For decades, chimney and furnace flue liners have been built using clay or terra cotta tiles and mortar. While these types of liners can last for many years, flues can really start to deteriorate over time, especially as a result of heat and moisture exposure.
The trouble is that a flue liner that has gaps, openings, cracks, rough patches, or other damage along its surface is bound to cause safety and performance problems.
You see, each opening, space, gap, or crack in the flue liner can provide a place for heat and hot gases to escape the flue and come into contact with framing and combustibles in the walls surrounding the chimney or furnace flue. Each can also allow heat and corrosive moisture from the fire to come into contact with and damage the masonry of the chimney itself.
But that’s not all.
Those openings, gaps, and rough patches also cause turbulence for smoke within the chimney or furnace flue, which slows it down as it exits and leads to increased creosote buildup.
Note: Creosote is a nasty, highly combustible byproduct of fire and is a leading cause of chimney fires.
But liner troubles aren’t just limited to furnace flues and chimney flues…the metal stovepipe venting wood stoves can be damaged as well.
You see, creosote and moisture from the fire can cause rust and corrosion within the metal liner/stovepipe, leading to all of the safety and performance problems we mentioned when discussing chimney flues and furnace flues.
It’s for all of these reasons that damaged chimney, furnace, and wood stove flues must be relined.
When you learn you have a damaged flue, the options for repair can be overwhelming. What’s best for your chimney? Aluminum is highly affordable, which might make it seem like the most attractive option. But there’s more to consider than just price.
Aluminum liners are actually not approved for use with wood-burning appliances like wood stoves. They can only be used to vent gas appliances because of their inability to withstand the high heat produced by burning wood.
Because of stainless steel’s versatility (it’s approved for venting all fuel types) and its longevity and rust and corrosion resistance, stainless steel liners are almost always the best option.
If your chimney or furnace flue has never been lined or is in need of relining, one of the best choices is stainless steel. Stainless steel liners, when installed correctly and properly maintained, can literally last you a lifetime. That’s why stainless steel liners oftentimes carry lifetime warranties that transfer from one homeowner to the next when a house is sold.
Another great thing about stainless steel liners is that they are approved for use with all types of appliances and fuels. That means these can be used to vent wood stoves, oil furnaces, gas fireplaces, pellet inserts, you name it.
And unlike other liner options, stainless steel won’t crack, spall, or fracture as a result of high heat or freeze/thaw damage. In fact, stainless steel eliminates freeze/thaw worries.
Another benefit of stainless steel liners is that they’re corrosion and rust resistant, which is not true of all metal liners — like aluminum liners, for example.
Finally, stainless steel liners are UL listed for safety, available in a variety of sizes and shapes, and installed quickly, which means less disruption at home and less money spent on labor.
When relining a brick chimney’s furnace flue that vents gas or oil, wood stove flues, or wood fireplace flues, we use durable 5/16 stainless steel liners with a smooth inner wall.
Why is a smooth inner wall liner better than a corrugated liner? The smooth surface:
Want some more good news? The liners we use provide a lifetime of service, so as long as you keep up with ongoing maintenance, you won’t have to worry about investing in another liner down the line.
We also replace and install prefab metal chimneys. So if your prefab chimney is in disrepair and needs to be replaced with a new one, just give us a call. We’ll make sure the installation is done quickly and that your system is up to code and ready to be used at the first frost.
Don’t have a brick chimney? No problem, we can vent your wood-burning stove, oil furnace, or gas unit through its own liner that doubles as a chimney. These alternatives to masonry chimneys are called prefabricated metal chimneys or stack pipes.
Double-insulated wall Class A and B vents are here for those standalone units and stoves that are not vented out of a brick chimney. So if you don’t have a chimney but still want to enjoy a fireplace or stove in your home, ask us about prefabricated chimneys!
Our technicians are trained relining experts and we have the techniques, tools, and know-how to ensure that your stainless steel liner or prefabricated chimney is installed right — regardless of whether we’re working on your furnace flue, your wood stove, or your chimney flue.
With True Ventilation, there’s no worrying about whether or not the liner or prefab chimney was sufficiently insulated, properly sized for the appliance it’s venting, or installed per manufacturer’s instructions or NFPA 211 guidelines. We do it all by the book and we stand behind our work.
As a family-owned company with a mission to prevent hazards and fire risk for our customers in Orange, Suffolk, Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, and Greene counties, we work hard to keep chimney flues, furnace flues, and wood stove flues in excellent condition. And when problems are present, we take care of them quickly and do the work right.
Have questions about the liner options out there? Want to get an appointment on the books? Simply call True Ventilation at 888-775-9498 or request an appointment online today. We’re more than happy to be of service!
Our years of experience with all kinds of chimney and fireplace repairs means we know a thing or two about masonry and brick repair and pointing, so you never have to worry about whether the job was done right.
+1 (888) 775-9498
trueventilation@gmail.com
34 York St, Catskill,
NY 12414
