Chimney liner and flue liner
Installing a stainless steel chimney liner is an easy and economical way to repair an unsafe, deteriorated, or inefficient chimney. You will know how to install a chimney liner after reading our instructions (see 'fitting a flexible liner') and you could do the job with standard household tools.
A flexible flue liner should be installed to reduce the chance of a carbon monoxide leak, chimney fire, and creosote buildup. A chimney liner also improves the energy efficiency of the appliance and makes fireplace maintenance easier.
Flexible flue liner - reasons to install one
- The chimney is leaking smoke and fumes.
- Condensationes or tar are seeping through the chimney. This causes staining, inside or outside the building.
- The flue is too large for the type of appliance being used. The smoke will cool down, and drawing is negatively affected.
- The chimney flue is too cold, particularly if on an outside wall, and is not drawing properly.
- If the chimney has a stainless steel chimney liner, but with the liner fitted the wrong way up, therefore tar and condensate leakage may occur.
- The old flue surface is eroded and rough, causing friction to the flow of the gases resulting in a poor up draft.
Determine the appropriate size flexible flue liner for your specific setup. The chimney flue liner diameter size you will need is the same as the size of the exhaust hole on the appliance. The flexible flue liner length you will need will equal the height of the chimney. We recommend you order over that amount to give room for error.
What is a chimney liner?
A flexible flue liner is designed for re-lining an existing masonry chimney. It can only be installed in a chimney and has to be totally enclosed within it. A flue liner in wood, plaster board, or similar, is not acceptable.
Flexible flue liners are manufactured with two skins of stainless steel 316 L or 904L and are suitable for gas, oil and multi-fuel, including wood burning appliances where the maximum flue gas temperature does not exceed 600°C.
The flue legally needs to be a minimum of 6" in diameter if you are burning wood. Unless when you install a DEFRA-approved stove with a 5" flue outlet, in which case you can use a 5" liner.
Our highest quality stainless steel will ensure that the liner you choose will last for years.
For information about the legislation, please see our blog about flue regulations
Chimney flue liner for maintenance
Provision should be made for inspecting and cleaning the flexible flue liner, especially on multi-fuel liners for solid fuel applications. The chimney flue liner should be swept at least once a year by a suitably qualified chimney sweep. Chemical chimney cleaners which contain chlorine, fluorine or metal scarifying devices cannot be used under any circumstances and will invalidate your warranty. Mechanical cleaning with a stiff nylon brush and rods is the only recommended methods.
Life expectancy
Under normal operating conditions and providing the flexible flue liner is installed correctly by a competent person, flexible flue liners should last the lifetime of the appliance.
