Chimney Liners
Woodland Construction & Chimney Sweep specializes in residential chimney liner installations, chimney cleaning, chimney repair, chimney caps and renovation.
We take the time to do the job right. We provide personal timely service with appointments available to fit your busy life style. We pay close attention to detail, leaving your home clean and soot free. No mess no fuss guarantee!
What is a Chimney Liner?
A flue lining in a masonry chimney is a clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion. Although building codes vary, the installation of flue lining has been recommended for more than 100 years, and most fire codes now mandate liners.
In the 1940's and again in the 1980's, masonry chimneys were tested by the National Bureau of Standards for durability because of rising concerns about their performance and safety. The tests demonstrated that unlined chimneys were so unsafe that researchers characterized building a chimney without a liner as "little less than criminal."
Liners in chimneys serve three main functions:
First, the chimney liner protects the house from heat transfer. In the NBS tests, unlined chimneys allowed heat to move through the chimney so rapidly that the adjacent woodwork caught fire in only 3 1/2 hours.
Secondly, liners protect the masonry from the corrosive byproducts of combustion. In the tests it was determined that if the flue gases were allowed to penetrate to the brick and mortar, the result would be a reduction in the usable life of the chimney. Because flue gases are acidic they literally eat away at the mortar joints from inside the chimney. As the mortar joints erode, heat transfers more rapidly to the nearby combustibles and dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide can leak into the living areas of the home.
Thirdly, chimney liners provide a correctly sized flue for optimum efficiency. Modern wood stoves and gas or oil furnaces require a correctly sized flue to perform properly. The chimney is responsible for not only allowing the products of combustion a passage out of the house, but the draft generated by the chimney also supplies the combustion air to the stove of furnace. In addition, an incorrectly sized liner can lead to excessive creosote buildup in wood-burning stoves, and the production of carbon monoxide with conventional fuels.
Types of Chimney Liners
Chimney liners come in three main types: Clay Tiles, Metal, and Cast-in-place.
Clay Tile Chimney Liners
Clay tiles are the most common type of masonry chimney liners. They are inexpensive, readily available, and perform well for open fireplace chimneys that are properly maintained. There are two disadvantages to clay tiles. First, ceramic cannot rapidly absorb and evenly distribute heat during the rapid temperature rise that occurs during a chimney fire.
This uneven heating produces an unequal expansion, which causes the flue tiles to crack and split apart - similar to the instant shattering of a cold drinking glass when immersed in very hot water. A chimney with cracked chimney liners must be repaired before use. The second disadvantage is that tiles cannot adequately contain the liquid combustion byproducts produced by modern gas appliances.
Metal Chimney Liners
Metal chimney liners, such as stainless steel or aluminum, are primarily used to upgrade and repair existing chimneys. These liner systems are U.L. tested, and are extremely safe and durable if properly installed and maintained.
Stainless steel chimney liners are suitable for wood-burning, gas, or oil stoves and furnaces, while the aluminum may be less expensive, it may only be used as an alternative for certain medium efficiency gas applications. It is usually required that high temperature insulation is used in conjunction with the liners for safety and performance considerations.
Cast In Place Chimney Liners
Cast-in-place chimney liners are lightweight, castable, cement-like products that are installed inside the chimney forming a seamless and smooth insulated passageway for the flue gasses. They are permanent liners suitable for all fuels and a good choice for aging chimneys because they can improve their structural integrity.
Considering the hazards of old unlined or damaged chimneys, and the many cost effective options now available to make them safe and efficient components of your home heating system, isn’t it time for you to have your chimney professionally inspected to be sure it meets today’s safety standards?
Protect your family! Protect your investment! Protect your peace of mind!
Contact us today for a free quote on inspection and chimney liner installation by email. You can also call us on 605-920-8728 to plan an appointment that fits your busy schedule.
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