Why should I line and insulate my chimney?

When purchasing a wood burning or multi-fuel stove, there are a number of things to consider. The installation process is just one step where choices have to be made to ensure your stove is fitted so it functions in the safest, most effective manner.

You may have heard mention of flue liners and chimney insulation while researching what you’ll need for a wood burning stove, but you may also be wondering if these are a crucial addition to your installation costs. For example, if you already have a chimney breast in your home, you may already think you have everything in place.

However, open fires and wood burning stoves function in very different ways and many solid fuels need all the help they can get to keep rising air nice and hot.

Also, having the correct lining and insulation in place can prevent carbon monoxide leaks and can even prevent chimney fires in your home! While lining may not prevent a chimney fire, it is the best way to significantly reduce the possibility of it happening.

What causes Chimney Fires?

Chimney Fires start when there is a build-up of deposits stuck inside the chimney. These deposits can be soot deposits or wood tar deposits, but will appear over time regardless of the fuel you are burning.

Heat from the stove rises up the chimney and warms any leftover deposits, which can sometimes cause them to catch fire. The fire then makes its way up the chimney as the burning deposits heat the chimney above.

Tar condensation is a bigger problem with wood burning stoves, as wood does not burn as hot as coal, and so this is something that wood burning or multi-fuel stove owners need to be aware of, and take appropriate actions to prevent.

Why should I Line and insulate my Chimney?

By correctly insulating your chimney or flue pipe with an appropriate liner, you can reduce the amount of tar and soot deposits and build up that occurs in your chimney. This is a key step in reducing the risk of a chimney fire, and is important in keeping your family safe.

This works by creating a smooth chimney lining, which has less surfaces for tar and soot to condense and stick to. In a typical masonry chimney, tar that does form can easily build up in the rough crevices, nooks and crannies. On a smooth surface, tar can flow back to the stove to be reburnt with the rest of the fuel.

Lining your chimney also ensures that smoke and carbon monoxide can’t leak through the masonry and any gaps in the brickwork.

Ensuring your chimney is properly insulated is just as important. We all know that hot air rises because it is hot, and anything that cools this down will slow, stop or sink the air – which is the last thing you’d want when it’s filled with smoke! You want to keep the hot air as hot as possible until it leaves your chimney or flue, so properly insulating your chimney is vital.

Not only does insulating your chimney keep a continual flow of movement of the warm air, it helps to keep your stove operating at its best. If smoke slows down too much this can cause a blockage in the chimney, which dams up beneath in the stove body and causes the stove to burn inefficiently. As you can imagine, a blockage of smoke will want to find the quickest route out, and every time you open the door the smoke will leave the stove this way instead, letting dangerous gases out into your living room.

If you’re unsure about what lining and insulation you need for your home, it’s always best to contact an expert who will be able to recommend what you’ll need for your space.

Our team are also on hand to answer any questions you may have about flue liners and fittings, and our entire range of products can be found here.

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