Removing a Chimney - Should You Do It? Pros, Cons, and FAQs

Removing a chimney can be costly and risky, so it's important to make sure it's the right move for your home. Removing a chimney is a great way to improve your home's energy efficiency and make room for heating sources that are easier on your wallet and the environment. But should you take on this big project?

Here's what we'll cover in this video:

00:00 Introduction
01:38 Is it a good idea to remove a chimney?
02:18 What are the top reasons to remove an old chimney?
04:05 Should I seal my chimney or remove it altogether?
05:23 How do you remove a chimney from inside a house?
06:41 How do you manage waste and debris while removing a chimney?
07:41 What kind of experts should I consult before removing my chimney?
09:22 What paperwork do I need before I remove my chimney?
11:36 How much does it cost to remove a chimney?

#chimney #howto #buildwithrise
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[buildwithrise]

What are YOUR top reasons for removing an old chimney?

[robertfullone]

I have two. I'm removing the one on the weathered side of the house. The water heater exhausts through the other. If it's not taking up any square footage, and is not dangerous, AND you still have a fireplace, leave it. Figure out a way to plug the fireplace. But make it so you can re-open it, for use. Just in case you NEED it.

[PongoXBongo]

I would love to remove the entire chimney stack from my 1-story house. It would free up around 9 sq. feet in my main (i.e. only) full bathroom, which I would love to use for a small, stacked washer and dryer (no more lugging laundry up and down from the far end of the basement from the stairs). The only tricky bit would be re-routing the exhaust from the gas water heater which currently goes up and out the stack.

[..s]

I wonder if my chimney is also being used to support upstairs?

[kymarah]

There is another one located near the kitchen that goes through the roof to the basement floor

[kymarah]

What to do if there is a free floating chimney that is locked in the middle of the house that is over the living room with nothing standing it. The house is one hundred years old

[maryreed]

How do you remove a chummy outside of your home

[caseyhartman]

I could gain 11.5 square feet in my kitchen and move the electrical wires inside drywall instead of using a surface mount conduit.

[Dude]

I would have thought determining if it’s an asbestos abatement job would have been the first step, but it wasn’t even mentioned except for going to the dump with your pile of hazmat in your trailer and your lungs.

[jeffreybowers]

Mind is pulling away. Every expert I've called out has a different reason for it, and different 6-figure fix for it. We don't use it, so I'm to the point of finding the cheapest way to remove it and brick it up. However, it's one of the ones on the outside of the house, so I don't know if that's any better.

[anthonybruno]

Im pretty sure for 99% of us the months long, 50k+ process isn’t going to be worth it unless we’re already in the midst of a massive reno/rebuild.

[kymarah]

The last one is on the front of the house

[michaelwalsh]

The minute you mentioned the planet I switched off, WTF has the planet got to do with your chimney?

[stpOwner]

Removing all the character of your house

[brandonyoung]

If your city says you're not allowed to have a chimney you should probably move. They have too much control over you already.

[jeffbarroga]

I can gain 8sq ft space in single car garage