Blog
- May 27, 2011
Chimneys come in many shapes in cross section. Some of the more common ones are the square and rectangular. While the square ones can be easier to manage in terms of installation of the chimney lining (you can use a circular liner offering a snug fit), the rectangular ones are a little bit trickier to work with. This is due to the oblong shape which makes finding a liner that can fit in them a bit harder. Using a circular liner in a rectangular flue is hardly ideal as it means a lot of space is left in the periphery.
One solution to this is getting custom made chimney liners, but this may be a bit expensive. A cheaper and simpler option is to get the oval chimney liners. Due to the geometrical configuration of these liners, they can snugly fit in a rectangular flue, offering a bigger cross section than any other kind of liner. Oval chimney liners can also be used in situations where a chimney has an
- May 27, 2011
Installation of rigid chimney liners is one way of installing a chimney liner in an unlined chimney or one whose liner is defective. The rigid chimney liner is best used in cases of a chimney whose flue is not offset, that is it runs straight with no corners. One advantage of these kinds of chimney liners, particularly the stainless steel ones, is the fact that they are relatively cheap to install, and can be installed on older chimneys without the need for restructuring the whole chimney. They are also available in a variety of shapes (cross-section wise) meaning that all sorts of chimneys are catered for.
Rigid chimney liners are less expensive than their flexible counterparts, but one has to take into consideration the labor cost involved. This is especially true if one intends to fix a rigid chimney liner in a chimney which has flue that is not straight. In this case, a lot of specialized labor and
- May 27, 2011
Most people assume that the top of a chimney is left open to allow the gas and smoke escape to the atmosphere, but consider the consequence of this. If rain falls, won’t it fall into the chimney and on to your fireplace? Wouldn’t birds and animals fall into it too, and wouldn’t they then rot? These are just some of the reasons why a chimney requires a chase cap; to prevent foreign material from falling into the chimney. The top of the chimney is exposed to a lot of harsh conditions; on one side are the elements (rain, snow etc.) and on the other side is heat. This means that your chase cover needs to be of good quality so as to withstand these conditions so that you don’t have to keep replacing it.
One of the qualities of a good chase cover is the material it’s made of. Since it’s exposed to humidity and heat, it would be unwise to get a chase cover made of a material that would rust. The best bet is to get a stainless
- May 27, 2011
In the current bad economic times, many people look for the best way to save a few extra dollars, and one of these is by doing things yourself instead of getting professionals to do it. When it comes to projects such as lining chimneys, however, some people tend to shy away from the prospect of doing it themselves, not knowing that it is quite possible to do it. One of the simplest ways to go about this is to buy flexible chimney liner kits, and doing the job without the help of a chimney liner. Most people avoid the flexible chimney liners because of their corrugated surfaces which make them difficult to clean, but the fact is that these types of liners have quite a number of advantages.
For one, the flexible chimney liner kits are readily available, and most come with instructions so even if you are lining your chimney for the first time, you wouldn’t be doing it blindly. They are also much easier
- May 27, 2011
As fireplaces age, the tendency is usually for the fireplace refractory panels to start cracking. Fortunately, this part is normally easy to spot, so a cracked refractory panel should be replaced quickly. However, you should be careful to find the right panel to fit your particular fireplace. Installing the fireplace refractory panels isn’t a difficult task, and most people are able to do it themselves. You would just need a chisel, drill, a piece of cloth, a brush, and refractory cement.
Once you have all your items collected, the first task would be to remove the old panel. This is just a matter of unscrewing it, and then tapping it loose using the chisel. Since it’s coming out anyway, you don’t have to be worried about breaking it. Once it’s out, you have to clean the working area thoroughly, and then install the new refractory panel. This is done by spreading a thin layer of refractory cement on
- May 27, 2011
A chimney liner is a material which covers the interior surface of your chimney. This is an essential part of the chimney as it ensures safety and efficiency. The chimney liner can be made out of a variety of materials such as clay, stainless steel or aluminum. The stainless steel chimney liners have some advantages which make them a very good choice.
For one, the stainless steel chimney liners are relatively cheap compared to other materials. They can be used to line any type of chimney, even the ones that didn’t have the steel chimney liners to begin with meaning that you don’t have to tear down your chimney to install them. Apart from that, the stainless steel chimney liners are much easier to clean compared to clay-lined or unlined chimneys, which lowers your cost of maintenance. They also happen to be very energy efficient, which would reduce your fuel consumption.
This
- May 27, 2011
The fireplace is an area in your homes that experiences very high degrees of heat for long periods. Concrete is usually the material of choice used in its construction, and though this material has its merits as construction material, it is terribly susceptible to heat and gases produced during combustion. These tend to weaken it over time, and if not taken care of properly, it can lead to cracking or even collapse of your fireplace. To ensure this does not happen, it is extremely advisable that one lines the interior of the fireplace using a heat proof material.
A fireplace liner can be used to prevent or repair damage to the structural integrity of the fireplace. A proper size of liner should be used for the specific kind of fireplace you are using, and a fireplace professional should be consulted to determine the optimum size. It is also advisable to check local regulations concerning fireplace liner
- May 27, 2011
A flue liner is an important component of any chimney due to its protective function and the fact that it contributes to the longevity of the chimney and any connected appliance. It also improves the safety profile of the chimney.
There are three vital reasons for having a flue liner. One is that the liner acts as a barrier against transfer of heat from the fireplace exhaust to the adjacent combustible structures in the house, such as wood scaffolding. An unlined chimney conducts this heat very well and causes ignition of adjacent combustibles in a short time. The liner also protects the chimney itself from corrosion by products of combustion. Gases in the flue (the space in the chimney) can penetrate and erode the brick and mortar making up the wall of the chimney, causing it to lose structural integrity. This also provides a conduit for the passage of toxic flue gases into the house.
- May 27, 2011
A chimney liner is one component of a chimney whose importance cannot be overemphasized. This is because it prevents gases of combustion from leaking into your house, which could turn out to be a health hazard as the gases are toxic (carbon monoxide being a case in this point). Apart from this, some of the substances resulting from combustion of fuel are themselves combustible. An example is creosote, which can seep through the mortar of your chimney and collect in adjacent woodwork. Hence it can become a fire hazard.
One should therefore consider upgrading their chimney lining for safety’s sake. This is especially true if your chimney was built with no liner, or if it has a liner which is cracked or too large. One could contract a professional to do it or do it themselves, but the constant that shouldn’t be ignored is to use quality products, preferably liners made of stainless steel. These can be bought
- April 30, 2011
A smooth wall stainless steel chimney liner is the latest technology in this wide chimney industry. It combines the advantages of both the improved performance of a rigid chimney liner and flexible chimney liner. This stainless steel liner has a double wall construction which takes advantage of the highest technology involved in making 316 version of stainless steel. The liner is more flexible than any other and offers the best performance you can think of.
A smooth wall stainless steel chimney liner is the most efficient venting because of the decreased turbulence. The liner can be shaped into square, oval and rectangle to take advantage of each cubic inch and more so, offer maximum draft. The stainless steel chimney kit includes cap, collar, tee, top plate, stainless screws and clamp. If your chimney is that straight from top to bottom then this kit is perhaps the perfect one. While taking advantage of the high quality smooth wall interiors, the liner itself will last forever and is easier to clean. Insulation will be required for the solid fuels although this may be optional for gas and oil. The smooth wall will have a smooth flexible interior wall while the exterior is corrugated. There are therefore no sizing restrictions in case of oil and gas applications.