Is Your Chimney Flue Cracked? Find out the dangers
As the popular saying goes “practice makes a man perfect”, likewise a good practice can keep your home perfect and safe. A common threat that can emerge in a residential or commercial place is the
damages caused by a cracked chimney flue. The chimney flue has to be kept undamaged to protect the house. Also, annual chimney inspections are mandatory to avoid dangers related to a cracked chimney flue.
Given below are a few things to remember about chimney flue and threats of using the fireplace with a damaged chimney flue.
Hazards of the Chimney Flue:
A chimney flue is a slender pathway in a chimney that allows the burning derivatives to move out of the doors. The entire make and operating system of a chimney requires to house a draft so that the
toxic fumes and smoke can exit through the flue. In case of an addition of a new fireplace, a new chimney liner is also needed to confirm the appropriate draft. A standard calculation is in place to determine the flue size depending upon the dimensions of the fireplace and the correct proportion for a chimney flue.
Almost from the 1950s, chimney flues are must-haves in homes to avoid fires and the liner also protects inflammable parts of a home from getting exposed to extreme heat from the chimney. In houses where the fireplace is in regular use, but run without a liner, a chimney flue has to be immediately included.
Timely inspection of the liner would help keep it in a good condition to avoid cracks and keep away the toxic fumes and carbon monoxide from entering the living room and threaten the lives of the
residents.
Dealing with various types of flue liners:
Clay Tile Flue Liners:
In most of the homes in the United States, clay tile flue liners are the most common builds. Clay tiles
perform an excellent job in protecting the house for a longer period (almost for an average time frame of 25 years) and they are also pocket-friendly materials, chosen by most builders. In spite of the long life, clay tiles weaken with time. To replace the clay tiles is exorbitant, hence to
reline the chimney would be more economical. The process of relining includes partially ripping apart the chimney to refill it with new clay tiles. If a timely chimney sweeping and inspection has not
been done in the past then soon other parts of the liner will also start wearing away, which would end up with more maintenance than required.
Metal Chimney Flue Liners:
Metal chimney liners may pinch your pocket but they are highly recommended by chimney professionals because they can be used throughout the lifetime without replacement. At times these
kinds of chimney flues are available with a lifetime warranty. Stainless steel chimney liners are considered to be safe especially for domestic use and are amongst the top preferences by Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), provided the installation is being made accurately. Along with stainless steel liners, aluminum chimney flue liners are also in use. These liners are available for people with low budgets. However, choosing stainless steel would be the right choice when it comes to safety concerns.
Details of Chimney Repair- Call the professionals:
The first step of a repair service starts with the inspection of the chimney by a professional. If it has not been cleaned for years, there may be an initial requirement to clean the same before performing
the camera inspection procedure. A certified professional will always use a state-of-the-art CCTV camera to scrutinize the chimney from inside. Post this, the chimney inspector would review the
actual chimney stack to check for cracks, wear and tear or decaying in the brick or brickwork. A professional chimney sweep can take care of all chimney related problems and may take one to five
days’ duration to complete the work. A professional repair and cleaning may not be foolproof, but will definitely bring peace and satisfaction to the mind. It is suggested to perform an annual cleaning
and chimney inspection by a certified professional for the good health of the chimney as well as to avoid the dangers of a cracked chimney flue.
