Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Check Out Our Chimney Relining Options!

There are few chimney components that are as important as the chimney liner. A good chimney liner protects your home, helps your fireplace draft efficiently, and reduces performance problems. Without proper maintenance, chimney liners can become ineffective and unsafe.

What is a chimney liner?

The Chimney Safety Institute of America defines a chimney liner as “A clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.”

What is the purpose of a chimney liner?

All modern fireplaces are built with chimney liners and few homeowners understand their purpose. There are three main functions of a chimney liner.

– Protects building materials. The chimney liner helps protect surrounding insulation, wood, walls, and other building materials from heat transfer from the fireplace and flue.
– Contains byproducts of combustion. Chimneys are not airtight; chimney liners contain the smoke, hot air, gasses, and other byproducts of combustion. This prevent them from spreading to the rest of the house.
– Encourages healthy draft. A lined chimney encourages drafting, allowing byproducts of combustion to draft up and out of the chimney while drawing fresh air and oxygen in.

Does my chimney need to be relined?

Chimney liner damage can be difficult to repair and are hard to view. The best choice for damaged chimney liners is relining because the majority of the flue is inaccessible.

One of the most effective ways to spot damage to the chimney liner is by performing a Chim-Scan inspection. During this video inspection, our professional chimney sweeps use cameras to evaluate the condition of the entire liner. This allows us to identify areas of damage and deterioration in otherwise inaccessible portions of the flue.

Options for chimney relining

If you chimney liner has been damaged from animals, leaks or moisture, or years of wear and tear, it may be time to have the chimney relined. The type of chimney relining you need will depend on the fuel source, type of liner, and amount of damage.

Clay tile liners with damage to the mortar joints may be able to be repaired with a special product known as HeatShield®. HeatShield® is a refractory sealant that repairs mortar joints, fill cracks, or resurface the entire liner.

In addition to HeatShield® relining products, we also offer our customers stainless steel and aluminum liners. These durable metal liners are ideal for gas burning fireplaces. If you’ve converted a masonry fireplace to a gas-burning insert or stove, relining the flue with a metal liner can improve safety and efficiency.

Call Clean Sweeps Of Michigan Today!

You cannot see your chimney liner but it plays an important role in the safety and efficiency of your fireplace system. At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we offer a number of relining options for our customers. For more information about our relining options and to schedule a chimney inspection to evaluate the condition of your chimney liner, contact us today!

Trust Us With Your Annual Chimney Sweeping

While sweeping out ash from the firebox or removing smudges from glass doors might make your fireplace look cleaner, professional maintenance is required in order to keep your fireplace burning safely and efficiently. An annual chimney sweeping is the best way to keep your fireplace in excellent condition year after year.

The importance of yearly chimney maintenance

We take time each year to schedule maintenance for our furnaces, HVAC systems, vehicles, and more. Our chimneys are no different; they need regular, annual maintenance in order to continue to operate safely and efficiently. Without regular maintenance, chimneys are at risk of performance problems, interior or exterior damage, and chimney fires.

According to National Fire Protection Association Standard 211, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.”

The CSIA, or Chimney Safety Institute of America also recommends that homeowners have their chimney swept and inspected by a certified chimney sweep at least once per year. Sweepings should also be done any time 1/8th of an inch of soot accumulates in the flue; this amount of buildup is typically seen after one full cord of wood has been burned. If you burn more than a cord of wood in a single season, it may be beneficial to schedule an additional mid-winter chimney sweeping.

What to expect during a chimney sweeping

To ensure the safety of your chimney technician, please stop using your fireplace or stove at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time. Expect your Clean Sweeps of Michigan chimney sweep to arrive on time and act in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner in your home.

During the chimney sweeping, our CSIA certified chimney sweeps use brooms, brushes, and a variety of other tools to remove soot, ash, and creosote  from the flue. A chimney inspection may be performed at the same time as the sweeping; inspections are an important tool and can help identify signs of damage or deterioration in the fireplace or chimney.

Trust a certified chimney sweep with your chimney safety

While anyone with a brush and a truck can call themselves a chimney sweep, only a small number of professionals have completed the education and training necessary to earn certifications from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we are proud to employ CSIA certified chimney sweeps; this ensures our customers receive the very best in safety and service from our chimney technicians. Since 1980, we have proudly been providing fireplace and chimney services to our friends and neighbors in Mid-Michigan, Northern Indiana, and Northern Ohio.

Schedule your next appointment today!

Regular chimney maintenance by a certified chimney sweep is the best way to extend the life of your fireplace system. For more information on how to keep your fireplace burning safely and efficiently or to schedule your next chimney sweeping, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today!