What is Chimney Lining and what are Its Benefits?

A chimney lining is a conduit installed inside a chimney to protect the inner walls of the chimney and the masonry from damage by heat and corrosion from combustion. Most chimney liners are made of clay or ceramics but aluminum and stainless steel have been introduced as an alternative, due to their high efficiency. Whatever material you choose for your chimney liner, you must understand the benefits that come with the installation of one.

Benefits of Chimney Lining

  • Safety Against Home Fires

As we all know, lack of enough ventilation inhibits complete combustion because of a lack of oxygen. A chimney liner provides enough air to facilitate full combustion of wood in the hearth, hence preventing build-up of creosote and moisture from the incomplete combustion. Creosote is known to be the leading cause of home fires since it can continue burning even after you put out the fire in the hearth. If you do not have a liner installed, it will continue burning and end up reaching the drywall and the whole house will be in flames as a result. Chimney lining also protects you and your family from the buildup of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.

  • Energy Efficiency

A chimney liner lets in air from outside the house, thus facilitating full combustion of hearth fuel. Without enough ventilation into the hearth, the wood in the hearth would burn incompletely, resulting in more fuel usage. It also prevents buildup of downdraft into the hearth, something that would otherwise require you to burn more fuel to keep your living room warm during the cold winter months. Some liners, like those made of clay and ceramics, retain heat produced from the hearth for longer periods, saving you the extra fuel you would have burnt to keep your living room warm.

  • Increased Home Value

Since most homebuyers know the benefits of a chimney lining, they will likely be looking for a house that has a chimney installed, as they want assurance and peace of mind that they are protected from possible home fires. For this reason, having a chimney lining installed in your chimney does not only make it look elegant and classy, but also makes your home stand out from the rest of the homes available for sale. The result is that a potential buyer will agree to your asking value of your home.

  • Protects Masonry From Damage

Research shows that most home fires are a result of creosote that builds up in the chimney flue and continues to burn in the absence of the homeowners after the fire at the hearth has been put off. This fire can either cause home fires or even damage the masonry of the whole chimney and the walls of the house at large. This is because as fire burns, it corrodes the material that surrounds it. To be fully protected against damage to the masonry, you should use stainless steel or aluminum since clay has been known to crack after longer periods of exposure to heat.

  • It Saves Money

The main function of chimney liners is to protect home fires and damages to the chimney masonry. This means that you save the money that you would have otherwise used to repair or replace the chimney in case it is completely damaged. The liner also ensures complete combustion of the fuel in the hearth, hence saving you money you would have used to buy extra fuel. Some chimney lining materials like clay and ceramics retain mossy of the heat produced in the hearth, saving a lot of money in terms of energy you would have used to keep your living room warm during the cold winter months. A chimney lining thus saves you a lot of money you would have otherwise lost if you did not have a liner installed in your chimney.

There is no point in using so much of your money to buy or build your house only to take chances with its safety or that of you and your family just because you do not want to incur some little cost installing a chimney liner. It is wise to source for the most reputable chimney contractor with good ratings and reviews so that you do not take chances with your safety as well as that of your loved ones. Most importantly, look for a company that has highly qualified technicians that are ready to provide 24-hour support just in case something goes wrong.