Concerned about noises in the fireplace
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Q. About four years ago, we had our furnace replaced with a new cast-iron oil-fired one, and it has worked well. Recently, we noticed that a thin layer of what looks like sand had accumulated on the top of the furnace. It’s evenly distributed on the surface around the exhaust stack. Is it some sort of insulation material coming from inside the body of the furnace? Is it anything we should be worried about?
The furnace is vented to a Metalbestos chimney that is attached to a wood-stove insert. When we have a fire in the insert (most nights during the winter), we use only well-seasoned hardwoods. Fairly regularly, we hear distinct thumps as if something were exploding. We have it cleaned every other year, and the sweep has never seen any sign of damage. We’ve had the fire department come with heat-imaging equipment, and they found no hot spots. Is this something we should worry about? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?
A. Good questions. As for the sand on top of the furnace (or boiler), I don’t think it is of serious concern. Do you have a plasterboard ceiling above the heater, as required? If so, heat may have deteriorated the plasterboard enough to drop bits of plaster (or sand from a concrete heat shield). Call your oil dealer to make corrections.
As for the fireplace, I think the wood is a little drier than usual, and dry wood will snap and thump on occasion.
Q. I have an area where my driveway, front walk, and a shrub bed more or less meet. That area is sinking. It did this before, and our landscaper attempted to fix it by paving. Do you have any suggestions as to what is needed to repair this?
A. Particularly since it has sunk twice, I think the area is a sinkhole, which is common. It can happen due to natural voids in the earth under the surface. Or, the builder buried old trees and wood scraps there, so when the wood rotted, the void occurred. Or, underground water caused the gap. The only cure is to dig down to see if you can find the void, taking precautions against collapsing walls or further sinking. Fill the void, tamp it thoroughly, and wait a while to see whether any more sinking occurs.