Smooth Wall Liner VS. Standard Stainless Steel - Which Is Better?

The most common question I am asked is - Which is better, the stainless steel flexible chimney liner or the stainless steel smooth wall flexible liner? The answer is both. Each chimney liner has the potential to be the best liner depending on the unique application in each home.

All flexible chimney liners have to be manufactured with corrugations. The corrugations are what make the liner able to flex and bend. The smooth wall chimney liner may look similar to our standard flexible chimney liners on the outside but inside the liner is a smooth double lining of steel. The smooth inner lining takes away the turbulence that the traditional corrugated liner produces. The smooth interior of the liner reads on average a 20% heavier draft rating compared to the traditional flexible liner. This would make the smooth wall liner a good choice if you have to down size the liner 1/2 inch due to tight clearances in the flue. 

The smooth wall chimney liner is more flexible of a liner as well. When a chimney has an offset in the flue, the smooth wall liner will be able to maneuver around the offset with ease. The smooth wall liner is much heavier than the standard flexible liner which does make it more difficult to handle on a roof. The smooth wall liner is unable to be ovalized or shaped. Typically a liner is shaped when passing through a throat damper in a fireplace or when the flue size will not accommodate the appropriate size round liner. When this situation arises we turn to the stainless steel flexible chimney liner.

The standard stainless steel flexible chimney liner has been the industry standard for years and will remain the industry standard for years to come. This light weight durable liner makes for an easy installation and can be used with all fuel types and proven to stand the test of time. The flexible chimney liner can be ovalized to pass through fireplace dampers and therefore relieving the homeowner of the hassles of cutting the damper out of the fireplace. The flexible stainless steel liner can also be shaped into a square, rectangle or oval to maximize the area inside the flue. This can relieve the homeowner of having to remove clay chimney flues which can be labor intensive and can become a nightmare.

Both the standard stainless steel flexible chimney liner and the smooth wall flexible chimney liner are backed with a life time warranty at Rockford Chimney Supply. Both liners were rigorously tested in the UL labs (underwriter’s laboratories) under UL 1777. Each liner has its benefits, the homeowner just has to look at their chimney to determine which one is the best fit. If you are still unsure which liner is a better choice for you, please feel free to contact us with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you! 

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Phone: 866-708-2446

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.

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A Simple List of Essential Chimney Products

Your chimney is crucial to making your fireplace safe and enjoyable. With a little effort and a few essential chimney products, you can make sure your chimney works safely and efficiently all season long.


Keep the Hot Stuff In and the Wet Stuff Out
A chimney cap is an essential part of your chimney. A properly installed chimney cap will keep sparks and embers from flying out of your chimney. A chimney cap will also keep rain from entering your chimney. Water that mixes with chimney residue can create acid slurry that will weaken the interior of your chimney.

Air: A Fire’s Best Friend
A poorly performing chimney can lead to smoke and harmful indoor air pollution. A ventilation van can increase the efficiency of your chimney, leading to safer, cleaner burning fires.

Shrug Off the Elements
Chimney flashing is a flexible metal shield placed around your chimney where it meets the roof. Chimney flashing is important to avoid leaks around your chimney. Flashing is available in kits or can be custom crafted at metal fabrication shops.

Keep Your Chimney Safe
Made of tile, concrete or metal, a chimney liner is crucial for keeping your chimney in safe working order. A chimney liner keeps smoke, heat and toxic gasses from entering your home. Flexible metal liners are available as replacement or retrofit items.

Avoid a Drafty Chimney
When not in use, a chimney should be closed with a damper to avoid drafts and heat loss. A top sealing tamper installed at the top of your chimney can provide a weatherproof barrier when you’re not burning a fire.

Clean Chimney Tools
Although your chimney should be professionally cleaned and inspected annually, cleaning it yourself is a great way to keep your chimney safe. Flue brushes can clean the inside of your chimney and are available in round, square or rectangular shapes. Some manufacturers also sell fire logs that break sticky creosote down and make it easier to sweep.

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WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A CHIMNEY LINER

You may never of heard of a chimney liners never mind know what the uses of them are. If you have a chimney then they are an extremely useful and efficient way of keeping your chimney clean and safe.

Chimney liners keep out carbon monoxide and smoke, so stop these dangerous fumes from leaking into your house. They stop chimneys from overheating so stop possible chimney fires from happening. All chimneys at some time or another crack or break. Depending on what type of chimney you have depends on the suitability of particular chimney liners.

Old houses usually have masonry chimneys without flue liners or more recent houses may have clay tile liners, which over time can crack and tiles can break off.

The solution for most houses depending on the state of your chimney is to get a metal chimney liner. They last a long time, are easy to install and keep clean and are a cost effective way of keeping your chimney in a good condition. Most chimney liners are made of stainless steel . You can install them yourself if you wish in a relatively short space of time and fairly easily which is convenient and good on the pocket. If you were not confident about installing one by yourself then a reputable HANDYMAN in your area would be more than happy to do it for you. As it is an easy job for them to do it will only cost you a small fee and will save you a lot of money in the long term.

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Why Homes Need a Chimney Liner

Written By The Staff of Rockford Chimney Supply http://rockfordchimneysupply.com/
With winter in full swing and the temperature dropping, many Home Owners will begin utilizing their chimney. It is important to make sure it is safe and will work efficiently. If your chimney was built in the past 50 years, you will most likely need a chimney liner. Even some “newer” models of chimneys could use one. This piece will talk about what a chimney liner is and why you would need one for your chimney.
What is a chimney liner?
A chimney liner is metal tubing that simply goes inside of the flue of the chimney and acts like a chimney within a chimney. There are two different liners: rigid and flexible both being made out of stainless steel. The majority of chimney liners on the market today resemble a dryer vent hose, but the Rock Flex brand of chimney liners are the exception to the rule.
If you are looking for the Cadillac of chimney liners then the Rock-Flex is the way to go. The design of your chimney will depend on which liner you would choose. If your flue is a straight shot to your fireplace then you could use either a flexible or rigid flue liner. If you have bends or it is not a straight shot then using a flexible chimney liner is the way to go.
A chimney liner can attach to any heating source that is being vented through your chimney including fireplace inserts, regular fireplaces, furnaces, and other heating appliances. Chimney liners are good with most heating fuels including wood, gas, and oil. If you are heating your home with coal or pellet, depending on your configuration in your home, we would recommend either a combination of a chimney liner and a Class A chimney system such as DuraTech.
Chimney liners are becoming required in most home sales and home inspectors are suggesting that they have them put in to make code.
So why would you need a chimney liner in your Home?
Masonry chimneys are typically lined with clay tiles to prevent buildup; however, over time they can crack and develop creosote buildup. This cracking can be contributed to the moisture getting into the masonry joints and expanding and contracting with the temperature . Creosote is a carbon by product from burning wood and other fuels. It can buildup over time and these gooey looking flammable deposits can cause a chimney fire that could devastate your home and property.
Installing a chimney liner in your home helps to protect from creosote build up by funneling the smoke from your heating source through your chimney creating a barrier between your flue tiles and the smoke. By insulating the chimney liner, the creosote has a harder time of building up since the liner stays warmer longer which in turn keeps the creosote from building up in the cold air. Tiles that are missing or even have small cracks create areas where creosote can build up and become a hazard.
Some chimneys are built without a clay lining, in which case they would definitely be candidates for a chimney lining system. The biggest reason why you need to have a chimney liner installed is to extend the life of your chimney. Overtime your masonry chimney will deteriorate from the intense heat and just general usage. By having a chimney liner installed, you extend the life of your masonry chimney.
What is the cost of a chimney liner?
If you have a chimney sweep install a chimney liner it could cost you thousands of dollars. There is an alternative that many DIY homeowners are taking advantage of which are DIY chimney liners. DIY chimney liners are a fraction of the cost depending on the length of your chimney and are easy to install. The only company out there that offers a lifetime warranty to DIY homeowners and carries a UL listed chimney liner is Rockford Chimney Supply. A chimney liner is well worth the investment of time and money.
To learn more about chimney liners or to purchase one, please visit us at Rockford Chimney Supply,  http://rockfordchimneysupply.com/  or give us a call toll free 1-866-708-2446.