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 Liner Basics
Categorized: Liners | No comments
A chimney liner is an essential part of many chimneys, although many homeowners are not aware of its importance.. Fireplaces are a great way to warm the house in addition to being attractive and cozy. Many older houses have one or several chimneys and multiple fireplaces to warm the entire house and nothing beats cuddling up before a warm fire on a cold day. But are they really safe? Most people don’t know that chimneys need to be inspected every year. You could be warming more than just your feet- you could be slowly creating a huge fire hazard or toxic gases could be leaking into your home. The main way to prevent any drawbacks of fireplaces is by having a properly fitted and functioning chimney liner.
A chimney liner provides insulation and helps prevent the toxic gases emitted by burning wood from entering the home. Many old houses have unlined chimneys. It is very important to check to ensure that the chimney is lined and if so, to see what condition the flue liner is in. Chimney liners built in the past become less effective over time and with use, the gases from fires eventually erode the liner and also cracks can form.
There are several chimney liner options available depending on the type of chimney you have and your budget. Clay tiles are the most popular choice. They are very inexpensive to purchase but installation can be a little pricey, especially if your chimney is very old or has an odd shape. Still, it is money well spent for peace of mind and safety for you and your family. Square tiles were regularly used for chimney liners in the past but now round flues are recommended for maximum protection based on the patterns in which smoke typically spirals upwards. So even a lined chimney may need to be updated to the latest standards using a chimney insert in order to be efficient.
The other option is a “cast in place” chimney liner. With this method, cement is poured directly into the inside of the chimney and allowed to dry and take the form of the chimney. These tend to give a cleaner burn and resist higher temperatures in addition to providing all the benefits of clay tile liners. And like clay tile liners, their lifespan is somewhere around the fifty year mark. This is an intensive process which requires specific tools and expert installation customized to the specifics of your chimney. You can also get an open fire chimney liner if you have an open fireplace.
Using a chimney brush isn’t enough to keep your fireplace clean and safe. Yearly inspection of your chimney liner can indicate the best course of action to keep your particular chimney in top shape and avoid dangerous consequences.
Tagged with: cast in place, chimney brush, Chimney liner, clay tiles, fireplace, flue, flue liner, inspection, old houses, toxic gases, unlined chimney
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