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!

Cast Masonry vs. Stainless Steel Chimney Liners

If you are restoring your chimney, your contractor has probably offered you two choices in chimney liners. The two most widely used chimney liners are cast masonry and stainless steel and it is important to understand both types. There are vast differences between the two, so it is vital to understand these points when making a decision as important as this.

First off, stainless steel chimney liners have a varying degree of quality, so your contractor needs to install the top of the line model. All stainless steel will eventually wear out because of the heat that is produced from fireplaces. However, the rate in which they corrode is firmly dependent upon the quality of the stainless steel.

Cast masonry, on the other hand, does not have this issue with corrosion and it lasts much longer than stainless steel does. Those who are looking for a quick fix and who do not care about the lifespan of their chimney liner should choose steel. For the more quality, longer lasting type of chimney liner, then it is wise to go with the cast masonry instead.

In addition, insurance companies look at chimneys differently than a contractor does and sees stainless steel as an upgrade. Even if the replacement is necessary, only cast masonry is covered by most insurance companies, which is another bonus. Stainless steel would have to be paid for by the homeowner rather than the insurance company and most homeowners cannot afford this expense.

Therefore, when it comes to cast masonry or stainless steel chimney liners, the best option is the cast masonry for more reasons than just one. If a homeowner is insistent upon stainless steel, do not expect an insurance claim to be approved. Only cast masonry has the long life that homeowners prefer and the replacement is covered by insurance.