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PSA: A homeowner's complaint taught me to check clearances differently
Got a call last week from a lady in Wheeling who said her fireplace insert was smoking her out. I go look and she was right. But her issue was that the flue liner was installed with zero clearance to some old framing. I never paid much attention to those gaps before. She pointed it out and said 'your last sweep missed this.' Now I carry a 2 inch clearance gauge on every job. Anyone else get burned by not double checking install clearances?
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mileslane4d ago
Not to be that guy, but is zero clearance actually that common? I feel like most installs leave a little wiggle room by accident. Maybe that one was just a really bad job.
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aaron8804d ago
Read that part about the zero clearance and my jaw actually dropped. I've been sweeping for six years and I never once thought to check that gap on an install. I just assumed if it fit, it was fine. Makes me wonder how many jobs I've walked past with the same issue. That homeowner probably saved your customer from a serious fire risk. I'm grabbing a gauge tomorrow for sure.
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Right there with you, man. I've been doing this long enough that I should know better, but I've definitely spaced on checking that gap more times than I'd like to admit. Makes you wonder what else we're all walking past, huh? What's the first thing you're gonna check with that gauge?
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