Friday, 30 January 2009

A Chimney Liner is Essential for Safety

By Gerald Beatty

A chimney liner is one of the most important fireplace accessories you can buy to protect your home and health. A fire in a wood burning or gas fireplace creates high levels of heat and lethal gases. These combustion products are capable of causing damage to your fireplace, chimney and home, and can even make you sick.

A chimney liner is a metal, ceramic or clay insert that protects the chimney from these byproducts of a burning fire. It also protects the chimney walls from heat and corrosion. If the chimney becomes too hot or damaged in any way, the surrounding wood is liable to catch fire.

According to various tests, an unlined chimney is a serious danger. 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. A metal chimney liner is commonly made from aluminum or stainless steel, and is mostly used for repairing or upgrading an existing chimney. When installed correctly, a metal liner has a high safety rating and is very durable.

3. A cast-in-place liner is another possible choice. 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. An older chimney will benefit structurally from this kind of permanent liner, and it is compatible with various types of fuel.

When replacing their chimney liners, most people nowadays select stainless steel because it's much simpler to install than clay tiles. It's available in either flexible or stiff styles.

Most people choose to have their new chimney liner professionally installed. However, there are kits available that include instructions for installation, and this can save you a lot of money. The kits usually include all the required accessories and attachments to get the job done.

If you live in an older home with a fireplace, it's essential that you have it professionally inspected to make sure it's up to the current standards of safety. An old chimney that's damaged or improperly lined presents a great danger to the members of your household. And since there are a number of reasonably priced and effective ways to correct the situation, there's really no excuse not to invest in one of these essential fireplace accessories. - 2275

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