Debris fallen into hearth

Russ123_2

Morning everyone.

Just noticed that i have 2 chunks of debris that have fallen from my chimney into my hearth. Both are around 6 inches across and appear to be either some sort of mortar or clay (?) - these are far too large for a bird to drop down so must be something more sinister.

Has anyone got any ideas? should i get a sweep in asap and not use the fire? Could the old clay liner be crumbling inside the flue?

Will it be an expensive job?

Thanks everyone

P.s my property is 150 years old and i doubt very much the chimney has ever had any maintence/work done on it

muckybutt

Can you post a photo ?

As a sweep myself, from experience you do get from time to time largish pieces of masonry and mortar coming down chimneys.

Lots of older chimneys had mortar renderd onto the insides of the flue stack to help seal the insides, this in time does wear away as you have probably found out.

Best thing to do now is to get it swept and inspected by a sweep, and depending what they say depends on what the next course of action will be, if its an open fire you have then if the flue is in a bad way then you will be looking at having a refactory cement liner installed, a stove and it will be a liner.

But as I say best to get an inspection done and get it swept.

Forgot to say, dont use it until sweep has been as it may be blocked or restricted.