A Guide to Buying Chimney Liners

If you have a chimney or flue it is important that you maintain this vent in good condition. This is something that a lot of homeowners fail to do properly and this means that they suffer as a consequence. If a chimney isn’t maintained correctly then it could mean that toxic gasses end up in the home, or it could even lead to a fire spreading throughout the house. Those using solid fuel fireplaces are expected to do yearly chimney cleans. It is also important that those who are using their chimneys for gas or oil fires also keep their chimneys or flues in good condition because otherwise there is likely to be problems. Part of this maintenance is going to be occasionally having to replace fireplace accessories known as chimney liners.

The Purpose of Chimney Liners

Chimney liners have two main purposes; to provide a smooth surface so that fumes can easily pass and to provide a bit of insulation. These liners will deteriorate over time and even gas fires will eventually cause flaws in the lining; sometimes chimney liners haven’t been installed correctly in the first place and this means that they won’t last very long. There will always come a day when the chimney lining needs to be replaced.

The Different Types of Chimney Liners

There are a number of different types of chimney liners available to buy and we will now look at some of the options.

Metal Flue Liners

One of the most popular chimney liners is stainless steel metal flue liners. This is because they are relatively easy to install and it is possible to purchase something to suit almost any chimney. These metal flue liners are usually bought as part of a kit and this means that they are very adaptable to different types of chimney. When choosing a metal flue you will need to consider the type of fuel that is being used as this will determine the type of alloy you will want to purchase.

Clay Tile Liners

Clay tile liners are another popular choice because they are seen to have many advantages over other types of liner. Clay liners can take a lot of abuse from heat and materials attempting to accumulate on the surface – it is claimed that a clay liner should last for as much as fifty years and this makes it a tempting choice. The other nice thing about clay liners is that they are relatively cheap; although you may have to spend a bit of money on labor to install them.

Cast in Place Liners

This is an option where you actually create a new flue within a damaged chimney. There are a few different options here but a lot will depend on the amount of damage within the chimney. Cast in place liners tend to be very strong and this makes them a good choice.

Tips for Buying Chimney Liners

Here are just a few tips for buying chimney liners –

• When it comes to chimney liners you can often be expected to pay for labor as well as materials used. This means that even if you find the materials cheaply you could still end up spending quite a bit of money. Make sure you consider labor costs as well as material costs – you should be able to find a good deal where both are included.
• Make sure you do a bit of searching on the web because these days this is where you will find the best deals for chimney liners.
• Remember that the type of chimney liner you require will always depend on the type of chimney or flue you have.