Chimney problem

meames_2

on sat morning after some wind I heard a rumble in the chimney. When I got up sat morning the fire had been knocked off the wall and a brick had fallen down. i have been in the loft and there appears to be missing brick in the chimney breast (although I don't know if that was always there).

The fire and gas connection has been made safe. But what shoudl I do - do I need to get a builder in to check the chimney breast is safe before I get the fire refitted? My insurers where no help (being closed!) the broker and emergency cover help line that i have asked me to call back as they were busy even though I hadn't even told them the problem.

Am throughly fed up - just spent money fixing the toliet and flushing the central heating system (not covered under boiler care)!

fto

Not an expert but....get the gas fitter to use a smoke bomb to see if there is a leak.
If the house was built before 1960, the chimneys are usually bombproof anyway.

keystone

fto wrote: »

Not an expert but....get the gas fitter to use a smoke bomb to see if there is a leak.

He HAS to do that anyway.

OP don't get despondent and don't do anything until you have spoken to your insurers directly in the morning. Theres nothing can be done builder wise or RGI wise or insurer wise until then.

Cheers

meames_2

Thanks, the national grid came and checked for gas leaks on saturday and isolated the fire so I could at least have hot water. I guess I will just have to wait, although paitence has never been my virtue!

I just feel that i am NEVER going to get out of debt, everytime I manage to save a little mmoney on the old overdraft something happens to knock me back twice as bad!

Thanks for your help

Michelle

Doozergirl

It sounds like your chimney need repointing at the very least. Bricks falling down is not a good sign!!

fto

I do not know what excess you have on your policy, but it may be cheaper just to have the gas fitter look at it.Also your insurance may be higher if you make a claim.

meames_2

Hi

Insurers came out definetly no structural damage and according the the man the chimney breast in the loft has more bricks in it than the reast of the house! Just need to get a gas fitter to refit the fire which will be about £80 rather than £150 excess! :T