Why Use a Chimney Liner?
If you’ve heard the term chimney liner, but you’re not sure what it is or why you might need it, read on. We are going to discover what a chimney liner is and whether you need to use one.
What is a chimney liner?
Whatever heating appliance you have installed in your home, if it burns fuel it will need to vent the fumes outside of your house. A chimney liner enables this to happen whilst protecting the inside of your chimney from any combustion products.
Do I need a chimney liner?
If your chimney is constructed of masonry, it’s recommended that you use a chimney liner if you wish to install either a multi fuel or a wood-burning stove.
This is why it’s necessary:
- Chimneys that are constructed from masonry are quite likely to have some cracks. Without the use of a liner, it’s possible that the fumes will leak through the masonry either into your home or possibly through to that of your neighbour.
- As the fumes are emitted from the stove, they will rise and slowly cool down. As they cool they can produce creosote. This substance is tar like and will be deposited on the inside of the chimney. Because the lining of a chimney liner or flue liner is smooth, it will not get coated so much as a masonry chimney would when it does not have a liner fitted. Creosote is inflammable and is the often to blame as the cause of chimney fires.
- One of the benefits of the chimney liner is that it is narrower than a masonry chimney. It runs in a straight line from the bottom to the top, this makes it easier for gases to escape faster. It also produces an improved draw, which will help your fire to burn better without the risk of lots of smoke being emitted into your home.
- The chimney liner makes it possible to light a fire easier the next day, as it will retain heat from the night before.
- It’s usually a lot easier to sweep a chimney liner than a masonry chimney. The deposits of creosote can be far more difficult to remove from a chimney that has cracks and crevices.
Quite often our clients ask if the flue should be insulated. This is achieved by filling the gap between the flue liner and the chimney after installation. This is not necessary but there can be benefits from having it done. For example, if you have a very large chimney that is external, then it’s more likely to be very cold and this is not advantageous to fire burning. However, the warm air that will collect between the liner and the masonry chimney will usually be enough to insulate it.
If you opt to have a chimney liner installed, or have been recommended to do so, it’s worth considering that this should last you for years and will make your chimney far easier to clean.
The Leeds Stove Centre supplies Chimney liners in Yorkshire.
If you have any questions for our team at Leeds Stove Centre, contact us today.