted correctly? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

 

Ann

Ahoy Ann. Do you mean water runs down the outside of the flue inside the boat or runs down the chimney and onto the collar outside on the roof.?

[Ace 01]

Ahoy Ann. Do you mean water runs down the outside of the flue inside the boat or runs down the chimney and onto the collar outside on the roof.?

 

Hi Bizzard

 

Sorry for not making myself clear, I mean the water is running down the outside of the flue inside the boat.

 

Ann

[BruceinSanity]

Hi Bizzard

 

Sorry for not making myself clear, I mean the water is running down the outside of the flue inside the boat.

 

Ann

 

There should be no water penetration from the roof to inside the boat. I've never heard of having to reseal a chimney collar once it's properly fitted.

 

Are you sure it's not condensation from the collar on the inside, by the way?

[bizzard]

Hi Bizzard

 

Sorry for not making myself clear, I mean the water is running down the outside of the flue inside the boat.

 

Ann

Ok well it shouldn't they've not sealed it properly. If you remove the chimney on the roof you should see the flue pipe sticking up a bit in the centre of the collar, scrub around this with a wire brush to clean it. You can now either dig out the old fire proof rope and renew it or add another ring of it impregnated with say heatproof silicone or Plumbaflue just run a heavy bead of silicon around between flue pipe and collar smoothing with a wet finger.

There is also the possibility that the rain is leaking in under between the collar and roof or through under the heads of the collars two fixing bolts, you can check all around it for gaps with say a thin feeler gauge or thin modelling knife blade, if so scrub scrupulously with white spirit all around it and when dry run a bead of silicon around it again smoothing with a wet finger. But really the collar needs to be removed and sealed down properly if that is the trouble.

[Guest]

Hi

 

We had our NB built last year and collected it in the summer, we are currently in a marina and have recently noticed trickles of water running down the chimney, this has caused a little rust at the base of the chimney. My husband queried this with the company who installed the the stove and was told that this is a common thing and that we have to reseal(externally) on a regular basis, they recommended the type of sealant to use.

 

I'm wondering if this info is correct or has the stove not been fitted correctly? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

 

Ann

 

Yes it's a common thing but not so on a boat so young I would say. Ours is 2006 and we had this. I have effected something which I only consider to be a temporary solution by carefully placing a bead of silicone around the edge of the collar - this has held fast during this winter (which says something)

 

I'm resigned though to at some point this summer removing the thing - de-rusting as best as I can re-painting and properly resealing it.

[Rich]

Hi Bizzard

 

Sorry for not making myself clear, I mean the water is running down the outside of the flue inside the boat.

 

Ann

 

We had this problem and it got worse. Not being over keen on removing the flue in the winter, or at all actually, I bought a chimney liner from Mid Swindlers which has so far has stopped the problem by stopping water getting into the top of the collar. Took two minutes to fit and so far has been brilliant (I could regret saying that )

Edited January 8, 2013 by Rich

[Yamanx]

Same problem here as well, I've just re-sealed on the outside for now, using fire cement on the flue to collar and polyurethane sealer on the collar to boat. I will remove it all and do a proper job in the spring on a dry day (If we have any )

[BargeeSpud]

Same problem here as well, I've just re-sealed on the outside for now, using fire cement on the flue to collar and polyurethane sealer on the collar to boat. I will remove it all and do a proper job in the spring on a dry day (If we have any )

I fitted my new flue in September with the heat resistant silicon between it & the collar (a welded one in my case) after packing a lot of exhaust wrap & lagging rope around the flue first & finishing off with a bead of silicon about 3/4" thick, but fire cement at the joint with the stove. be interesting to see how it stands up over the coming years.

 

I have to say that my original flue lasted 12 years sealed at the collar solely with rope & fire cement, without any leaks except for when I had a condensation problem due to inadequate insulation. Had to strip the entire superstructure & re -insulate & reline. Painful.

[Richard10002]

Hi

 

We had our NB built last year and collected it in the summer, we are currently in a marina and have recently noticed trickles of water running down the chimney, this has caused a little rust at the base of the chimney. My husband queried this with the company who installed the the stove and was told that this is a common thing and that we have to reseal(externally) on a regular basis, they recommended the type of sealant to use.

 

I'm wondering if this info is correct or has the stove not been fitted correctly? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

 

Ann

 

If I am reading this right, you bought a brand new boat last year, and the seal between the chimney/collar/roof arrangement has failed, letting rainwater in. The builders are telling you that thus is normal, and you should reveal it yourself.

 

This shouldn't happen after a year. I have an 11 year old boat where I have removed the chimney, flue, and collar, resealed and refixed. I will be very disappointed if it leaked within 3 or 4 years!

 

In one sense, you could expect your builders to fix it under warranty, or for the sake of goodwill if the warranty has expired. However... If they did such a bad job when they built it, would you really want them badging it up again.

 

The only way to be absolutely sure you have fixed it is to remove chimney and collar, clean up, seal, re-rope, and put it back together. Not rocket science, but needs some good planning.

[trackman]

We've had leaks two ways around our chimney collar/flue.

 

The first was between the outside of the flue pipe and the flue collar, causing water down the outside of the flue pipe inside the cabin, running down onto the stove top. It caused some very nasty smoke as it boiled away. My solution was to clean up the top of the collar and flue pipe and run into the crack between pipe and collar some crack sealer (proprietary stuff, Captain somebody's - can't recall the whole name and away from the boat, but commonly in chandleries in a small white plastic bottle with nozzle like a cylindrical oil can). I didn't disturb the original silicon sealant the builder had used, but ran the crack sealer onto it so it went into any gaps. I did what itsaid on the container, and kept adding more after each lot had set (20mins delay each time IIRC). No leaks there in several years since.

 

The second leak had the same effect but I found the way in was under the collar flange from the rainwater on the roof. At least this was clean water and didn't make so much smoke. Cleaning the paint bubble and corrosion on the roof where the leak appered to be, followed by running in several doses of the same sealer (from the same bottle several years after the first use!) cured the leak. All I had to do then was to touch up the paintwork when there was a sufficiently dry spell.

 

The sealant I'm talking about isn't cheap for a small bottle, but as it goes so far, seems to keep really well after first opening, and does such a good job, it seems fantastic to me. I'm sure someone else will remind me of the name soon. If not, I'll post it when I get back aboard.

 

 

[Rebotco]

We've had leaks two ways around our chimney collar/flue.

 

The first was between the outside of the flue pipe and the flue collar, causing water down the outside of the flue pipe inside the cabin, running down onto the stove top. It caused some very nasty smoke as it boiled away. My solution was to clean up the top of the collar and flue pipe and run into the crack between pipe and collar some crack sealer (proprietary stuff, Captain somebody's - can't recall the whole name and away from the boat, but commonly in chandleries in a small white plastic bottle with nozzle like a cylindrical oil can). I didn't disturb the original silicon sealant the builder had used, but ran the crack sealer onto it so it went into any gaps. I did what itsaid on the container, and kept adding more after each lot had set (20mins delay each time IIRC). No leaks there in several years since.

 

The second leak had the same effect but I found the way in was under the collar flange from the rainwater on the roof. At least this was clean water and didn't make so much smoke. Cleaning the paint bubble and corrosion on the roof where the leak appered to be, followed by running in several doses of the same sealer (from the same bottle several years after the first use!) cured the leak. All I had to do then was to touch up the paintwork when there was a sufficiently dry spell.

 

The sealant I'm talking about isn't cheap for a small bottle, but as it goes so far, seems to keep really well after first opening, and does such a good job, it seems fantastic to me. I'm sure someone else will remind me of the name soon. If not, I'll post it when I get back aboard.

 

 

 

 

Probably THIS STUFF Captain Tolleys Creeping Crack Cure. But watch out for the postage cost added!

Edited January 12, 2013 by Rebotco

[BlueStringPudding]

Hi

 

We had our NB built last year and collected it in the summer, we are currently in a marina and have recently noticed trickles of water running down the chimney, this has caused a little rust at the base of the chimney. My husband queried this with the company who installed the the stove and was told that this is a common thing and that we have to reseal(externally) on a regular basis, they recommended the type of sealant to use.

 

I'm wondering if this info is correct or has the stove not been fitted correctly? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

 

Ann

 

That shouldn't be happening and you shouldn't have to frequently reseal the roof collar. Mine's been in place five years with never a drip. Do they also say you have to regularly seal your windows too? Course you shouldn't. They're conning you, in my opinion. If I were you I'd demand they come out to you and reseat the roof collar and derust where their shoddy work has affected any of the steel.

[Iain_S]

But don't over do the sealing! Flue to collar is better as a sliding joint, or at least a bit of leeway for movement. (Unless you've got a flexible roof )

 

Iain

[Ace 01]

Hi All

 

Many thanks for all your tips, I think I'll have a look at it when I've got good weather and probably have a go myself (we are about 140 miles from where it was fitted). It's disappointing when this happens having paid out for a professional job but at least I,ll do a proper job on it.

 

Cheers

 

David

[Guest]

Hi All

 

Many thanks for all your tips, I think I'll have a look at it when I've got good weather and probably have a go myself (we are about 140 miles from where it was fitted). It's disappointing when this happens having paid out for a professional job but at least I,ll do a proper job on it.

 

Cheers

 

David

 

Check with the builder as to how the collar is bolted.

 

Some use captive nuts welded to the roof and the fixing bolts unscrew from them and they stay in place. This is the better option (and more common I understand) as the alternative is simply using bolts and nuts with the nut not being welded meaning you have no way of holding it whilst you undo the bolt - you would need to somehow access the nuts from the inside of the boat in this case.