Home Improvement Today?

There’s a 5/8” lag that is 5” long in the bottom of the newel. The head is left about 1/2” proud and goes into the key hole. Then you strike the newel and it falls into a tapered slot pulling it tight. You install it so that it tapers toward the open part of the straircase — so if anyone braces against it it’ll pull tighter. Takes a lot of force to pop it out the other way. Idk if I trust it though. I think I’ll fill the keyhole with PL Premium when I do the final install.

 

I see , so it essentially retains the base of the newel and the top is braced by the railing ?

 

I was interested too, found these. The angle on the bottom side makes sense, I was imagining a flat keyhole rather that a keyhole with a wedge to lock onto the bolt head.

 

Very cool. I was wondering how you would keep the posts erect and stiff. (normal English )

 

New term for keeping your wood in the right direction...

 

Yeah that’s them. I’m using their handrail fastening system as well called MiniLock. Same concept just in a smaller package. Still I don’t really trust it all so I plan to fill the whole mortise with construction adhesive. Call me paranoid.

 

Still need to paint the baseboard, but its done enough to post the "after" pics.

Heres Before:


And after:

 

Does anyone know if the chimney liner cap is supposed to form ice around the cage part?



Picture is similar to the cap I have.

 

Is the furnace a high efficiency condensing type?
Is the chimney liner metal or plastic?

 

It's a New Yorker CG 40 EN-T boiler.

The chimney is lined with a stainless steel liner.

 

Combustion of hydrocarbons = H2O and CO2

 

Conventional unit, 84% efficiency.

Is there enough ice build up to actually obstruct the flow?
It should clear off today as it is much warmer.
Observe & report.

 

A 1/3 of the cage was blocked with ice. It melted yesterday with ice chunks falling on the roof.

I have a carbon monoxide detector tied in with the boiler. If the detector goes off it will shut down the boiler. A detector on the wall where the chimney goes up to the roof in the hallway. No sign of carbon monoxide.

Is there a way to eliminate the masonry chimney with something else? Chimney needs work.

 

It would seem if you have a SS liner the chimney should be "safe" from the CO standpoint, a mason should be able to fix it up for you. Obviously this is a job for a heating professional to survey the equipment if you have any doubts.

Replace the boiler with a high efficiency unit that uses a PVC vent and you could eliminate the chimney.

Cost out both jobs, a new higher efficiency boiler might come out cheaper, there should be energy savings obviously but also perhaps tax credits too.

 

The New Yorker boiler is around 7 years old. I don't want to replace it anytime soon.

The liner is a one piece from top to bottom. I did the match test. Burn a match and watch the smoke get drawn in the chimney.

I heard some people was replacing their masonry chimney with metal and keeping the liner.

I was looking at my chimney from the ground. There's brick with no cement added. Brick against brick.

 

At 7 years old the unit should be good for a long time.

For things like heating appliances I don't have much trust in at home testing, the unit comes with setup specifications from the manufacturer.
If you have any doubts call a professional with the tools and training to do proper testing.

 

Since there’s no sparks no need for a spark arrestor lol I’d just cut the metal lath out then the ice won’t have anything to form on











but I’m not a furnace professional. Consult one before breaking out the tin snips.

 

Bad idea. The mesh keeps birds from nesting in your flu. lol

 

Your flue as well!

 

Then they get CO2 sleepy and fall in, then a clogged chimney.