Chimney liner installation in Forest Hills

What liner insulation does for the draft

Insulation also changes how the flue behaves. Liner makers note that it improves draft and reduces condensation, and that it is especially important on chimneys built against an outside wall.

A flue that warms quickly starts pulling sooner, so a fire catches more easily and less smoke rolls out at the start. Warmer surfaces also collect fewer deposits along their length. Insulation also takes up room, so it has to be allowed for when the liner size is chosen.

When insulation is optional for your appliance, we still explain what it would change so you can decide with the facts.

Where a stovepipe enters the side of the chimney

Under Florida's code, a stovepipe joins a masonry chimney from the side through a thimble made of fireclay, metal or rigid refractory material, which holds the connector so it can neither pull out nor slide in beyond the liner.

With a relined flue, the liner usually ends in a tee at the thimble. The opening may need enlarging for the fitting, and the gap around it is sealed with masonry and mortar afterward. A sealed thimble also keeps room air from being drawn into the chimney around the liner.

Our team checks clearances to nearby walls at that connection too, since they still apply after the liner is in.

Checking the draft after installation

Installation is not finished until the connected appliances vent properly. Liner instructions call for a draft check after the work, with each appliance tested alone and together when they share a vent.

If the draft is poor, the cause is corrected before the appliance goes back into regular use. That might be a connection, a seal or a sizing question. The check is simple, but it confirms that the liner, the connection and the top work as one system.

Our team runs the checks the instructions describe and tells you the result before we pack up.

Questions to ask before choosing a liner quote

Relining quotes are easier to compare when each one answers the same questions. The liner material alone says little about the job.

• Which fireplace or appliance is the liner sized for, and what size was chosen?
• Is cleaning of the existing flue included before installation?
• Does the liner listing require insulation, and is it included?
• How will the bottom of the liner be connected and sealed?
• Which top plate, cap and crown seal are included?
• Will the liner be labeled with its date and intended use?