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There are a number of shaped chimney liners which can include oval, square, rectangle, round and custom liners. Every sweep estimate for each chimney may be different and the common of the above list are the round and oval shaped chimney liners which turn out to be economical as well.

The stainless oval chimney liners are both water and air tight. Sometimes, the flue liner may have up to seven ply seams which are rated best for their strength. The stainless material used to make them is also at its best. Coming in different sizes, the oval liners are priced per foot. If you chose an oval shaped chimney liner, you will need the top plates as well. The top plates work well if one has clay tile at the top of the chimney. The plates have oval design to fit the oval shaped chimney. It is quick to install as most of the plates come with a quick to connect system. One just needs to tighten down the screws to

Oval chimney liners are categorized under single wall liners which are flexible, economical and strong. The single liners with round and oval cross sections also come in a variety of stainless steel grades. The oval shape is known to offer a larger cross section especially when it is installed in rectangular enclosures. When installing a wood stove in your fireplace there are ways you can get past the damper housing with this chimney liner.

One can convert from the round to the oval liner at the damper housing. Here, you should go through this damper housing with the oval liner and later convert it back to round while at the stove. This method is costly as the oval pipe plus the adaptors are expensive. It also may bring problems during the cleaning of the chimney. The preferred method is by cutting the damper housing where one will keep the same diameter liner from his stove to the top of his chimney. In this method, cleaning will be done swiftly

Older homes often need rigid chimney liners to make them more efficient and safer. Unlined chimneys are vulnerable to creosote, acidic gases and the risk of chimney fires which weaken both the mortar and the brick. To own the right chimney liner, it will depend on the kind of chimney one has. The rigid stainless steel chimney liners do provide uninterrupted and smooth surfaces that creosote cannot cling to. These liners are inexpensive to install and fit older unlined chimneys. Being multipurpose, the steel liners are good for oil, wood and gas appliances. They are faster to install than clay liners.

Aluminum chimney liners work well to retrofit homes for the gas appliances. They are rigid liners but lighter in weight than stainless steel, and are cheaper. However, they cannot hold up to the combustion byproducts of oil burners. Clay tile is the oldest form of chimney liners. When installed correctly,

There is a special fire clay that is used to make the refractory panels. Once the mixture is formed out of the raw material it is poured into forms, and then cured for a certain period of time before being installed into the fireplace. The refractory panels act as protection to the sheet metal so as not to get damaged while burning fire. The following are instructions on how to install your panels.

Since installation itself is dirty work, one should spread out a tarp in front of the fireplace and out into the room. Then, one should remove the grill to clean the fireplace. The grill should be cleaned outside the fireplace using a brush. Then he should scrape out all the ash from the fire place before scrubbing the floor of the fireplace with soap and water. Locate panel clamps to hold the panels in place. Each clamp contains four to six screws and they run the length of each panel along the perimeter

Also known as chase tops, chase covers are metal coverings that are designed to keep rain, animals and snows from entering a home through the chimney’s opening. They cover the entire top of your chimney because they are designed to fit around the round metal chimney. In fact, they fit well over the chimney just like the shoe box lids. It is necessary to buy a chase cover because your family will be protected from harmful animals and diseases, and also your chimney will be in good shape for a longer time duration. There are different materials used in making the chimney chase covers as described below.

The galvanized steel is the lowest in terms of cost although it is known to rust quickly and may need shorter periods of time to be replaced. One is advised to have an alternative cover.

Aluminum does not rust but it is considered to be too soft for its purpose. It is

In order to measure your flexible chimney liner kit, you will need to determine the dimensions of the chimney and also the specifications for the appliances you will hook the liner kit to. The chimney liner kit needs to have the largest diameter pipe that fits inside one’s flue if it is going to serve the fireplace. Before selecting the flexible chimney liner kit, the basic requirements will be the height of your chimney, and the dimensions of the existing flue. Start measuring to the top of the fireplace smoke chamber by using a flexible tape measure or the weight to a string. Lower the weight down to the point where the liner will be connected. Having done that, you can now measure the string to determine the height of your chimney.

When it comes to a fireplace, the cross sectional area of the liner should be in the ten to one ratio. The liner’s diameter should not be too small to avoid the risk of

It is recommended to use a stainless steel chimney chase cover when replacing your old chase cover. Stainless steel is not only durable and stronger but it also looks new for quite a longer period of time. The chase cover should be designed with a cross break since this helps in preventing ice and water from getting trapped on top of the chase cover. With stainless chase covers, there is guarantee for preventing corrosion from happening.

The prefab chimney chase covers do rust because of the elements. The decaying process starts when rain water and snow get trapped on top of the chase cover. This may even get worse when leaves from trees mix with moisture leading to creation of acidic condition which breaks down the galvanized coating of a chase cover. The breakdown causes pitting of the chase cover which eventually leads to dripping of water inside your chimney.

The stainless steel chimney chase cover is customized to fit

Wood burning fireplace inserts can be defined as units made from stone or other substances that are designed to be placed into a fireplace that is old or not very efficient. The fire inserts lower pollution in the air, heighten energy efficiency and increase the output of warming your living area. Although they may not be cheap, fireplace inserts are less expensive as compared to regular utilities. Research needs to be done in making decision for acquiring a fireplace insert.

The condition of the fireplace is the major factor to consider. If the ventilation is not adequate and your fireplace is full of cracks, then repair must be done. If a contractor is to be hired then he should make sure that your fireplace is structurally sound. The insert should not be for display only; it should be put to good use. If it is going to increase your usable space, then searching the best prices for your insert is prudent. One should not bother with an insert

To ensure safety of your chimney, regular cleaning is vital. The chimney is subject to dust, soot and heat and its cleaning involves washing out soot as well as removing creosote and dust from its walls. A few tools used in this task include the shovel, mirror fireplace cover, ladder, broom, shop vacuum, flashlight brush rods and so on. The cleaning exercise involves the four methods discussed.

Top down rod method involves using a chimney brush to clean way through the chimney’s opening. This is done by raising and lowering the brush through the walls. A metal rod is also fixed in order to reach the farthest parts of the wall. The debris and soot are collected at the closed fireplace. Weight method is similar to top down method although weights, ropes and pull ring are used. These three are assembled with the chimney brush and by raising and lowering the brush; one will easily scrub the internal walls.

Fireplaces can be inefficient means of heating a home.  Installing wood burning fireplace inserts can make the difference between a cold and drafty home and a warm a cozy nest.   Fireplace inserts are just the beginning of the list of items that can make a heating system more efficient.  A smoothwall stainless steel chimney liner or one of the flexible chimney liner kits can also help a fireplace work more efficiently.   For home owners who wish to keep the look of an open fireplace can refurbish their existing fireplace by installing fireplace refractory panels.  Refractory panels reflect/bounce heat back from the liner so that the fireplace emits more warmth into the living space.  Using flexible chimney liners in conjunction with new refractory panels can give an old fireplace a complete overhaul.

Fighting the elements is no easy task but with the right tools a chimney or fireplace be