The purpose of a chimney flue is to route the smoke and by-products of combustion safely out of the fireplace, stove or insert. Since these by-products of combustion are toxic and extremely hot, the NFPA 211 Code requires that every appliance needs a sound and in-tact chimney liner to contain and expel these volatiles to the atmosphere.
What Is A Chimney Liner?
Chimney liners protect the walls of the chimney from the intense high temperatures and harsh by-products from combustion that can harm the structural integrity of the chimney. A chimney liner needs to be free of cracks or holes that may cause serious trouble.
Many liners are constructed of clay tiles. These tiles and the mortar joints between them, can deteriorate over time and often require replacement. To replace a clay tile chimney liner with another liner can be a difficult project depending on site conditions and how easily the old liner can be removed.
Stainless Steel Chimney Liners
A missing or damaged chimney liner is a serious problem that can have catastrophic results if left ignored. Stainless steel chimney liners may be an option to consider when relining a chimney. This single wall, stainless steel pipe must match the venting output requirements of your appliance or fireplace to work properly. This chimney liner can be flexible or rigid stainless steel. In some circumstances, this type of liner may be wrapped with ceramic fiber insulation for better performance.
Using an unlined masonry chimney will result in deteriorated chimney walls, sometimes to the extent that bricks will actually fall. Chimney Specialists highly recommends annual inspections of the liner condition. Structural problems and deterioration (or worse, a chimney fire) can result when a liner is not working correctly.. Some type of chimney liner is necessary for every chimney to help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones. Our experts will do a full inside and out camera inspection when needed and recommend the best solution if your liner is not doing it's job (or is not up to current code).
The unlined chimney in this picture has collapsed as a result of ignoring serious deterioration. Major damage to the home could have been avoided with a new in place to protect the chimney structure. We handle all types of chimney problems, from drastic structural issues like this one to others that are less severe. Whatever your needs our chimney professionals are qualified and ready to help.
Other problems made worse by the absence of a chimney liner include harmful gases entering the chimney and mixing with moisture. The moisture can then seep into the porous brick and cause rapid deterioration. When the temperature freezes, the water expands and causes the face of the bricks to fall off. This process is called “spalling”. This can lead to structural problems if left unresolved. To prevent these problems and make repairs where necessary, contact the chimney professionals in Highland, Wisconsin at Chimney Specialists.
This picture shows a fireplace that was not properly installed. Proper clearances to the combustible wood siding were not maintained. The black charring on the wood panels is from “pyrolysis”. This occurs when the combustible material is subjected to heat over time and the ignition temperature of the wood is actually lowered. This wood will ignite with temperatures as low as 250° Fahrenheit. It is absolutely critical for proper clearances to be met or exceeded. A proper liner would have prevented this from happening.
At Chimney Specialists Inc., our team has received a long list of recognitions for our work with chimney repairs in southwest Wisconsin, northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois. We have received ten “Outstanding Customer Service and Satisfaction” awards.
Many companies may offer to install a chimney liner in your home, but not everyone can install it correctly!
Have your chimney liner installed properly by a fully insured, professional and reputable company.
Give us a call at (608) 929-4887 or feel free to fill out our online contact form and an expert team member will promptly reach out to you!
Chimney Specialists Inc. proudly serves the tri-state area of northeast Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin, including communities such as Boscobel WI, Dodgeville WI / Mineral Point, WI, Fennimore WI, Madison WI, Middleton WI, Platteville WI, Prairie Du Chien WI, Richland Center WI, Spring Green WI, Mt Horeb WI and Dubuque IA.
