chimney liner facts

As with any product, there are a wide variety of chimney liners on the market to choose from.  They have different uses and different strengths, and proper research should be done before deciding exactly what kind is right for you.  Just to brush up on your chimney knowledge a little, we want to note that a chimney liner is also known as a flue liner, and it is generally used to contain the combustion that occurs inside of your chimney, protecting the chimney itself from wear and corrosion.  It’s an added safety measure for your chimney and is extremely important in the proper maintenance of your chimney.  The different materials that liners are made of have different benefits, which we will outline below.

Clay Liners

A clay flue liner is the most common to see in a typical American home.  Clay is popular due to its easy availability, inexpensiveness, and classicism.  However, clay may not be doing exactly the job you expect it to.  A flue liner’s main function is to protect the sides of the chimney itself, preventing future needed maintenance.  Clay tiles are not very good at redistributing the heat in the chimney when a fire begins, meaning that those very clay tiles that you were trying to protect begin to shatter when met with extreme heat.  Though clay is inexpensive, you may end up paying for that decision later on in the form of chimney maintenance.

Cast-In-Place Liners

Cast-In-Place chimney line

Chimney liners are a great addition to any fireplace but many people do not understand why they would need one. Are chimney liners necessary for safety and function or simply added for decoration? Are they required by your local building code? Exactly why would you need a chimney liner? Fireside Chimney Supply is here to answer those questions and more. Our experts have outlined a few reasons for you to consider purchasing chimney liners.  

Reasons to Purchase Chimney Liners

Reason 1: Your chimney is unlined.

Just as most houses were built without insulation in the past, most masonry chimneys were built without a liner. The absence of a liner can cause wood exhaust to leak through the mortar joints into your home. That is safety concern indeed. Another safety concern? Your chimney could actually catch fire! That is because in some cases, liquid creosote can eventually dissolve the binder in the mortar and soak into the joints. Without a liner to create a buffer, a fire could occur.

Reason 2: Your chimney is lined, but the liner is in poor condition.

There are many types of durable chimney liners, including those made of rigid and flexible materials. In the case of some masonry chimneys, the liners are made from terracotta clay or pumice, which can crack over time from normal wear and tear. A crack in that type of liner can allow smoke and liquid creosote through, which can ultimately lead to the same risk of chimney fire as described above.

Reason 3: Your chimney is lined, but the liner is not properly sized.

Ill-fitting liners can cause numerous issues. In fact, an oversized liner can lead to everything from smoke spillage to excessive creosote formation and...you guessed it

If you invest in an older home, there’s a good chance that it has a wood burning fireplace rather than an electric one, which builders are now putting in the newer model homes. For those who have lived in an older home, they understand the importance of fireplace maintenance which means having the pit inspected as well as all the way up the flue. Now, with that being said, a licensed chimney inspector will <

Everyone loves to curl up next to a warm and cozy fire during the winter, but the fire isn’t warm and cozy if you haven’t properly maintained your fireplace. A safe and clean fireplace is a warm and cozy fireplace, bottom line. So, how do you keep up on your fireplace maintenance? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks for making sure you keep your fireplace and chimney liner in good shape so that when winter hits, you’re all set to throw in some fresh firewood and light it up.<

Whether you have a wood burning stove, furnace, or fireplace, there's no way it can function without a chimney. Your chimney is essentially the engine that drives your wood heating system, the heat being the fuel. The more fuel you give the engine, the more powerful it becomes and when you compare that to how fireplaces work, the more heat, the greater the draft.

When looking for a new home, many buyers lean more towards those that come equipped with a fireplace because not only does it add a sense of comfort to the house, but it also adds an architectural element to both the interior, and exterior. There are several benefits that go beyond the aforementioned as to why having a home with a fireplace is a good investment, and that's aside from being relatively easy to maintain.

After installing their liner kit, many homeowners don't consider the idea of having their chimney regularly cleaned or checked for maintenance purposes. Well, if you're one of those homeowners, that's not good and you should call a chimney sweep immediately, but we digress. Of course, having a home with a beautiful rustic fireplace that you can light during the winter is a beautiful thing to have, but that's only if you take care of it - otherwise plenty of problems ensue.