Chimney Liners

Chimney Liners: A Simple Solution for a Host of Fireplace and Chimney Scenarios in Milwaukee County

Yearly chimney and fireplace inspections do more than keep your Milwaukee County fireplace operating well. They also identify potential safety or structural risks … before they become dangerous.

A not uncommon revelation during inspections of masonry chimneys is the discovery of cracked or damaged clay flue tiles. These tiles line the interior vertical channel that whisks smoke up and out. The damage is usually from rapid temperature changes the tiles endure. When fires are lit, a blast of heat warms cold tiles very quickly. Over time, the interaction takes a toll.

Cracks in the tiles, even small ones, can leak smoke and gases into the chimney cavity and, potentially, the Milwaukee County house. The issue can’t be ignored.

Fortunately, a cost-effective alternative exists to replacing or reconstructing damaged flue tiles: a stainless steel chimney liner. Butler Chimneys, the top chimney sweep company in Milwaukee County, has installed hundreds of liners in the local area.

Attached to the upper opening of a fireplace, a chimney flue liner is essentially a round tube running the length of the chimney. It carries smoke and gases all the way to the chimney cap, where they are released outdoors. 

Chimney liner installation is usually a one-day project for Butler Chimneys. Flue tiles inside the chimney are broken out. The stainless liner for chimneys is lowered from the cap, and attached to the fireplace piping.

A new flue liner has a lifetime warranty, normally requiring that the fireplace and chimney be inspected annually. It’s a genuine “out of sight, out of mind” remedy to a multitude of other fireplace issues that can arise - potentially necessitating far more costly repairs.

How do you detect when a chimney liner might be needed? A giveaway is spotting efflorescence – a buildup of white, chalky powder – on a chimney’s exterior.

This indicator usually appears when an appliance(s) – such as a furnace or water heater – vents into the chimney. If flue tiles are cracked or damaged, moisture and gases from the appliance(s) can escape into the chimney cavity. They slowly eat away the chimney’s masonry. Efflorescence appears outside as bricks and mortar break down.

If you notice efflorescence, the smart move is to contact Butler Chimneys without hesitation. Once a chimney structure breaks down to a certain point, remedies get far more complex (and costly).

Chimneys might look simple. Truth is, they contain vital systems that depend on a reliable surrounding structure to work properly. A slight malfunction can put life and home in peril. A chimney liner can fix the issues – and line up your Milwaukee County home for better days ahead.