Many homes with old masonry chimneys may seem as though they have no liner at all. In actuality, these chimneys were likely lined with clay tile liners, which fell away over time. These chimneys need to be lined, so these liners need to be replaced. If your chimney doesn’t have a liner or the liner is damaged or inappropriate for your fuel type, the time to have it repaired or relined is NOW.
The Importance of the Liner
Your chimney liner, also called a flue liner, is one of the most important parts of the entire chimney system. It is the largest part other than the structure itself and affects everything from how well the chimney vents to how well the fire in the fireplace burns. If the liner is sized inappropriately, the fireplace can be smoky or you may lose heat to the outside. Similarly, the liner can manipulate the size of the chimney to accommodate a new appliance. This is a change our chimney professional can make when making new installations. It’s important to hire only certified professionals for this type of work and to choose only the type of liner that is safe for your fuel type. A professional from Pristine Sweeps can help you choose the right liner for you, at a price that works for you, and get your chimney ready for a fire by the fall.
Your chimney liner has three main jobs:
1. To protect the masonry from harmful and corrosive particles.
2. To protect the structural materials of the house from heat transfer from the chimney.
3. To correctly size the flue for safety and efficiency.
Common Flue Liner Damage
If you have found clay tile pieces inside your fireplace, your clay tile liner needs to be repaired or replaced. It may need a simple joint repair, or it may need a full relining. Other liner damage is a result of fire, creosote or soot buildup, water damage, and animal intrusion. Whenever the liner is damaged, no matter what the cause, it must be repaired as soon as possible. When Pristine Sweeps gets calls about damaged liners, we replace them with stainless steel liners.
Pristine Sweeps Trusts Stainless Steel
When it comes to the flue liner that is strong and durable, safe for all fuel types, and a solid piece with no joints or cracks, we look to stainless steel. A stainless-steel liner will last 80 years—as long as your chimney stands! Relining with stainless-steel may be more expensive than other options upfront, but the investment is worth it. Your chimney system will be safer, work better, and last longer when you let us replace the liner with a stainless-steel one.
We don’t just line masonry chimneys, but also oil furnace flues. If you have an oil furnace, make sure you have it serviced regularly and that the liner is maintained too.
If you’re not certain your chimney liner is ready for winter, call Pristine Sweeps now at 206-574-8414.