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.

2009 Winter Heating Tips From Rockford Chimney Supply

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Cold weather has finally descended on us, and fire departments are gearing up for what some in the fire service say could be a busy season. The heating season inevitably leads to problems — from chimney fires to malfunctioning furnaces that cause carbon monoxide buildup in the home. Rockford Chimney Supply President Brad White, said because it’s been so mild so far this winter, the fire season has yet to begin. But when it does, he said, many are expecting a jump in the number of calls for chimney and fireplace products, partly because of the downturn in the economy.

“Sometimes it’s a decision whether to eat or clean the chimney or maintenance the furnace,” White said. “Fire calls are way down from last year. We expect a difficult year when the cold weather does come in. Every winter we expect there will be heating system malfunctions. This season we expect more.”

In the two months after Thanksgiving last year, the U.S. Fire Administration reported one of the deadliest seasons in recent memory, with more than 150 residential fires nationwide that resulted in more than 200 deaths.Home heating equipment is among the top causes of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings.From 2003 through 2005, there was an annual average of 57,300 fires and 270 fire deaths associated with portable heaters, central heating systems and fireplaces and chimneys. There alsoare 68 deaths, on average, from carbon monoxide poisoning each year associated with home heating sources, the U.S. Fire Administration
reports.

Chimney fires, the burning of creosote clinging to the sides of a chimney’s liner, sometimes lead to house fires. Brad White, owner of Rockford Chimney Supply, recommends oversized caps for the top of the chimney to prevent water and animals from getting in the flue. A cap also works as a spark arrester. He said annual inspections can turn up everything from squirrels and birds to evidence of an unseen chimney fire. Because of their intense heat, White said chimney fires lead to cracked tile liners and other problems.“The tiles can’t withstand the sudden heat,” White said. “It can get up to 2,000 degrees.” In a fast-burning chimney fire, White said people have compared the sound to a freight train, jet engine or Mack truck.

White said "the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is greater during the winter." Furnace malfunctions can lead to an increase in carbon monoxide in the home. Hundreds die and thousands of others suffer dizziness and nausea from the odorless gas that can be emitted from furnaces, gas kitchen ranges and kerosene space heaters if they are not properly ventilated. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, mental confusion and extreme tiredness. Whether it’s a wood stove, furnace or space heater, Rockford Chimney Supply recommends inspecting your systems and chimney's annually to alleviate any safety concerns. “Make sure the smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors are up to snuff. It’s dollars versus life safety,” he said. “Most of the time oil companies have service departments that can at least take a look at the furnace.”

“White also recommends if your burning wood, you should especially be diligent an annual inspection,”. The amount of creosote buildup depends on how often a household burns and what type of wood is used. “Wet wood with higher moisture content leads to lower burning temperatures and more creosote. You want to burn good seasoned hardwood — oak, maple, ash. Stay away from things like pine and hemlock,” White said. After many years in the business, White said he finds people scrimp more on the structural issues — the bricks and mortar of a chimney. While it is important to have the liner looked at and cleaned, cracks in the brick or gaps in the mortar can lead to house fires.

Winter fire prevention Inspect each year of all fuel-burning home heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents. Take precautions when using space heaters, fireplaces or other heating sources to help stay warm this winter.Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in the home and check that the batteries are fresh and working.

Place space heaters on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as a ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least 3 feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.To prevent the risk of fire, never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the heater off if you leave the area. Never use gasoline in a kerosene space heater. Even small amounts of gasoline mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of a fire.

Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards. An unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.Do not use portable propane space heaters indoors or in any confined space unless they are specifically designed for indoor use. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper use.

Inspect flues and chimneys for leaks and blockage by creosote or debris.Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. An open damper may help prevent buildup of poisonous gases inside the home.Store fireplace ashes in a fire-resistant container and cover it with a lid. Keep the container outdoors and away from combustibles. You need to consider a chimney liner stainless steel if your chimney is oversized.

Never use electric or gas stoves to heat the home. They are not intended for that purpose and can cause fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

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