Chimney liners have been part of building requirements since the early 1900s. But surprisingly enough, there are still modern homes that ignore standard practices and omit such a crucial feature. This can be dangerous as it can cause greater risks for a potential house fire or something even worse.
Here’s why chimney liners are a must in every modern home:
How Do They Work?
The chimney liner serves three important purposes: they protect combustibles found at home from heat transfer, protect the masonry from combustion’s corrosive byproducts and increase the efficiency of the appliance to which they serve. The increased efficiency is generally the primary focus because your chimney’s primary job is to facilitate the removal of dangerous gases from your home.
So, when a chimney liner is damaged, it compromises the chimney’s ability to successfully remove gases produced by the fireplace or other wood burning appliance. This also puts your home at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
This is why it’s more important to be safe than sorry where your family’s health is concerned. As such, you’ll need to have it checked by a trusted chimney masonry repair specialist like Chimney Doctors. We’ll have your chimney liner repaired or replaced depending on the damage.
Common Types of Chimney Liners
1. Metal
Stainless steel and aluminum are often used successfully as chimney liners. When properly maintained and cared for, they’re very safe and durable. Stainless steel is good for most heat producing appliances while aluminum should only be used for medium efficiency gas appliances. One of its drawbacks is that it can be more expensive than using clay chimney liners.
2. Clay
This is the best choice when a chimney is being built, but it’s not always cost-effective to re-line it with clay tile because of the intense labor required. In order to remove damaged tiles and install new ones, it’s typically necessary to break out portions of the chimney every few vertical feet.
3. Cast-in-Place
This type of liner is a permanent installation to your chimney. These lightweight cement-like products are poured in the chimney passageway along the outer walls. Cast-in-place chimney liners provide excellent insulation that’s suitable for all fuel types and improve its overall structural integrity. Your fireplace will also burn cleaner, which means there is less of a creosote buildup. But out of the three given options, this is usually the most expensive.
When it comes to excellent chimney relining, Chimney Doctors is the name to count on to get the job done. Call us at (518) 882-5009, or just fill out our convenient contact form. We serve Saratoga Springs and neighboring New York areas.
