Chimney Liners

Chimney Liners: A Simple Remedy for a Host of Fireplace and Chimney Problems in Oconomowoc Lake

Yearly chimney and fireplace inspections do more than keep your Oconomowoc Lake fireplace operating well. They also catch potential safety or structural hazards … 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 projects 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 Oconomowoc Lake house. The problem 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 Oconomowoc Lake, has put in hundreds of liners in the local area.

Connected 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 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, usually on condition that the fireplace and chimney are inspected annually. It’s a genuine “out of sight, out of mind” fix to a variety of other fireplace issues that can arise - potentially requiring far more pricey repairs.

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

This indicator usually forms 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 spot efflorescence, the advisable move is to contact Butler Chimneys right away. Once a chimney structure deteriorates to a certain point, solutions get far more complex (and costly).

Chimneys might look simple. Truth is, they hold vital systems that depend on a sound surrounding structure to function properly. A slight break can put life and home in peril. A chimney liner can address the issues – and line up your Oconomowoc Lake home for better days ahead.