Chimney & Fireplace

Noisy Chimney - now disused. Looking to silence it.

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.47 PM

Hi, looking for advice about my home chimney. I have read all the previous questions, but nothing quite fits my issue. I have a detached, 1972 brick built house in Oxon, UK. We had a oil fired boiler which failed when the jacket split 2 years ago. I took the opportunity to get gas installed into our home so now we have a gas combi boiler. This uses its own dedicated flue into the loft and out of our front wall. Thus the central chimney is now not used by any boiler or fireplace. It was left open at the bottom and has a clay pot on top to ensure it was ventilated, but rain proof. However, it has always been a noisy chimney when it is windy. Initially it had no pot on top, so many years ago, after reading around, I tried removing the exposed clay pipe down to brick level, then have tried 3 separate static caps / pots. Nothing has prevented or lessened the noise. We have an organ pipe! The chimney runs down the centre of our house: ground floor it is surrounded by kitchen, living room and hall, first floor by bedroom, airing cupboard (where the new combi boiler is) and bathroom. The only time the chimney is not surrounded by warm rooms is when passes through the loft and up the stack above roof level. I understand the importance of ventilation to prevent condensation and damp issues, but as it passes through the entire living area of the house in the core of the house and does not pass by an exterior wall, I have trouble believing that condensation could be produced, except where it passes through the loft and above roof height. I have considered blocking it off at the top and core drilling into the liner inside the loft to continue the ventilation, but that would be pushing warm (moist) air from the house into the loft. I am wondering whether I would get away with filling the clay liner with something, perhaps expanded foam or vermiculite, either over its entire height, or just the last 2-3 meters to plug it where it passes through the cold areas of the loft and stack. I would appreciate any thoughts from you, the professionals.