CHIMNEY RELINING
We have the know-how you need.
What is a flexible liner?
A flexible chimney liner is just that, flexible as opposed to rigid. The wall thickness ranges from .005 in. to .019 in. All stainless steel liners have some form of ribbed construction and are supplied in continuous lengths. Flexible liners allow for both top and bottom support because any expansion due to heating is absorbed by the liners flexible ribbing. Some flexible liners can be bent by hand while others are less flexible and require special tools for bending. The use of rain caps are required to maintain UL 1777 testing standards and protect your system.
Most liners offer a strong 7-ply seam which is air and water tight. The flex liner has corrugations between each reinforced seam offering greater flexibility. These unique alloys are designed specifically to resist acids in the flue and extreme stresses of hot and cold cycles.
Why do I need a chimney liner?
Here you can see after a mild chimney fire. Notice the very clean section where the fire occurred. At first look it doesn't appear as though there was any damage, however the only way to tell is to clean the entire system and inspect for cracks or missing tile. A more severe fire would have occurred if the fire started lower in the system, providing fuel the entire way out the flue. The owners of this residence were completely unaware this occurred. Many chimney fires are small and undramatic, causing damage with no obvious proof it occurred until inspected.
This is an older chimney constructed before flue tiles were part of the assembly. After years of weather and the acidic effects of creosote mixed with water, many have deteriorated mortar joints between the bricks. This poses a large risk in the event of a chimney fire with the fire spreading into concealed spaces such as attics, walls and floors. If venting a gas appliance, carbon monoxide is able to leak into the home undetected, causing illness and other health issues. This is extremely common during cold months due to animals building nests inside because of the warmth coming up the flue, and should be relined with the appropriate liner and have an animal guard or spark arrestor installed at the top.
