When you look at the construction of a chimney, the liner doesn’t seem like an important part, but it’s vital. If you burn oil or solid fuels, the liner guides the combustible products out of the house.
To keep the chimney in top condition, you should clean it regularly.
During the cleaning, the chimney contractor will let you know whether the chimney needs chimney relining or replacement.
Before you reline the chimney there are several things you should know:
Reasons Why the chimney needs a new liner?
The three reasons the chimney might need a new liner is because:
The chimney doesn’t have a tile chimney liner. If you have an old chimney, you have a clay tile liner that is known to develop cracks over time.
The cracks leave gaps that allow toxic gases such as carbon monoxide to get into the house. The cracks also allow fire sparks to escape into the house, putting your property at the risk of catching fire.
When this happens, the chimney isn’t safe, and you need to reline it.
The chimney liner is damaged. A damaged liner doesn’t do its job right. Creosote also builds up easily in it, which puts your house at the risk of catching fire.
When it comes to the time to clean the chimney, chimney professionals have a hard time doing it due to the liner damage.
Benefits of relining the chimney
Plenty of benefits come with relining the chimney. The first one is that you have peace of mind as you know that your family, belongings, and house are safe from chimney fires and carbon monoxide intoxication.
When you reline the chimney, you increase its efficiency through a better draft and reduced creosote buildup.
If the damage is extensive, relining the chimney becomes an affordable alternative to rebuilding or repairing.
A damaged chimney liner makes it hard for chimney professionals to clean the chimney, but when you reline it, you make it extremely easy for them to clean the unit.
This not only ensures that your chimney remains in top shape, but it also saves you money as the chimney sweep services providers don’t spend a lot of time in your home.
The final benefit of relining the chimney is that you get a lifetime warranty. When you install a stainless steel liner that is corrosion resistant, you can have peace of mind that the liner will last for a long time, without requiring any form of maintenance.
You can install the liner by yourself, but don’t
Installing the liner requires you to stand on the roof and reach the top of the chimney then insert the liner down your chimney. If you have the skills and necessary tools, you can easily do the work, but if you have never done it before, let an experienced professional handle it.
Certified chimney contractors have handled hundreds of similar projects before, so they are more likely to do a better job. The contractors are also able to install the liner regardless of the situation.
When working with the contractors, ensure they are highly experienced in their work. They also should be certified and insured. You don’t want to be liable for the accidents on the site, do you?
Insulate the liner
After installing the liner, it’s always wise to insulate the liner. The insulation enables the flue to heat up quickly, which increases draft, reduces creosote, and makes it easy to clean the chimney when cleaning time comes.
The insulation also makes the system safer and more energy-efficient.
For you to keep the liner in top condition, have a ½” thick insulation.
Have the right size of liner
The size of the liner you need depends on what you are connecting. If connecting a stainless steel liner going through a thimble hole, measure it from the center of the hole to the top of the chimney.
On the other hand, if connecting an insert or stove in the fireplace, take the measurements from the top of the chimney to the top of the stove or chimney insert.
Chimney liners are sold in 5’ increments, so you will have 15’, 20’, and 25’, and so on.
Before you install the liner, ask the chimney contractor to undertake a chimney inspection Bowie and recommend the best liner to go for.
