How To Install A Chimney Liner Through A Damper

 

When installing a chimney liner, getting the liner through the damper opening can be something of a challenge. A typical 6" round liner is 6.25" on the outside diameter. Your damper opening is probably in the range of 5". There are generally two ways to get around this problem.

Option 1: Widen the damper opening. Remove the damper door. This may give you some added clearance. If not, you can continue by removing the damper housing that it usually mortared in place. Sometimes using a reciprocating saw (sawzall) or grinder and just cutting an opening large enough to slide the liner through is sufficient. Should you need additional clearance, brick removal is permissable since that is a non-structural area.

Option 2: Ovalize a section of the liner. You will need to take a couple of measurements: the opening width of the damper, and the distance you will need from the damper to the exhaust of your insert or stove, which determines the length that you will need to ovalize. Once you have that information, uncoil the liner, and starting at one end, ovalize the liner to the thickness and length needed.

How to ovalize the liner: There are number different items you could use to ovalize the liner, and they will give you the same results. One we have found that works well is a wide board (a 2x10, perhaps, or something close to that) a couple of feet in length. Start with the liner secured with your knees, and begin from the end by pressing down and work towards the length you need. Continue pressing down, going forward then back again until you have the width and length needed. The liner is sturdy and will not crush, so you can apply pressure to it to achieve the dimensions needed.
Make sure you have the correct length and thickness, so you won't have to remove it and redo it. Once you have the liner ovalized, install that end first down the chimney flue. After you have it through the damper, re-form the very end of the liner back to round with your hands so the connector will fit.

 

When Is It Time To Reline My Chimney?

You Know It's Time When...

A chimney liner, or flue, is the inner portion of a chimney that contains and channels the products of combustion. For a chimney liner to work properly, it must be free from perforations, cracks, or damage of any kind. If it isn't intact it can allow the products of combustion, such as carbon monoxide, moisture, smoke, and creosote, to seep into the living spaces of the home, or the heat from the products of combustion to pose a fire risk to combustible materials near the flue such as framing, walls, ceilings, insulation, or floors.

Repair or replacement chimney liners typically are made of either rigid stainless steel or flexible stainless steel. Most masonry chimneys are constructed with an inner liner of clay tiles. Relining systems are available if an original clay tile liner was either never installed, or when the tile lining cracks, crumbles and deteriorates over time. Water damage, chimney fires, or just age can cause the deterioration of your clay liner.

Tips on Relining

To figure out the maximum size flue liner you can install, go on your roof and measure the inside diameter of your existing flue opening. You also need to know what length of liner to buy. If it's for a fireplace chimney and you still want to use it as a fireplace, measure from the top of your chimney to the top of the smoke chamber. You must also measure the size of your fireplace opening, height and width. If you're relining in order to use a wood stove, measure from the top of the chimney to where you'll be connecting the stove. Also measure the inside dimension of the exhaust on your wood stove, which establishes the size of liner you need.

When deciding between a rigid or flexible liner bear in mind that, although a rigid liner has the advantage of smooth walls, a flexible liner is far easier to install. Rigid pipe has to be assembled as you install it and long lengths can mean trouble if you happen to drop the partially assembled pipe down the chimney. A general rule of thumb is if you only need to reline about 12 feet (3.7 meters) of straight chimney, go with rigid liner, otherwise choose flexible.

Insulating your liner is important because it will give your chimney a better draft and help it stay cleaner longer. Especially when burning wood, an uninsulated flue will quickly lead to a build up of creosote.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.rockfordchimneysupply.com

Clay Flue Liner Pit Falls & A Solution

Hearth and Chimney Tips Presented By Rockford Chimney Supply

A clay flue liner is found along the pathway of the exhausting fumes in a chimney. It is essentially a functional layering, found along the chimney’s flue (outlet). Flue liners are not needed in all chimneys. However, clay tile flue liners do deteriorate over time.

The best solution when the tile is showing signs of deterioration is to replace it with a stainless steel chimney liner. Stainless steel chimney flue liners can be easily installed without any professional help.

Understanding Clay Flue Liner Advantages

Clay tiles aren’t the most durable material and need to be inspected frequently. If any signs of deterioration show in the terra cotta tile it is recommended you install a rigid or flexible chimney liner kit, easy to install.


Visit Rockford Chimney Supply at http://rockfordchimneysupply.com/ they have a wealth of information on chimney lining kits and are there to answer any questions you may have before making a decision. For improving the chimney’s safety and the safety of your family please note this article, possibly bookmark it for future reference. The internal walls of older chimneys become porous over a period of time. Thus, they present an easily-attachable surface for smoke and chimney soot.


If such materials stick to the flue, they will cause a chimney fire if neglected. Metal flue liners ensure that debris and gases produced from burning fuel into your chimney do not stick to the internal wall of the chimney liner.

Rock-flex flue liners have another fire-fighting feature. They have been UL tested and approved to withstand temperatures up to 2100 degrees. This means that even if a chimney fire occurs, the liner will withstand the heat and break easily. Due to this, the fire is readily extinguished.


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