I’ve had some issues with my chimney that, through trial and error, became clear it was due to the fact that it isn’t lined. It currently has two relatively new (2-6 yrs old) hot water heaters and furnaces venting out of it (this is a two family home).
My chimney guy reluctantly said I am better off decommissioning my chimney and getting direct vent furnaces and hot water heaters. This feels like a huge expense considering they’re all relatively new.
Curious what this community thinks of the recommendation, and what I should consider if I pull the trigger and switch everything over to direct vent. I’m due to have some serious plumbing air done (most of my water and sewage pipes are 60-100 years old and quite corroded), so this does feel like a bigger opportunity to think holistically about how these systems are set up in the basement.