2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Chimney Liner’

What You Should Know About Chimney Liners

Monday, May 10th, 2021

Not sure what a chimney liner is or what it is for? Let us help with that.

Whether you are trying to learn about better chimney care or looking to just learn more about your chimney, one thing you should know about is your chimney liner. This is a vital part of your chimney and fireplace that can impact your comfort and your safety too. We can help you learn more about your chimney liner and provide the services you need to keep it in good shape.

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“What Part of My Chimney Needs Fixing?”

Monday, October 14th, 2019

chimneyTo the untrained eye, a chimney may look like a simple brick and mortar pillar with a pipe or two at the top. In reality, you know that your chimney has many parts to it. And much like other areas of your home, your chimney needs regular, specialized care.

You want to keep your chimney in good working order. It helps keep your home warm and safe in the cold weather after all. But the question is how do you tell if and where your chimney needs repairs? At the end of the day, it is not only easier but safer to reach out to a professional chimney technician for examination and repair. They will know exactly what to look for and how to address your chimney’s needs safely.

For now however, we can give you a brief description of some parts of your chimney that you might want to check for potential repair needs.

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Do You Need a New Chimney Liner?

Monday, April 29th, 2019

You don’t often think about your chimney, and why would you now that spring has sprung and there’s no longer a need for your fireplace? Well, we are here to tell you that spring is the perfect time to take care of any outstanding chimney repairs and restorations that you may need. Of course, with the weather changing and the rainy season on its way, the need for repairs and replacements might be more imminent.

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” but April showers may also bring a wide range of issues for your chimney and your home. This is especially the case if your chimney liner needs to be replaced. Your chimney liner  is one of the most important components of your chimney, as it keeps gasses, smoke, creosote, and water out of your home. There are a number of signs that suggest it’s time you invest in a new chimney liner, and below, we have outlined them for you. 

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Getting to Know Your Chimney Liner

Monday, November 26th, 2018

chimneyNobody expects you to be an expert on your chimney and all of the different materials and components that it uses in order to safely and effectively vent smoke and combustion gases out of your home. If you were an expert, after all, it wouldn’t exactly be great for our business! That being said, we do believe that it is in every homeowner’s best interest to have a basic idea of how their chimney works (provided that they’re using a fireplace, of course).

There is more to the chimney than may meet the eye—literally! Take the lining within your chimney, for instance. If there is an issue with crumbling masonry on your chimney, then it will probably be pretty easy to spot. This is not really the case with your chimney liner, though, which is held within your chimney itself. So today, we are going to talk about your chimney liner in Minneapolis—what it is, what it does, and what problems it could potentially run into along the way.

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Some Alternatives to Clay Tile Flue Liners

Monday, May 29th, 2017

chimney-fire-top-bottomA chimney is not complete without a liner. Chimney fires are more common than you think, and you may have experienced one before without even realizing it. While you should do whatever you can to prevent a chimney fire—using a dry seasoned wood, proper ventilation, regular cleaning—what’s just as important is making sure a fire cannot spread to the outside of the home.

A chimney liner stops flames from potentially spreading to the outside of the house. It helps to prevent chimney fires from occurring in the first place, and reduces water damage to a masonry chimney. There are many different types of chimney liners available, but one receives some critique. Think clay tile is the wrong choice for your next liner? We offer some advice here, but call a chimney sweep for more information about services available in your area.

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We Use SmartScan Technology to Inspect Your Chimney Flue

Monday, May 8th, 2017

chimney-fire-top-bottomYour chimney may not be in as good of a condition as you think. Hopefully, your chimney is lined with a flue liner, a liner most likely made of steel or clay tiles, that protects the masonry from damage. It stops a potential chimney fire from spreading to the outside of the home, but that doesn’t make it infallible.

When a chimney liner is filled with flammable materials, or when the chimney liner is compromised structurally, it puts your home at risk. Schedule your annual chimney cleaning and inspection with a technician who uses SmartScan technology to check out the chimney liner.

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Common Problems with a Chimney Liner

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

While masonry chimneys made of brick and mortar may be beautiful and timeless, it’s not a safe material for smoke and other byproducts to move through. That’s why you have a chimney liner—or you should—inside of your chimney that improves ventilation as a fire burns in your fireplace.

Without a good chimney liner, there is a much higher risk of a chimney fire. It could quickly spread to the outside of your home, and that is something you want to avoid at all costs. Here are some common problems with chimney liners you should know about, and which your technician should check for during an inspection.

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3 Things to Know about Your Chimney Liner

Wednesday, July 6th, 2016

You might not know too much about the chimney that vents smoke and other byproducts away from your home. Many people don’t know that the masonry they see on the outside of a chimney is not the complete picture. A safe, modern chimney also has a liner inside, which helps to contain byproducts of combustion properly.

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Should You Upgrade Your Chimney Liner?

Monday, September 21st, 2015

Unless you’re a professional chimney sweep, it can be tough to tell if your chimney is in trouble. Chimneys don’t exactly make noise or show many other outward signs that they need repair. However, there are some ways to determine if you should replace your older chimney liner with a new one. Here is how you can tell that your chimney need relining services from a professional chimney technician.

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What Are the Benefits of a Chimney Liner?

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Since the inside of your chimney isn’t something you see often, you may not be aware of how essential the chimney liner is to keeping your fireplace hearth both safe and pleasant. The liner is responsible for helping combustion material from the fires in the hearth escape up the chimney and prevent the development of dangerous residue such as creosote.

Not all chimneys have liners; if you live in an older home, the chimney may have originally been constructed without a liner. If this is the case for your home, you should definitely contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. and have us help you choose and install a chimney liner in Maplewood, MN. If your chimney has a damaged liner, you should also contact us for a replacement.

2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. is one of the most trustworthy sources for chimney repair services, and have upheld our standard for quality through two generations.

Chimney liner benefits

  • Protects your home from fire damage: One of the essential functions of a chimney liner is to keep the heat inside the chimney from reaching the combustible material outside it. For older chimneys with cracks in their masonry, it’s easy for heat to escape to areas such as the second floor or the roof and start a conflagration. In fact, the majority of house fires in the U.S. start this way. A liner keeps the heat inside the chimney where it belongs.
  • Prevents creosote and moisture: Creosote is the #1 enemy of chimneys everywhere. This shiny black substance is the unburned wood energy that gathers due to poor venting or wood that doesn’t burn thoroughly. It is highly combustible and a leading cause of chimney fires. A liner prevents creosote from building up by helping with proper venting. The liner also stops water moisture from becoming trapped in the chimney, which is a significant danger because it will cause cracking when it freezes during winter.
  • Increases a home’s energy efficiency: Liners form a layer of insulation inside a chimney that reduces the downdrafts that can come down it during times when there is no fire in the hearth. This means less cold air getting into your home and forcing you to run your heater more often. It also means more efficient burning of fuel inside the fireplace.

Chimney liners are usually made of clay or stainless steel. Both have advantages and disadvantages; your re-lining professionals will determine which one will work best for your chimney.

If you have any doubts about the integrity of your chimney liner or any other part of your fireplace, contact 2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc. and we will perform a CSIA-approved inspection. Based on our findings, we’ll recommend how best to proceed with making your chimney as safe as possible, whether through restoration, repair, or a new chimney liner in Maplewood, MN.

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