|
Chimney Liners from
Chimney Cricket
The
Problem: Dangerous Chimneys
 Home
Safety - The Reason for Chimney Liners
Your chimney has a big responsibility. It carries toxic gas
out of your home, and while doing its job, it must withstand
constant attack by acid, creosote and extreme temperatures
for months on end.
These conditions cause chimney damage and deterioration, and
when that happens, risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and
house fire become very real.
Outside vs. Inside
Look at the picture on the left. Most people would not see
anything wrong with this chimney.
But there is more to the story. On the inside, the chimney
could be seriously damaged, and not up to safety
regulations.
Old vs. New
Old-fashioned chimneys were not designed to vent modern
heating appliances.
Besides, no chimney lasts forever.
Read more to find out about what is going on in your
chimney below.
Because of the hostile environment, the inside of both flues
of this chimney have deteriorated.
Notice the cracked flue
tiles (left) and the deteriorated joints and / or misaligned
flues (right).
According to code, both flues should be
fitted with chimney liners.
Chimney Fire
Chimney fires happen when creosote builds up in the flue and
ignites. These fires can rage at temperatures up to 2000
degrees and roar just inches away from your home. The
intense heat alone can bring surrounding materials to the
flash point, and ignite your home. Also, sparks from the
fire can find their way through small cracks in the liner
and quickly turn a chimney fire into a house fire.
In 2001, an estimated 18,300 reported home structure fires
involving chimneys supporting solid-fueled equipment
resulted in $48 million in direct property damage. (Source:
NFPA)
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas. Sometimes
an early warning is flu-like symptoms, but CO can cause
brain damage and death with no warning. A damaged furnace
flue poses a real threat of carbon monoxide poisoning,
because this gas can escape through the smallest crack.
Also, a partial or complete collapse of the clay flue liner
can block the flue, and quickly fill the house with deadly
gas. Sadly this tragedy occurs in homes across the country
every year.
In 2001, 656 people died of unintentional non-fire exposure
to gases…and there have been more than 30,000 hospital
emergency room injuries per year.
(Source: NFPA)
The Fireplace’s Flue
This flue is servicing a fireplace, wood stove, pellet stove
or other solid fuel appliance. It may have undergone a
chimney fire, or have been connected to an improperly vented
appliance, misused wood stove, or exposed to excessive
moisture. A damaged flue brings the dangers of fire and
carbon monoxide poisoning.
-
Cracked or missing
tiles
-
Joint between flue
tiles not sealed
-
Eroded brick and
mortar
-
Flue tiles not
aligned properly
-
Excessive or glazed
creosote
-
Improper chimney
draft
The Furnace’s Flue
High-efficiency furnaces do not waste energy by sending heat
up a chimney. As a result, temperatures in the flue drop low
enough to produce condensation. This water combines with
aids in the flue to create acidic moisture. Clay chimney liners are
particularly vulnerable to this acidic moisture assault.
-
Flaking plaster
and/or peeling wallpaper
-
Staining on wall
surfaces due to moisture
-
Excessive moisture
in gas or oil flues
-
Excessive soot in
oil furnace flues
-
Chimney structure
deteriorating
-
Eroded or missing
clay liner
-
Carbon monoxide
leaking into home
-
Joint between flue
tiles not sealed
The Ultimate Solution: Chimney Liners
Get a Quote on Flexible Chimney Liners from Chimney Cricket
Chimney Cricket - Distributors of Forever Flex premium chimney liners since 1990.
Servicing
Michigan (MI), Ohio (OH), and Florida (FL) Including these
Metro Areas and Cities:
Metro Detroit, Troy, Southfield, Pontiac, Sterling Heights,
Warren, Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills,
Royal Oak, Plymouth, Novi, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo,
Battle Creek, Muskegon, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Lorain,
Toledo, Bowling Green, Akron, Youngstown, Sarasota, Tampa,
St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Venice, Bradenton, Punta Gorda,
Port Charlotte
|
