Have a Blocked Flue Liner?
Chimneys are an essential component of a home, and having one with a clogged chimney flue liner can lead to a variety of problems. Chimneys are a vital component of a home. A chimney’s dual function is to keep a fire going and to remove potentially hazardous byproducts like creosote from the living areas of a house. Chimneys serve both of these functions well. Creosote is a highly combustible material that has the appearance of a dark brown oil and is produced as a byproduct of the combustion of wood. If your chimney is obstructed in any way, you do not want to take the chance of having a chimney fire due to the presence of creosote.
What exactly is the flue liner?
A flue liner is a conduit that is installed inside of the chimney and is constructed of materials such as clay, ceramic, or metal. The Chimney Safety Institute of America identifies the following as the three most significant functions served by a chimney or flue liner:
The Transfer of Heat
Your property is safeguarded from the risk of fire thanks to the regulation of heat transmission provided by a flue liner. Combustibles, such as surrounding woodwork, caught fire in less than four hours due to the rapid movement of heat through chimneys that lacked liners because heat moved through the chimney so fast.
Defend the Masonry from harm.
The life expectancy of the chimney brickwork that surrounds the flue substantially decreases if the flue is not lined with a flue liner. The combustion of wood results in the production of acidic gases, which deteriorate mortar joints. The mortar joints play an important role in preventing the fire from spreading to other flammable components that are located in the area around the chimney.
Optimum Use of Resources
Clay, ceramic, or even metal can be used to construct chimney liners. There are significant differences in the degrees of efficiency, absorption rates, and heat dispersion provided by each substance. If any of these materials are utilized for a flue liner, they will assist in moving hazardous combustibles from the inside of the house to the exterior, so ensuring that the chimney system functions to the best of its abilities.
Even though flue liners are designed to preserve the chimney and the brickwork that makes up the chimney, it is necessary to check on them periodically with a flashlight to ensure that they are not obstructed in any way. To ensure that your house does not get contaminated with hazardous gases, it is imperative that the flue liner fulfill all of the roles that have been assigned to it.
What Kinds of Things Can Lead to a Clogged Flue Liner?
Animals are frequently the primary culprits behind a flue liner that has been obstructed. Microscopic creatures such as squirrels and birds will transport nesting materials into the chimney, which might eventually obstruct the passageway for the flue liner. It is possible that animals are entering your chimney through the cap if you do not do routine checks on it or schedule yearly chimney inspections. If you have huge trees growing near or above your house, the debris from those trees, such as leaves, twigs, and small branches or seeds, might fall into the chimney and cause it to get obstructed.
Creosote accumulation is another factor, and as was indicated before, this may be a very dangerous cause. Creosote is a brown, sticky substance. Even though creosote is a byproduct of a fire’s normal combustion, its accumulation in the flue liner can lead to the chimney becoming blocked. To get rid of the creosote, you will need to have your chimney professionally cleaned.
Better to be safe than sorry. Let the experts handle your chimney troubles like Chimney Cleaning Garden Valley and repairing. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today.