We use predominantly the flexi stainless steel liner and all ancillaries. These are manufactured to highest standard and made of the relevant grade stainless steel and carry a manufacturers guarantee. Please do not hesitate to call or email to arrange a visit to discuss your needs . For a stove to work successfully it must be connected to a sound chimney and correctly sized flue. The functions of a chimney are to safely remove the products of combustion from the appliance to the outside without causing danger to the occupants or risk setting the house itself on fire. A chimney works on a simple principle "Hot Air Rises" therefore the flue must be well insulated for this to happen. Before proceeding further it is important to understand the terms used: - 1) FLUE - The flue is the passageway through which the products of combustion travel to the outside from the stove. 2) CHIMNEY - This is the structure surrounding the flue/flues. 3) FLUE LINER - The material used to from the flue. 4) STOVE PIPE - The pipe connecting from the appliance to the flue within the chimney Factors such as operating a stove at a low setting for long periods or cool air leaking into the flue, will cool the gases down and affect the performance of the chimney. To keep the flue gases warm, consideration must be given to the insulation value of the lining within the chimney. Most houses built prior to 1965 (before a change in the Building Regulations) were built without liners. Flues were usually "parged" (rendered) on the inside with lime mortar. This parging over a period of time will have suffered attack from the corrosive elements within the flue gases, resulting in erosion and leakage. This can generally be noted by a sand like material falling down the chimney (the old lime mortar) also the mortar between the bricks will have deteriorated in the same way. Houses built after 1966 should have lined flues; this is usually done with clay liners. However, this type of lining is not necessarily suitable for an efficient wood or multi-fuel stove. Very often chimneys are built on the outside of the house and are therefore subjected to the elements. This combined with the fact that insulation around the liners is generally excluded all adds up to a cold flue. Please remember that stove are efficient heating appliances and will produce anything up to 85% of heat from the fuel burnt into the room, unlike an open fire that can loose up to 95%. With little heat loss from an efficient stove it becomes understandable how essential it becomes to retain a reasonable flue gas temperature in order to achieve a natural rise. A lined and well insulated flue will produce an efficient and safe appliance. Unlined flues can result in costly redeemable building work. |
There are a number of reasons why an old chimney may need lining. These can be summarised as follows: - 1) The flue is leaking smoke and fumes into other rooms or parts of the building this can go un noticed in an older property as older plasters are designed to breath and this will allow passage of carbon monoxide which may be leaking through brick joints, but not the smell f the smoke.. 2) Condensates or tar are seeping through the chimney walls causing staining either outside or inside the building. 3) The flue is much too large for the type of appliance being used. 4) The flue is too cold. Particularly if on the outside wall, and consequently not drawing properly. 5) If the chimney was built since 1965, but with the liners were installed the wrong way up, (regrettably this is quite a common occurrence!), tar and condensate leakage may occur. 6) The old flue surface is eroded, causing leakage, chilling and poor updraft. 7) Perhaps the most important of all, as installers we must be able to ensure that your chimney is of sound condition going forward, This is nearly impossible. We would have to inspect every brick joint etc etc. By installing a new stainless steel liner attached to a stainless steel cowl we can guarantee it as completely sound and safe for use in the future. Most liners guaranteed for 20years, swept regularly and ensuring the correct fuels are used it will last a lifetime. All too often we hear from people who have had their chimneys condemned.... "Don't be silly, that chimney has been there for years" A fact indeed but that chimney will have been re-lined many many times before. Every couple of years in years gone by in say a 300 year old cottage. The bare crumbling stone that we see now would have been re lined with mortar. This was called Parging. This trade died out completely with new technologies coming along and the advent of gas. Now we re-line with a method that is far more trusted. A good analogy is a motor car. An average run of the mill car say a Ford Mondeo can last as long as 20 - 25 years, if serviced and maintained well... (rare I know but possible) How many exhaust pipes do you think it will get through in that time....? |
There are two type of flue liner. Class 1 (for wood and solid fuel) and Class 2 (for gas). Class 1 Liners All wood and multi-fuel stoves must be installed with Class 1 flue liner. There are a number of different types of Class 1 lining material available. We list as follows: -
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The Class 1 flexible 316 grade stainless steel liners are the most cost effective means of lining an existing chimney. The work can generally be carried out in one day with minimum upheaval and little mess. Installed correctly will last many years and also carries a long guarantee - Generally recommended by most. Class 2 Liners Used for gas The Class 2 flexible flue liner could easily be mistaken for a Class 1 liner. Points to watch out for: - It is inexpensive. It is lightweight. Not smooth on the inside All gas stoves should be lined with a Class 2 liner to meet safety regulations. |