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Should I Reline My Chimney?

The quick answer is yes, absolutely. Wood Burning Stoves and Wood Burning inserts function better in a number of areas with a properly sized chimney. Below are 5 reasons why you need to reline your chimney.

Safety:

Masonry chimneys new and old are not as safe as one might think. In older homes, chimneys were only made from bricks and mortar. Although bricks and mortar do not burn, they do not insulate. They easily crack, crumble, and breakdown. Typically, the brick and mortar of the chimney comes in direct contact with building materials of your home that are combustible. The same can happen with newer chimneys that use clay flue liners as well. Over time or with a chimney fire, the liners become compromised, and overheating can occur.

Appliance Efficiency:

The exhaust gases leaving the stove need to leave at the proper rate for the appliance to burn efficiently. If the chimney is not sized properly, exhaust gases are allowed to stay in the appliance’s burn chamber for too long. This can cause the appliance to starve for new oxygen to burn. Conversely, if the appliance vents too quickly, the gases that still have heat value to them are not completely combusted and can lower the efficiency as well.

Price:

Should you be unfortunate enough to experience a chimney fire, not only can it be dangerous, but the repair of a masonry chimney is significantly higher than the initial investment of purchasing the properly sized chimney liner.

Ease Of Maintenance:

Whether you clean your own chimney or have someone clean it, a relined chimney is easier to clean. Why? The liner can either be cleaned from the appliance opening going up or from the top down. Either way, the appliance does not have to be removed when the chimney does need to be cleaned.

Why Not?

With all the reasons there are to reline your chimney, there is not a good functional reason not to reline your chimney.