Comparing Rigid and Flexible Chimney Liners

Chimney liners are an important component to any chimney one may come across.  The liner serves a number of purposes.  First, it controls the speed at which the heat moves from the chimney outside.  An unlined chimney allows the heat to move quickly through increasing the risk of starting nearby woodwork ablaze.  Second, a liner protects the masonry surrounds from creosote and other byproducts that can build from average use of the fireplace.  A chimney liner traps the debris inside of it and lessens the exposure to outside areas. Lastly, chimney liners are important to increasing the overall efficiency of a fireplace unit by creating a perfectly suited flue for heat to rise through.  Chimney liners come constructed in three main materials – clay, metal, and cement.  A liners flexibility or lack thereof will be dependent on the materials it is constructed of.  In this article, we will take a systematic approach to compare a rigid chimney liner to a flexible chimney liner.

When choosing between a flexible versus rigid chimney liner, homeowners will need to take into consideration a number of factors.  Price, maintenance requirements, and ease of service and installation can all differ between the two.  First, let’s discuss their difference in construction. Rigid liners are assembled from segments of pipe that is then installed into the flue.  A flexible liner is constructed from a continuous section of corrugate tubing and is fashioned as it is installed in the flue itself

How your chimney is shaped will have a huge impact on which liner you choose.  If the flue is offset from the fireplace or stove it is attached to than a flexible chimney liner would be the better option.  If the flue is direct and squarely centered on the unit, homeowners may opt for a rigid chimney liner. Having the ability to bend and conform to its environment, the flexible chimney liner offers greater utility for unique configurations.

Homeowners will also want to be aware of the cost variance between a flexibly chimney liner and its rigid counterpart.  The rigid liner is often less expensive as the materials used to construct it are more affordable.  A flexible chimney liner involves more parts and materials in it construction. A flexible liner also requires more craftsmanship and labor to make a liner unique to the application it is needed for.

Lastly, the maintenance of the liner will also very between the two.  Rigid liners are more prone to developing leaks because of how they are constructed.  They feature shorter segments of multiple pieces of metal where divides can form.   On the other hand, many rigid liners have a smooth service making them easy to clean.  A flexible chimney liner has a corrugated surface making the sweep process a little trickier.  As customer demand rises, many manufacturers are now offering smooth surface flexible chimney liners but often at a higher cost than their standard counterpart. 

Still unsure on which one is right for your home?  Contact a local chimney professional to assist you in making your decision.  They can examine your current chimney and fireplace, assess the environment in which you use the unit, and suggest a liner best-suited for your needs and unique circumstance.

Article Source: https://www.apsense.com/article/comparing-rigid-and-flexible-chimney-liners.html

What is the Objective of a Chimney Liner?

The chimney that you see rising above a home or different building is barely the outside portion of a system that's very important to the protected operation of fireplaces and different home equipment that burn fuels contained in the building. The chimney, historically constructed of bricks, however now also constructed of different materials in newer buildings, is the assist construction for the flue. The flue is the opening contained in the chimney that carries merchandise of combustion safely from the purpose of gasoline use to the skin atmosphere. For protected operation of the hearth or different equipment, it is imperative that the within walls of the flue be sealed from top to backside so that no gases or different fluids can leak into the encompassing chimney construction or into the building from contained in the flue. If the flue shouldn't be tightly sealed, acidic moisture from the merchandise of combustion and from exterior sources resembling rain and snow can penetrate the chimney construction and degrade the integrity of the bricks and mortar over time. A poorly sealed flue may also let toxic carbon monoxide fuel into the building. Cracks within the flue may also permit intense warmth and flames to flee into the exterior chimney construction or into the building itself, generally causing harmful and deadly fires. For all of these reasons, many chimneys ought to have a brand new chimney liner installed contained in the flue, or an present liner replaced whether it is no longer functioning properly.

Chimneys constructed before the 1940's relied upon the bricks and mortar that made up the flue walls being nicely constructed and leak proof. Because the 1940's, chimneys have been constructed with a chimney liner installed as part of the development process. The most common type of chimney liner constructed into brick chimneys consists of clay tiles stacked contained in the flue and sealed with mortar. A clay tile chimney liner, if properly constructed, will final a number of decades with out leaking, unless there is settling or different components that cause the tiles or mortar to crack. Older chimneys with out clay tile liners will deteriorate over time on account of warmth and moisture, and will begin to leak with out correct maintenance.

An everyday inspection of a chimney to test for cracks within the bricks, mortar, or clay tile liner is critical to make sure protected operation of the chimney system. If the inspection reveals harm to the within of the flue, the chimney liner must be replaced or a brand new one installed before the equipment connected to the flue is used again.

Choose A Flexible Chimney Liner For Optimum Performance

Working as a chimney maintenance and sweeping professional is a great job if you have the skills and knowledge to get the job done correctly. There is more to the job than inspecting for creosote buildup and using brushes and vacuums to get rid of the stuff. Sometimes you will need to replace old parts inside of and on top of the chimney, or even in the flue. One such item that may need replacing is the flue lining. A flue lining or chimney liner as it is referred to can be made of a variety of materials, like clay, metal or ceramic and fits inside of the chimney. It helps to contain the dangerous combustion products that are released in smoke and effectively delivers them outside into the air so that the chimney stays properly protected and safe.

For the most part, fire codes in many states require that your customers have chimney liners inside of their chimneys and that they are in good, working condition. That is why it is so vital that as their chimney maintenance professional, you ensure that the chimney liner is in good working order and if it needs to be replaced, you do so.

A flexible chimney liner is a good way to go for most standard chimneys. Such a liner, like a DuraFlex chimney liner, is made of aluminum and works well for venting a variety of chimney sizes. A flexible chimney liner will provide protection to the structure of the home by properly transferring the heat produced form combustibles. A DuraFlex chimney liner will also protect the quality of the masonry of the chimney from highly corrosive byproducts of smoke. They help to keep dangerous toxins from entering the home and posing a threat to the residents inside. Liners also serve a vital function in helping appliances to run at their maximum efficiency, saving the homeowner money. The right sized liner will help to minimize creosote buildup and will keep a chimney running properly for many years.

Purchase a top notch DuraFlex chimney liner and any other professional chimney supplies online from a quality dealer. You need to have the best supplies on the market in the right price range so that you can be an excellent chimney maintenance professional. Save time and valuable money by ordering supplies online and make sure to stay stocked up on the most important tools that you will need on a regular basis.