Probably the most essential fireplace accessory that will keep your home and family safe is a chimney liner. Extreme temperatures and toxic gases are produced when you light a fire in a gas or wood burning fireplace. These combustion products are capable of causing damage to your fireplace, chimney and home, and can even make you sick.
A chimney liner is an insert made from materials such as metal, clay or ceramic that keeps your chimney safe from these combustion byproducts. It also protects the chimney walls from heat and corrosion. Once the chimney gets overheated or sustains some damage, any nearby wood used in the construction of your home is at risk of catching fire.
Testing has revealed that unlined chimneys are very hazardous. In the US, homes containing a fireplace that were built after 1940 must have a chimney liner, and they must be replaced if broken or cracked.
Chimney liners come in three main types:
1. Historically, chimney liners have been made from clay tiles. This is a cost effective choice; it's also easy to get and performs perfectly well in a properly maintained fireplace chimney.
2. To repair or upgrade an already existing chimney, metal chimney liners made of aluminum or stainless steel are the most common choice. The advantages of a metal liner are that it is highly durable and very safe if the installation is done properly.
3. Then there's the cast-in-place liner. This lightweight item is produced from material that looks like cement. Following installation in the chimney, it will provide a seamless, insulated route for the release of all the byproducts of a burning fire. This type of permanent liner makes an older chimney more stable and sturdy, and can be used with any type of fuel.
The material of choice for most replacement chimney liners these days is stainless steel rather than clay tiles, because it's a more efficient installation process. You can get it in either stiff or flexible varieties.
Typically, the job of putting in a new chimney liner is left to the pros. But you can save some money by purchasing a kit which comes complete with detailed installation instructions. Generally, all the needed attachments and accessories are included in these kits to make sure the installation goes smoothly.
If your older home has a fireplace, it's critical to get it checked out by a professional to be certain it meets safety requirements. A damaged chimney can be a serious household hazard, particularly if the liner is not installed correctly. And so there's no good reason to avoid installing this critical fireplace accessory, especially since there are so many simple, cost effective means of addressing the problem. - 16752
A chimney liner is an insert made from materials such as metal, clay or ceramic that keeps your chimney safe from these combustion byproducts. It also protects the chimney walls from heat and corrosion. Once the chimney gets overheated or sustains some damage, any nearby wood used in the construction of your home is at risk of catching fire.
Testing has revealed that unlined chimneys are very hazardous. In the US, homes containing a fireplace that were built after 1940 must have a chimney liner, and they must be replaced if broken or cracked.
Chimney liners come in three main types:
1. Historically, chimney liners have been made from clay tiles. This is a cost effective choice; it's also easy to get and performs perfectly well in a properly maintained fireplace chimney.
2. To repair or upgrade an already existing chimney, metal chimney liners made of aluminum or stainless steel are the most common choice. The advantages of a metal liner are that it is highly durable and very safe if the installation is done properly.
3. Then there's the cast-in-place liner. This lightweight item is produced from material that looks like cement. Following installation in the chimney, it will provide a seamless, insulated route for the release of all the byproducts of a burning fire. This type of permanent liner makes an older chimney more stable and sturdy, and can be used with any type of fuel.
The material of choice for most replacement chimney liners these days is stainless steel rather than clay tiles, because it's a more efficient installation process. You can get it in either stiff or flexible varieties.
Typically, the job of putting in a new chimney liner is left to the pros. But you can save some money by purchasing a kit which comes complete with detailed installation instructions. Generally, all the needed attachments and accessories are included in these kits to make sure the installation goes smoothly.
If your older home has a fireplace, it's critical to get it checked out by a professional to be certain it meets safety requirements. A damaged chimney can be a serious household hazard, particularly if the liner is not installed correctly. And so there's no good reason to avoid installing this critical fireplace accessory, especially since there are so many simple, cost effective means of addressing the problem. - 16752
About the Author:
There's more to a fireplace than just the fire. Learn more about essential fireplace tools and decorative fireplace accessories at Fireplace Tools and Accessories.
