Check the House on Chimney

B y: Sulaiman Purba

Cleaning the chimney liner or flue is a maintenance process that should be conducted at least once a year. Whether that chimney is used for wood burning or gas products, sweeping or cleaning that chimney can be done by the homeowner. By following a few basic procedures, you can clean that chimney liner in less than hour or so and keep some hard-earned cash in your pocket.

Proper chimney exhaust is important to the integrity of not just the chimney, but the home itself. If a chimney liner is not properly terminated, it can leak harmful gases back into the house, which may cause severe health problems or even death. Improper chimney liner termination can also cause chimney fires and chimney deterioration. All of this can be avoided by properly terminating the chimney liner at the fireplace and chimney cap.

A chimney liner is important to have properly fitted, not only to help the chimney run more efficiently, but also to prevent smoke from coming into the house. Liners that are too big reduce the amount of heat generated by the fireplace, leaving your home improperly warmed during cold months. For someone who has never measured a chimney liner, it may be tricky to know what to look for.

You will be able to choose from a variety of heating systems like wood, gas or coal to determine the best fitting liner for your chimney. Input required measurements to determine what size liner you need. Measure the width and length of the fireplace box only, not the mantle. Once you input the measurements, calculate to determine the size you need. Look through the size recommendations based on chimney liner style including round, oval, square or rectangle. Each of the liners is provided based on your specific measurements.