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CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE MAINTENANCE  | INVESTIGATIONS

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Our liner safety rating guide


Scroll the page for Wood-burning appliances, Fireplaces, and Gas appliances


WOOD STOVE INSERTS

#1- BEST: Guardian Poured liner system.  This is a ceramic replacement liner for tile, however it is tested to U.L. 1777, and is the most durable liner we have found.  We remove existing tiles, then insert an inflatable bladder and pour the mix around the bladder.  We return the next day to remove the bladder, and a round ceramic flue is left.  Note: can't be poured in very cold weather. Lifetime warranty.

#2 BETTER: HomeSaver Brand Stainless Steel Liner with a direct connection to the appliance. This is the absolute safest way to connect a wood stove to a liner.  It is also easier to clean, so you will save on chimney cleaning costs since the stove does not need to be removed for cleaning.  Less creosote will accumulate, too. Lifetime warranty.. 

#3- GOOD: Custom-made Stainless Steel Liner with installation to top of smoke chamber.  We will probably also parge your smoke chamber.  We only use this application when it is impossible to reline with #1 above, or if the homeowner might remove the stove later. 10-year warranty.

​#4- NO GOOD: Tile. We do not recommend installing a wood stove or insert with connection to an existing tile liner.  Tile liners are sized for fireplaces and are TOO LARGE for wood stoves, which usually require a 6" - 8" pipe. The larger tile liner will not draft properly and creosote will accumulate on the flue walls. Ninety percent of the relining we do is due to a chimney fire caused by this application. DON'T DO IT. No manufacturer guarantees tile liners. 


FOR FIREPLACES

#1 Best: Guardian Poured liner system.  This is a ceramic replacement liner for tile, however it is tested to U.L. 1777, and is the most durable liner we have found.  We remove existing tiles, then insert an inflatable bladder and pour the mix around the bladder.  We return the next day to remove the bladder, and a round ceramic flue is left.  Note: can't be poured in very cold weather. Lifetime warranty. Click HERE for more information on this liner. Note: a direct connection must be made to this liner from the stove take-off. 

​#2 Excellent: Custom Steel. Accumulates less creosote and withstands higher temperatures than tile. Easier to clean. 10-year limited warranty. Click HERE for more information on this liner. 

#3 Excellent: HomeSaver Brand Stainless Steel Liner with a direct connection to the appliance. This is the absolute safest way to connect a wood stove to a liner. It is also easier to clean, so you will save on chimney cleaning costs since the stove does not need to be removed for cleaning.  Less creosote will accumulate, too.  Lifetime warranty.

#4 OK: Tile. This is what builders install as a liner when the fireplace is built originally because it is cheaper than steel, and currently is still acceptable to code.  However, tile cracks under extreme heat (chimney fire), which will make it unsafe to use. The NFPA 211 Standards and local International Residential code require that the liner be replaced when it is damaged. Another problem with tile is that there are mortar joints every two feet, and these deteriorate over time due to exposure to rain and acidic flue gasses.  However, if the homeowner is diligent about getting an annual evaluation by a qualified chimney sweep, has the flue swept on a regular basis, and installs a chimney cover to keep rain out of the flue, and uses the fireplace PROPERLY, this method should be okay.  No Warranty by any manufacturer.


GAS UTILITY FLUES

#1 - Best: Guardian Poured liner system.  See above for more info. Note: can't be poured in very cold weather. Lifetime warranty. 

#2 - Good: Ventinox or HomeSaver brand Stainless steel liner system.  These insulated sturdy steel U.L. listed liners are very good, and have lifetime warranties. We usually use this type of liner with boilers.

#3 - Good: Westaflex or Flexiliner brand Aluminum liner system. We install a lot of these types gas flue liners in chimneys serving gas furnaces and hot water heaters. They are less expensive than steel, but the installer must be careful not to rip them during installation, so they are not ideal for chimneys with offsets (bends).  15-year warranty. NOT FOR USE WITH BOILERS.

.#4 - Fair:  Clay Tile. Utility flues serving gas furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters always produce gasses that contain water, which condense on the flue walls.  Over time, the corrosive effects of the flue gasses erode tile liner joints and deteriorate the flue tiles.  For these reasons, this method is not as good as the other options above and will eventually have problems. No manufacturer guarantees tile liners so there is no warranty.


FREE-STANDING OR HEARTH STOVES

For a house with no masonry chimney:

#1 - Excellent: Class A type stainless steel chimney is used when a stove needs a chimney to vent through the roof or to an outside wall. Double wall stainless steel, 24 guage inner wall, 28 gauge outer wall, 1-inch thick insulation between the steel walls.  25-year warranty. Tested to 2100°.

For a house with a masonry chimney:

#2- Excellent: HomeSaver Brand Stainless Steel Liner with a direct connection to the appliance. This is the absolute safest way to connect a wood stove to a liner. It is also easier to clean, so you will save on chimney cleaning costs since the stove does not need to be removed for cleaning. Less creosote will accumulate, too. Lifetime warranty.


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​NEVER USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF PIPE FOR RELINING A CHIMNEY OR TO USE AS A CHIMNEY. 
Connecting pipe (single or double-wall black pipe) is for connecting a stove to the chimney, not to be used as the chimney.



Note: ALL of the above methods require an annual inspection by a Certified Chimney Sweep, and cleaning as necessary.  All liners accumulate creosote! Warranty applies only if annual inspection is completed by us or another Certified Chimney Sweep.



Visit the manufacturer's page for more information on stainless steel liners. www.HomeSaver.com

vitreous clay tile liners



​Can be done in very short (6' or less) flues that are straight. Relining is necessary when the existing tile liner is damaged by a flue fire, lightning strike or other reason, or when mortar joints are missing between each two-foot liner section. The process involves erection of scaffold, removal of the cement crown (cap), removal of the tile liner sections, insertion of new tile liners and rebuilding of the crown. If necessary, we will remove a section of bricks or stone in the rear of the chimney in order to gain access to the bottom flue tile. We use a tile inserter/remover tool that Gene invented and built to help in this process. Note: longer flues or flues with offsets require tear down and rebuilding of the entire chimney chase in order to reline with tile because the NFPA 211 Standards require that tile be installed ahead of the chase.  We use steel or Guardian liners in these cases.  Tile liners are made for normal fireplace use, and should never be used with a wood stove or insert. No warranty by any manufacturer.

flexible stainless steel liners


​Is used for relining fireplace flues or with a wood stove or insert. The liner is sized correctly to your appliance for proper draft and efficiency. This liner is insulated with ceramic wool and /or Thermix as required by the manufacturer. We usually remove tiles in order to reline, but sometimes this is not necessary. We will directly connect a the liner to the stove insert with a boot for maximum safety and efficiency. 

Key Benefits

​- Better draft and performance of the appliance
- Easier to clean than tile
- Less creosote accumulation
- Can be custom sized and shaped
- Comes with a Manufacturer's Lifetime Warranty

Ventilation/relining

liner types and our safety rating guide

Custom Stainless Steel liners


This is a method we use when a fireplace or a wood stove is being used, or if the homeowner does not know if they will keep a stove or not. The ratio of the flue to the fireplace should be close to 10:1, therefore, if a 13 x 13" O.D. (10.5 x 10.5" I.D) flue tile has 110 sq. inches of air flow capacity, the fireplace should measure around 1100 sq. inches. Since a 28 x 38" fireplace opening is 1064 Sq. inches, this means that a 13 x 13" liner will work. Any smaller size liner, such as a 10" round, which has only 79 sq. inches (pi r² = 3.14 x 5 x 5 = 78) capacityWILL NOT DRAFT PROPERLY. 

We insulate the liner with ceramic wool insulation, and the I.D. (inside dimensions) are the exact same as the original tile liner so the draft is the same. This is very important because installing a smaller size liner (downsizing) will most likely not draft properly and will cause smoke backup.  Please make sure you are getting the right size liner and save yourself a big headache later.

Key Benefits

- Sized exactly for the appliance (fireplace or stove)
- You know it is the correct size for your appliance
- Carries a Lifetime manufacturer warranty.

Guardian-poured ceramic flue liners



​The revolutionary Guardian Chimney Liner® is the safest and most effective way of relining masonry chimneys. Using the "cast-in-place" technique, the Guardian system actually eliminates the need to tear down and rebuild an existing chimney, resulting in substantial savings. The development of the Guardian Chimney Liner® is the culmination of 15 years of field experience by the Firesafe Corporation: a company that has installed thousands of cast-in-place chimney liners, in combination with a team of chemical engineers. The practical applications from thousands of installations united with scientific research and development led to the production of the Guardian Chimney Liner®. 

The Guardian cast-in-place material exceeds the UL T1777 standards, and to date, is the only poured liner approved for zero-clearance specifications with 3/4" liner thickness. This break-through approval is especially critical when the available flue area will only allow a 3/4" liner. Consequently, when the area within the chimney is limited, the Guardian 3/4" minimum liner thickness allows you to line the chimney when our competitors cannot legally do so, since their minimum poured liner thickness is 1" to 11/2". Furthermore, the Guardian 3/4" standardensures all installations will meet zero-clearancespecifications. The National Fire ProtectionAgency is strongly considering a mandaterequiring that all chimney restoration methodscomply with zero-clearance specifications. No problem! 


Ideal for Large homes, Average-sized homes, and even Historic homes. 

​Historic restoration architects, contractors, and homeowners are well acquainted with the complexities of restoring masonry chimneys while maintaining their historic value. Poured and solidified within the existing chimney, the Guardian Chimney Liner® permanently restores the structure without altering the appearance or historical integrity. The Guardian Chimney Liner® dramatically increases structural strength, improves fireplace or appliance performance and is suitable for all fuels. The unique Guardian formula is designed for zero-clearances with only 3/4" liner thickness. So impressive is the Guardian material, that it is backed with a lifetime guarantee.