So... can you do it?
We live in a basement house from the early 60s. Now we are facing a major renovation and the chimney is so much in the way. We will, among other things, raise the house by one floor and I need space for a staircase...
Once upon a time, there was an oil burner in the house, but nowadays, heating is done with district heating. Is the chimney in any way involved in ventilation, and can the ventilation then be solved in another way?
Am I completely off track, can it be removed at all?
We live in a basement house from the early 60s. Now we are facing a major renovation and the chimney is so much in the way. We will, among other things, raise the house by one floor and I need space for a staircase...
Once upon a time, there was an oil burner in the house, but nowadays, heating is done with district heating. Is the chimney in any way involved in ventilation, and can the ventilation then be solved in another way?
Am I completely off track, can it be removed at all?
We have removed our chimney, but we will rebuild it in another location. If you have only natural circulation, it is involved in the circulation, but as far as I know, that's the only thing then.
If you go up on the roof and look down into the chimney, you can see if there's more than one hole. If there's a hole, often soot-covered/black, it's likely the flue. If there is more than one such hole, the other might be for a fireplace or similar. If there are more holes, the kitchen fan duct might be one of them. The rest could be exhaust pipes, but these are rare in older houses/chimneys in villas.
If the boiler is out of use and there is no other fireplace, but one additional hole, it is likely a duct from the kitchen fan. You could probably redirect it and therefore remove the chimney. If there are more holes in the chimney, you can also remove it. Then, you need to organize the ventilation in some other way in the house.
When taking it down, keep an eye when you reach the first joist to ensure there is no bearing on or connected to the chimney (wings). In that case, offload first and then demolish to place a support structure that replaces the bearing.
The part above the roof can be let down onto planks that lie on the roof and lead straight into the container. The part under the roof (in the attic) you can throw onto the planks.
For the part inside the house, wait until you've built a 'tent' around the chimney. Old soot is oily and has a remarkable ability to spread in the room, damaging textiles. (You can take building plastic and some boards, staple the plastic with distance=room height, and then put up a board against the ceiling and another under, where you place a board between both under tension.)
Then it remains to clean up, repair the holes in joists and outer roof, and carry away the demolished material to disposal.
____________________
The Builder
If the boiler is out of use and there is no other fireplace, but one additional hole, it is likely a duct from the kitchen fan. You could probably redirect it and therefore remove the chimney. If there are more holes in the chimney, you can also remove it. Then, you need to organize the ventilation in some other way in the house.
When taking it down, keep an eye when you reach the first joist to ensure there is no bearing on or connected to the chimney (wings). In that case, offload first and then demolish to place a support structure that replaces the bearing.
The part above the roof can be let down onto planks that lie on the roof and lead straight into the container. The part under the roof (in the attic) you can throw onto the planks.
For the part inside the house, wait until you've built a 'tent' around the chimney. Old soot is oily and has a remarkable ability to spread in the room, damaging textiles. (You can take building plastic and some boards, staple the plastic with distance=room height, and then put up a board against the ceiling and another under, where you place a board between both under tension.)
Then it remains to clean up, repair the holes in joists and outer roof, and carry away the demolished material to disposal.
____________________
The Builder
Yes, it is indeed very much involved in the ventilation. If you have natural draught, all air goes out through it, the kitchen, and toilet.J.A said:
I wouldn't remove it. It's a lot of hassle and you will want it later for cozy fires. I installed a Keddy and heat the house with it (cozy fires).J.A said:
Thank you for your answers.
The duct from the kitchen fan used to go via the chimney, but now I know that the cooking fumes are directed elsewhere.
Then there's the issue with the ventilation and the self-draught (as it states we have in the technical description (is that what it's called...?)). But shouldn't it be possible to ventilate the house in some other way...?
I just talked with our future builder, and according to him, tearing down a chimney isn't such a big project. However, I should remember to, if it happens, ask them to cover it properly *s*
And I'd love to have a cozy fire in the future, but not at that spot in the house. It wouldn't work so well to place a stove right there, so it will have to be somewhere else with a new pipe.
The duct from the kitchen fan used to go via the chimney, but now I know that the cooking fumes are directed elsewhere.
Then there's the issue with the ventilation and the self-draught (as it states we have in the technical description (is that what it's called...?)). But shouldn't it be possible to ventilate the house in some other way...?
I just talked with our future builder, and according to him, tearing down a chimney isn't such a big project. However, I should remember to, if it happens, ask them to cover it properly *s*
And I'd love to have a cozy fire in the future, but not at that spot in the house. It wouldn't work so well to place a stove right there, so it will have to be somewhere else with a new pipe.
Sure, it can be arranged in another way (anything is possible).
Right now it probably looks like this at your home?
There are many who ventilate the kitchen through its own duct, likewise for the wc (straight up through the roof).
When we talk about the whole floor that normally goes out through the chimney channel, I assume it's just a matter of installing a duct at a suitable place up through the roof (simply described).
Regarding ventilation in general, you should be careful that the dimensions are correct. This is to ensure you get the right flow through the house (negative pressure/positive pressure).
Right now it probably looks like this at your home?
There are many who ventilate the kitchen through its own duct, likewise for the wc (straight up through the roof).
When we talk about the whole floor that normally goes out through the chimney channel, I assume it's just a matter of installing a duct at a suitable place up through the roof (simply described).
Regarding ventilation in general, you should be careful that the dimensions are correct. This is to ensure you get the right flow through the house (negative pressure/positive pressure).
Don't you want a stove or fireplace then? But as mentioned, it's possible to build a new chimney somewhere else in that case too. Otherwise, a combination of stairs and a wall can also be a good and stylish solution. It was also quite common to do so in the 60s.
Yes, you can remodel as much as you want in a house as long as you're not afraid of costs and have the patience to live on a construction site . Plan for new ventilation ducts with heat recovery from the exhaust air and it will be an improvement compared to the current natural ventilation.
gaia
. Plan for new ventilation ducts with heat recovery from the exhaust air and it will be an improvement compared to the current natural ventilation. gaia
It's definitely a part of the house.
But of course, if it doesn't matter what it costs and it's okay to have construction indoors for a while, then just go for it.
But as I said, I would let it stay.
But of course, if it doesn't matter what it costs and it's okay to have construction indoors for a while, then just go for it.
But as I said, I would let it stay.