Chimney Liners And Their Importance:
A safe, code compliant liner protects a masonry chimney's walls from heat, potential damage and corrosion from combustion byproducts.
The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) tests revealed that in unlined chimneys or liners that have been compromised due to age or a seismic event, highly acidic flue gases often penetrated the brick and mortar, eating away at the chimney's mortar joints, and allowing heat to transfer more rapidly to nearby combustibles – which means that dangerous flue gases such as carbon monoxide and sulfuric acid can leak into the living areas of the home. In the NBS tests of unlined chimneys or a deficient lining system, adjacent woodwork or framing member caught fire in only 3 1/2 hours, which is why an appropriate liner is so very important.
Recommended Chimney Liners:
1. Stainless Steel
Used primarily in liner upgrades and repairs, stainless steel liners provide safety, performance and durability. Stainless steel liners are used for wood burning fireplaces, oil or gas furnaces and wood stoves. They also come with a lifetime transferable warranty from the manufacturer at the time of sale or transfer of property.
2. Aluminum
Aluminum is used as an inexpensive lining alternative as opposed to stainless steel and for use primarily for medium efficiency gas furnaces or hot water tanks only. Cannot be used in fireplaces, wood stoves, oil fired appliances or hi efficiency applications as per the NFPA211 code which governs the National Fire Protection Agency.
