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There are three major types of chimney liners in use today: clay, ceramic, and metal. The flue linings serve several important functions that are critical in maintaining the safety of the chimney and ensuring that it is operating at its maximum efficiency. First of all, liners help maintain the integrity of the masonry construction. Smoke byproducts can contain acids and other caustic chemicals that will erode the masonry mortar overtime. This can cause deadly gases, such as carbon monoxide, to leak back into the home. Secondly, chimney liners help mitigate heat transfer. A chimney that lacks a lining or that is improperly lined can reach temperatures hot enough to cause wooden framing to combust. Lastly, properly sized flue liners ensure that smoke and heat leaves the home as efficiently as possible. A too large or too small of liner may allow too much outside air to enter the home or too little smoke to exist. For these reasons it is important to invest in a clay, ceramic, or metal liner... but which one should you choose?

Your first option is clay tiling. Clay tiles are inexpensive and a very common choice. They perform their role well, but are a bit more fragile than metal and cast-in-place ceramics. Clay tiles transfer heat less efficiently than metal and may absorb it unevenly, causing them to crack. However, in general they will provide years of use before this occurs.

Metal liners are typically made of stainless steel or aluminum, and are effective even for hot burning gas furnaces and stoves. They are extremely durable, and when installed with chimney insulation, very effective at heat transfer. Plus they are fairly inexpensive and can be installed easily in an existing chimney.

Cast-in-place ceramic liners typically use a concrete-like material that is poured down an existing chimney. They provide a lot of the benefits of metal chimney liners, with the added benefit of increasing the structural integrity of damaged or aging chimneys. These types of ceramic liners involve more labor than metal ones and can sometimes be more expensive, but are well worth if it if you have an older chimney.

As you can see, a ceramic, clay, or metal chimney liner can make your home both safer and more efficient.

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How To Choose The Right Chimney Liner For Your Home?

For anyone that has a chimney in their home, a chimney liner is necessary. Over time the inside of your chimney can break down and allow exhaust fumes to enter your home, causing serious health and safety problems for you and your family. Installing a chimney liner can help eliminate this problem. However you must first decide which available model chimney liner will provide the best results and work in the fashion that you need it to. There are basically four different types of chimney liners that are used by most homeowners. Depending on the type of appliances that you have and the amount of use you use them for will determine the right solution for you. 1. Clay Tile Chimney Liner. A clay tile chimney liner is the most affordable option when choosing a chimney liner. There are however, many negative aspects when using this type of liner for your home. The tiles are not able to distribute the heat evenly and can put more pressure in certain areas over others, causing the tiles to become brittle and crack more rapidly. This option also is not a good choice when using with gas appliances, as it does not handle combustible materials accurately. However, if you are using this for a fireplace and do not use it often, the clay tile chimney liner option would be beneficial for you. 2. Stainless Steel Chimney Liner. A stainless steel chimney liner is perfect to use with oil, gas or wood. The stainless steel chimney liner is available in a variety of shapes and is made to model to your specific chimney size. The catch with this model chimney liner is that regardless on which option, gas, oil or wood, that you use it with, you can not use it with another option later on. 3. Aluminum Chimney Liner. Aluminum chimney liners are economical and excellent for using to replace an old chimney liner model. The only catch with this option is that it is only recommended to be used with medium efficiency gas model appliances. 4. Cast in Chimney Liners. A cast in chimney liner is able to work correctly with all wood, oil and gas model appliances regardless of their size. This model lasts the longest and provides the best result because it is modeled completely to the inside of your chimney. However, the one drawback to this model is that it is the most costly of all available chimney liner options.


Is liner a common or proper?

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