Chimney Liners

Chimney Liners: A Simple Fix for a Host of Fireplace and Chimney Problems in Waukesha County

Annual chimney and fireplace inspections do more than keep your Waukesha County fireplace burning well. They also find potential safety or structural hazards … before they become dangerous.

A fairly common revelation during inspections of masonry chimneys is the discovery of cracked or damaged clay flue tiles. These tiles line the interior vertical channel that guides smoke up and out. The damage is typically 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 minor ones, can allow smoke and gases into the chimney cavity and, potentially, the Waukesha County home. The problem can’t be overlooked.

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

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

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 on condition that the fireplace and chimney be inspected annually. It’s a true “out of sight, out of mind” remedy to a multitude of other fireplace issues that can arise - potentially necessitating far more pricey repairs.

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

This symptom 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 leak into the chimney cavity. They slowly eat away the chimney’s masonry. Efflorescence appears outside as bricks and mortar deteriorate.

If you detect efflorescence, the smart move is to contact Butler Chimneys immediately. Once a chimney structure deteriorates to a certain level, remedies get far more complicated (and costly).

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