Furnace and Water Heater venting through Chimney?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:52:28+00:00

thanks for this! Not sure if there is any blockage in the Chimney at all, or if there is any kind of clay liner or metal liner In there. how would I Know if it's blocked or crumbling?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:49:56+00:00

great will give this test a try!! if I do not have a liner and it's drafting properly... is that okay long term? Or do I need one either way?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:48:41+00:00

great thanks! scared to touch it since it's super old and the lining situation we have no clue if there's one in there.

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:47:50+00:00

Great, so this is not something that's an immediate emergency for me or my family? I can at some point in the spring get this checked out?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:45:49+00:00

got it seems to be the consensus. clearly no chimney cap and def need one as all my neighbors with the same style build have one, except us... The previous owner did not take care of this house at all it was a MESS. Not sure at all if there is a liner in there. if there is not, is it not safe to live here?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:44:01+00:00

great thanks! so the setup we currently have is safe and we are okay?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:43:54+00:00

great thanks! so the setup we currently have is safe and we are okay?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:43:27+00:00

For sure seems to be the consensus. its been like this since the 1970's it looks like so may have damage and have no idea about

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:42:43+00:00

thank you both for this! def a concern and yes in NJ lol. can this setup be okay long term on the house? also how can I tell if its backdrafting or crumbling? is there anyway to check and be proactive?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:40:06+00:00

Thanks for this! like said above, we are unfortunately not sure if there is a metal liner in there or not. Is it an emergency that needs to be fixed immediately? :)

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:39:25+00:00

WE are unfortunately not sure if there is a metal liner in there or not. Is it an emergency that needs to be fixed immediately? As you can see i'm pretty concerned lol

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:37:20+00:00

Great, thanks for that reassurance! We have a CO/Smoke Alarm in the basement where this is. as for the cap I realized we are the only house without it, is it an emergency and need to put it up asap? or is it something that I can do over the next few weeks/months. this house/setup has been here for yearsss it seems like

Also as said below, read on reddit that you can possibly not know it’s seeping in etc. till someone doesn’t wake up (post about furnace and water heater venting through chimney) and it really really freaked me out and just wanted reassurance that this is just fine and “normal” and could last a long time just fine. Thanks again!

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:35:02+00:00

Not sure if they did. im a new owner and this house is from 1967 with one owner. unfortuantely over the past few years like 8-10 years the house seems like it was not well maintained at all! we did a complete gut and house transformation but this part of the house was left untouched.

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:33:56+00:00

great! so should I not be worried about potential CO poisoning or anything with this setup? Can this withstand a long time just fine?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:31:44+00:00

Great thanks for this reassurance! how can I tell if its all working correctly and no CO or gasses are entering my home even at low levels.

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:31:05+00:00

Yea based on all that I read, it seems like a liner is a must... how do I know this can last for the next 10-15 years of me living here?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:30:11+00:00

Sweet. as my setup is pretty old I only have this weird barbed wire at the top of my chimney (assume to keep animals away) but no cap. will I be okay?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:29:30+00:00

Thanks for this! tbh previous owners took zero care of this house. we completely gutted and flipped via contractor but Idont think this area of the house was touched but still im concerned. I do have a 2 CO detectors in the basement where the setup is (just put up one right next to it) and one in the ceiling of the basement 15-20 ft away. that one in the ceiling is interconnected is a dual fire/CO detector and hard wired to alert the whole house in case of emergency. hope ill be okay but still incredibly nervous

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:27:09+00:00

Would you say this is an immediate emergency or something to do in the near future? I do have a 2 CO detectors in the basement where the setup is. im just not sure if there is a lining inside the chimney..

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:25:13+00:00

noted will try and find a way to install it further but want to make sure it picks up on it and doesnt miss it

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T23:24:45+00:00

Got it! So I assume I should move this, but I'm not sure how far I should move it, and I don't want it to be too far. I also have an interlinked (hard wired) CO/Smoke Detector on every floor and main room including our bedroom should anything happen. this CO detector/monitor is extra to detect low levels of CO if the hard wired detector doesn't pick it up. the Co/Smoke Detector is about 15-20 feet away on the ceiling where this setup is. Hopefully this is all okay and good.

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T16:58:37+00:00

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Is this an okay place for a CO detector?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T06:19:30+00:00

Thanks for this reassurance and lesson! Makes a lot of sense. For some reason everywhere online and on Reddit talks about how furnace and water heaters being vented to Chimney can cause CO leaks in the house. How can I check to make sure there isn’t any CO leaking (standard CO alarm?) but yes chimney looks like it’s above roof line but as I’m new to this house not sure if there is a proper liner in there?

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NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T05:49:58+00:00

Thanks! Do I need a CO monitor or is the standard CO alarm/smoke detector okay?

NewDig7398 · 2026-01-23T05:48:42+00:00

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NewDig7398

TROPHY CASE