Smelled smoke in the house this morning: Woke up to the smell of wood smoke in the house, Looked outside to see if I had a chimney fire. There was so much snow on the roof, that I...

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Woke up to the smell of wood smoke in the house, Looked outside to see if I had a chimney fire. There was so much snow on the roof, that I couldn’t see the pipe. After digging out, I found what remained of a 8’ tall chimney, that had two 45 degree braces. They were double wall stainless

24” flue flattened
24” flue flattened...

Fun in the sun. I still have another day of cleaning up, but the weather is looking good for the week. Above freezing two days this coming week.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Dakoda wrote:

Woke up to the smell of wood smoke in the house, Looked outside to see if I had a chimney fire. There was so much snow on the roof, that I couldn’t see the pipe. After digging out, I found what remained of a 8’ tall chimney, that had two 45 degree braces. They were double wall stainless

I’m sitting on a snow bench about 14” high, on my deck.

Jack Salman Loc: Crystal Falls, Michigan (UP)

I had a similar experience with a metal roof, except it was a plastic plumbing pipe (breather). The snow slid off the roof with enough force to sheer it off. I had too move the pipes toward the top of the peak in order to stop that from happening again.
I'm really surprised that your double walled stainless pipe would crush like that! You must have had a serious amount of heavy snow on that roof! That's amazing.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Dakoda wrote:

I’m sitting on a snow bench about 14” high, on my deck.

Wow Russ, that's some serious weight to crush that stainless. Glad everyone's ok and no carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

I got lucky, I decided to let the stove burn out last night. I needed to clean the stove. I replaced that roof last Summer, so everything was put back in good shape. That chimney has been in that location for 30 years and taken a lot of abuse. This was an unusual storm, dumping 5’ in 48 hours. And I already had about 1’ of snow, frozen to the upper 12/12 pitch roof.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Dakoda wrote:

Woke up to the smell of wood smoke in the house, Looked outside to see if I had a chimney fire. There was so much snow on the roof, that I couldn’t see the pipe. After digging out, I found what remained of a 8’ tall chimney, that had two 45 degree braces. They were double wall stainless

You must be doing something right. You got lucky, Russ

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

Wow that's some force. You might want to add a upslope brace / splitter when you replace it. Maybe heat tape upslope.

Jeremy Loc: America

Dakoda wrote:

I’m sitting on a snow bench about 14” high, on my deck.

At least your grinning. Glad you realized the problem. Looks like snow shifted maybe the chimney heat caused it or the entire roof caused it to slide like and avalanche. Glad you’re ok and roof didn’t fail.

Can you add a bit of something above the chimney so it will go around it nextime

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Jeremy & Maid Marion. I will definitely add some type of splitter before the pipe next time. I have to figure out how to make it water proof for the rest of the winter. It’s pretty slick out there. I do have a harness I wear, attached to a cable that runs the length of the house.

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Fly, had I keep the fire going last night, I think I would have either had a fire or filled the house with heavy smoke. I get lucky sometimes.

Maid Marion Loc: Corvallis, OR

I read somewhere that heat tape can prevent ice dams that keep a roof from clearing itself. Also would felt soles like they used for wading slick rocks help traction on a slick roof

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Dang! That shear force was incredible😳

Alaska Charlie

Sir,
You are indeed a very lucky man. That stove or fireplace needs to be moved to the center of the house or removed. The code and all the manufacturers say the height of the chimney needs to be 2 feet above anything in 10 feet. That means for your 12"/12" slope roof your chimney needs to be a minimum of 10 feet high. Now, how on earth are you ever going to get up their to clean the chimney which needs to be done periodically. I've seen several people hurt bad trying to do this, especially on metal roofing.
Up here in Valdez, that chimney would not have lasted one year, let alone 30 years. The snow splitter would definitely help and the bracing is essential and needs to be bolted through the roof into solid backing.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Smile says it all. You got through it, thank goodness! That's quite a force of Nature!

Dakoda Loc: Cle Elum, WA

Alaska Charlie wrote:

Sir, br You are indeed a very lucky man. That stov... (show quote)

Charlie, the 12/12 pitch drops down onto a 3/12 pitch roof over the second story kitchen. I agree it is a poor design. It isn’t a problem to clean it, but the snow always hangs up on it. Normally it isn’t that big of a problem. I’m going to do something different for sure.