One of the great thing about your chimney is that it’s a fairly easy system to figure out. It’s a firebox on the inside of the house where you build your fire with a brick and mortar hollow tube. The chimney attached, which allows the smoke from the fire to flow outward. Granted, there are a few more components that make the system work more safely and efficiently.
The damper is part of this, and it is located at the base of the chimney and can be opened to allow air in to help your fire burn hotter while allowing the smoke to leave. There’s also the chimney crown, which keeps rain from falling along the joint where the chimney meets the roof. There is also the chimney cap, which keeps rain, animals, and birds out of your chimney while allowing smoke to leave. And most importabtly, there is your chimney liner. What is it and what does it do? We would like to tell you a little more about the function of it below.
Role of the Chimney Liner
The earliest chimneys were as described above: brick and mortar. However, overtime it was discovered that smoke from a fire has a harmful effect on the mortar, and so the idea to line the chimney with a stainless steel liner came about. This solution was so wonderful that many states require that a chimney flue liner to be installed.
There are three reasons to install a chimney liner. First, smoke can have a corrosive effect on the brick and mortar of the chimney. This creates a dangerous situation because cracks in the mortar allow gases released during combustion to filter back into your home. One of the gases is carbon monoxide. This is an odorless, colorless gas which can cause serious health effects such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and, if left undetected, lead to loss of consciousness and even death.
Another reason a chimney liner is so important is that it keep the combustible items that are inside your home and by your fireplace from getting too hot. According to CSIA, if a chimney is left unlined, heat can get through to cause woodwork to catch fire in as little as 3 ½ hours. Having a chimney liner that fits properly also keep your fireplace running more efficiently. This also helps to keep your energy bills down.
Let Us Help You
Chim Cheroo Chimney Service has been installing stainless steel liners for over 20 years, and we are here to help you. If you need a new chimney liner, give us a call today at 419-752-2231 to get started!