I recently had a chimney inspection, and the technician pointed out that the oil chimney isn't lined all the way to the bottom. It seems like there was some damage, and he suggested putting in a metal liner for $4,000. Given that I live in a cold area and need heat, is it safe to keep using my boiler like this?
3 Answers
Honestly, now’s a good time to think about switching your heating method altogether. Spending $4,000 just to keep an oil furnace running seems like a waste when you could invest that money in a propane or natural gas system instead. That would eliminate the need for the chimney altogether!
Definitely consider relining the chimney as soon as you can. From what I've seen, it looks like the flue isn't fully collapsed yet, so it should still vent properly for now. But waiting too long could lead to bigger issues, so it's best to act quickly!
If the liner replacement can't happen for another week, you might be fine for a short while, but there's no guarantee on safety. While a chimney fire from an oil furnace isn't super common, carbon monoxide risk is real. If money is the issue and you think you can wait, I'd really reconsider your options—once you know about the problem, you could be held responsible if something goes wrong.