Bob Davis is a home remodeling contractor and fireplace enthusiast from eastern Ohio. Specializing in restoring older homes, he gets a lot of questions about chimneys. He decided to start this site after noticing the lack of information about chimney liners on the internet in the hopes of helping homeowners improve the safety and efficiency of their chimneys. His hobbies are golf and bird watching.Chimney Insert Guide
Categorized: Basics, Liners | No comments
You may have heard of a chimney insert before and although the name gives some vague indication of what it is, you may be wondering exactly what it does and why you might need one. Chimney inserts first enter the minds of many homeowners when the term is tossed around in relation to a home inspection or remodeling permit. But what exactly does it do and why is it necessary? Let’s break down some basic information about the chimney insert.
As chimneys age, the effects of burning multiple fires in them over the years begins to take its toll on the structure of the chimney. You can’t necessarily see what is going on inside, but you can only imagine that with all of the heat and fumes from repeated fires that some damage is bound to occur. For example, the mortar in between the bricks of the chimney often begins to deteriorate, creating cracks and holes through which toxic gases and even flames can enter your house. In many older homes, the chimney is inside the house and built into the floor supports or other infrastructure, which means these dangerous byproducts of fires could easily enter your living space. Even newer chimneys are not immune to these dangers, which is why most building codes require chimneys to be lined, particularly those attached to fireplaces.
What a chimney insert or chimney liner does is protect the chimney from all of these dangerous gases and flames. It provides an extra layer through which all of these elements must pass before entering your home and causing problems for you and your family. It is simply a lining made of clay or other materials that covers the inside of your chimney for the gases to pass through on their way out of your roof. It also provides insulation, which improves the efficiency of using a fireplace for heating (not to mention keeping in heat generated by other heat sources in your home).
Perhaps you want a chimney liner insert for peace of mind, or maybe you have to install one to pass a home inspection or get a building permit. Several options exist when it comes to installing chimney insert liners. Although you can install a chimney liner yourself, most people prefer to hire a professional. If you are confident in your home repair skills, you can buy a kit at a home improvement store and lower the insert into your chimney, but this is not a straightforward process. If your chimney is not a standard size or has some curves, the extra money for expert installation will be worth it. After installation, it is important to get a chimney inspection every year or two to ensure it is still in good working order so you can continue to reap the benefits of a chimney insert liner for years to come.
Tagged with: chimney fires, chimney inspection, Chimney liner, clay liners, fireplace, flue liner, inserts
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