Effects Of A Damaged Chimney Liner

A chimney’s job is often underappreciated. Without a chimney, fires could not be enjoyed indoors, think of the warmth that they provide and the memories that would not be made. We often pay attention to the fireplace itself or the firebox because they are the parts we see most often from the inside but the chimney is by far, the unsung hero of this equation. The chimney liner itself enables you to burn fires safely and works to make sure that firewood is burned efficiently. Few people ever know there is a problem with their chimney liner, let alone address the issues that could be placing their home in danger.

Increased Risk of Fire

Chimney liners have a specific function, they absorb the extreme heat and temperatures from fires.   Without a chimney liner, flames would literally burn through the chimney and endanger the home and structures around it. A chimney liner installed by a professional provides the protection we expect from a chimney. One of the best materials for chimney liners is stainless steel.  This material is strong and ranks high on the safety meter.

Inefficient Liners

“Any liner is a good liner?” It appears that quite a few homeowners seem to believe this. Unfortunately, If a liner has been installed incorrectly there could be gases escaping and increasing the family’s exposure to carbon monoxide. Carbon Monoxide has been referred to as the “silent killer” because it is a gas with no color or odor. People exposed to this gas can go without recognizing it until it is too late. Liners that have not been installed properly can produce large amounts of creosote. Creosote is a sticky tar-like substance that is the residue of burned firewood. When a chimney liner is compromised then the whole chimney system becomes inefficient and wood that is not completely burned tends to produce lots of creosote. The result is an increase in blockages and the risk of a chimney fire.

Masonry Damage

Masonry is the brickwork that forms your chimney. Intense heat can do irreparable damage to your brickwork. Besides this, masonry can be eaten away by the gases produced from the fireplace. The holes that occur can allow gases to seep through into your home. Once again, the risk of fire is increased. Those gaps can also weaken the entire structure and cause the chimney to crumble. The job of repairing masonry can be very costly, so in this case the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is absolutely true. Making sure you have a strong liner with no cracks is the best way to prevent this type of masonry damage.

Worth The Cost

Older homes may have come with a clay liner which is better than no liner at all, but clay liners can develop cracks. How do you know what kind of liner you have? Call today for a professional inspection to find out what type of liner you have and to ensure that there are no issues that could become expensive problems if they are not taken care of promptly. Regular maintenance and inspections and the proper liner can really keep your chimney working in peak condition.

Hudson Valley Chimney
845-471-1071
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