A new liner for the chimney; cleaning tile grout
Q. A chimney sweep cleaned my chimney and showed me where the smoke pipe takes a peculiar turn before it goes into the chimney. He also said the clay flue liner is badly broken up and even has chunks of wood in it, and needs to be replaced. He also said he would relocate the smoke pipe to go through a basement wall and the basement living room, and the job would cost $5,000. Is this a good price for that work and why in the world would he locate the smoke pipe in the living room?
MARION, from Belmont
A. A new liner is a good idea, especially since your old liner is in bad shape and is in danger of blocking the chimney. If you heat by gas, a new liner is required by law, in most states. If you heat with oil, the need is less acute but the chimney should at least be relieved of all that debris. As for the price, it seems high, but I am not sure you will get a better deal from another sweep.
As for the smoke pipe, relocating it in the living room is bizarre; if it served well enough for 25 years, it should be in the same position unless it is deemed to be a fire hazard. I think you need a second opinion. Call another sweep or a home inspector, the latter to suggest what to do. Or, call Angie's List, a club you can join for a fee, and it will provide you with competent (we hope) workers. In the Boston white pages.
Q. You mentioned a good way to clean dirty white grout on my white ceramic tiled floor. I lost the article, could you repeat it?
M. READY, Woburn
A. Wet the grout with straight bleach, and scrub with a small brush. Repeat. Wear skin and eye protection when working with bleach. If this doesn't work, this will: Find a round-headed knife blade and scrape off the very top of the grout, to reveal nice, fresh, white grout. Then seal the grout with a tile sealer or masonry sealer. And here is a brilliant idea, mine of course: Take out all the grout and put in the darkest, grayest, blackest grout you can find. It won't show the dirt or mold and will give an interesting look to the white tile.
Peter Hotton also appears in Sunday Real Estate. He is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton chats 2-3 p.m. Thursdays on Boston.com. His e-mail is photton@Globe.com
