Do Stainless Steel Chimney Liners Need Cleaned?

If you use your chimney often, you need to clean it frequently even if you have a chimney liner. The chimney liner is one of the most essential parts of your chimney. When you don’t clean it, soot, dust and dirt will accumulate, which can cause multiple problems. Although the chimney liner can provide your flue with extra protection, the buildup of water, creosote, and other contaminants can deteriorate the liner and make it unsafe to use.

Why You Should Clean Your Stainless Steel Chimney Liner

Contrary to popular belief, chimneys with liners require the same amount of cleaning as unlined chimneys. Some of the dangers of a dirty stainless steel chimney include:

Carbon monoxide poisoning

According to NCBI, carbon monoxide is on the rise, and it mainly originates from heating systems that are poorly ventilated due to dirty chimneys.

Creosote buildup

If you use wood as your main source of fire, then most likely your chimney contains creosote. Creosote occurs naturally in the wood-burning process as a by-product of combustion. Creosote is highly combustible, and buildup may cause a fire.

Why is a Chimney Liner Important?

Although chimney liners are an important part of the chimney, most homeowners aren’t aware of them. This is mostly because they can last for a very long time – over 50 years. Some of the benefits of a stainless steel chimney liner include:

Protect your home from fires

The most crucial function of a stainless steel chimney liner is to prevent the risk of a home fire. Although chimneys are designed with materials that can’t easily catch fire, they are attached to your home. This means that combustible framing next to the chimney can easily ignite. The stainless steel chimney liners regulate heat transfer and prevent fire hazards.

Protects your masonry

While you may think that bricks are strong and solid, they are quite porous. Therefore, when you have an active flame, the combustion releases a variety of corrosive by-products. Over time, the corrosion may eat away the mortar and encourage rapid heat transfer to other combustibles. Such a case can cause dangerous problems like hazardous carbon monoxide leaking into your house.

Sizes the flue

Modern stoves and fireplaces are designed with a specific flue size. However, homes that were not designed by a certified chimney sweep may have a tall or wide chimney that may not vent the fire adequately. Ensure that you get a new liner installed by a professional.

A Chimney Inspection is Important!

Water, gases, soot, unburned particles, and creosote exit through the chimney liner. Maintaining your stainless steel chimney liner will increase its lifespan, and provide the best airflow. Ensure that you have your chimney liner checked by a CSIA-certified professional from Brick + Ember Outfitters at https://brickandember.com/.