The Installation from hell

These are a series of pictures I took to provide to a property manager I often work for. Initially this job was a pelletstove cleaning but as soon as I remove the 90 degree elbow off the back of the stove the pipe seperated within the chimney and came crashing down. I figured the pipe simple came apart because perhaps the installer failed to mechanically attach one section to the other and simply glued or taped them together. I suggested to the property manager that I replace the 90 degree elbow with a clean-out tee with cap and connect the pipe sections mechanically. When I got out to the jobsite with the Tee and started removing the pipe here is what I found. I am scheduled to return to the jobsite and install a new venting system. I will take some more pictures and post them here.

July, 7th, 2008

Today I replaced the 4” venting and changed out the 90 degree elbow with a clean-out tee. The job went very well and all the sections fit together without any problem. I stopped at an auto supply place and picked up some higher heat RTV sealant than I typically use because the pipe is uninsulated singlewall stainless steel. I used 4 stainless steel rivets per connection to connect the sections of pipe together. I used RTV at each joint and down the seam of each section of pipe and covered all the rivet heads. I did this job solo so there are no pictures of me packing the pipe up onto the roof and dropping it down the flue and onto the waiting tee. I RTV’d the base of the pipe for a good seal at the tee and wrapped the connection with aluminum tape.