A Chimney Flue Liner- Do You Need One?

Safety is one the primary concerns when it comes to our home. We spend a lot of money on security alarms, locks, windows  and other related items that we think will keep our families safe.  Chimneys also provide an opportunity for our families to enjoy our home, but they also need to be safe.  A good quality flue liner ensures that any fires we have in our fireplaces or wood burning stoves stay controlled and safe. Remember, one of the leading cases of people losing their homes is due to fire. This may have been caused by several factors, one of which is neglect.  Certainly this can be caused by improperly maintained chimney flues.

I would like to share one of our friend’s experiences when they bought an old farmhouse last year. The house’s chimney has not been used for about 40 years, which of course requires a thorough inspection by a professional prior to being used again. To be extra cautious that her chimney would be safe, she got two different inspections and quotes from local contractors she found on **  Angie’s list **.

Chimney Flue Liner Inspection

The first inspector told them that the chimney needs a tuck point, the top opening covered, the firebox rebuilt and a flue liner to be added. My friend got the second inspection by another professional, and they were told exactly the same thing minus the flue liner. The second inspector quoted about $2000 for the whole service, while the first one quoted about $5000. Seeing the price difference, my friend wasn’t sure what to think.   The bottom lined seemed to revolve around the choice to add in the chimney flue liner. Not knowing who to trust, she got online and did some deep research.   Here’s what she found out:

Since the original chimney was made out of brick, it would be certainly able to  withstand the wide range of  temperatures with regular use.    This also was factoring in whether or not there was or was not a flue liner.  However, since the chimney was said to need tuck pointing, it may mean that the mortar is weak, cracked and the chimney’s structure may not be as strong as it used to be. This meant that creosote could build up faster since there was the possibility of more down drafts into the cracks.   Based on this research, my friend called back the second inspector and asked what the real reason was that they didn’t quote out the flue liner.  She was told that it was not necessary because the chimney was originally lined with clay tiles.  These clay tiles were in great shape and had no cracks or crumbling pieces.  The second contractor further said if the chimney’s structure been in a bad shape, he would have said so and would no doubt recommend using a flue liner. My friend chose the second inspector’s advice, and did not have a flue liner installed.

Consulting More Than One Flue Liner Specialist Saves Money

Fortunately, my friend used good judgment and consulted more than one contractor.  If she hadn’t done that she would have paid nearly three thousand more dollars for a flue liner that really wasn’t necessary. Every home’s situation is different, but if you do your own due dilligence you’ll be able to discern if a flue liner is right for your fireplace chimney.

If you find yourself interested in learning more about chimneys and chimney safety, we  suggest you take a look at the Chimney Saftey Institute of America’s website.  They have some excellent articles and pictures of a typical chimney.  They even have a frequently asked questions section that is very good and discusses more about chimneys and your flue liner; click here to see it