What is a Chimney/Flue Liner and Do I Need One?
If you’re considering purchasing and installing a gas stove or wood burner in your home, it’s important to make sure you have all the necessary parts. The flue liner is a crucial component of your installation after you’ve decided on the design and heat output of your stove. A flue liner is essential to contemporary installations because it guarantees the safe and effective operation of your heating unit. We’ll go over the function of a flue liner and the many advantages of having one installed within your chimney below…
What is a flue liner?
In a nutshell, a flexible flue liner is a stainless steel tube that connects to the stove pipe that fits into the flue collar of either your gas stove or wood burner and hangs down from your chimney pot or stack. Instead of releasing the exhaust gases straight into your chimney cavity, a flue liner, also known as a steel flue or chimney liner, sits inside your brick-built chimney and directs them upward and away from your stove.
316-grade and 904-grade solid fuel flue liners are the two grades that are readily available on the stove/flue market. For dedicated wood-burning stoves that burn seasoned or kiln-dried firewood, we suggest 316-grade chimney liners. This kind of flue liner is less expensive than the 904-grade flexible flue liner, which is more costly but also more resilient. Upgrade to a 904 flue liner if you intend to burn smokeless coal on a regular basis. We can sell & supply both of these excellent flue liners which are HETAS approved and have a minimum of a 20-year lifespan if properly installed, maintained and the appropriate fuel is used.
What size of flue liner do I require?
It is imperative that you never reduce the diameter of the flue and that you utilise the proper flue liner size for your particular stove or fire. Finding out the stove’s flue collar diameter is important when purchasing a gas or wood burner since it will help you determine the appropriate size liner the appliance needs. But, the size of the stove collar does not necessarily match the size of the flue liner you’ll want, so when you buy a flue liner, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
The usual rule for selecting an appropriate flue liner size is that a minimum 6″ diameter flue liner is needed for stoves up to 20kW. If your stove has received DEFRA approval and the manufacturer has verified that it is suitable with this size flue, you can use a 5″ diameter flue liner. There are adapters that can accommodate the larger diameter if the stove’s flue collar is 5″ in diameter but a 6″ flue liner is required. Our primary piece of advise when measuring the length of your flue liner is really basic….make sure it is long enough to stretch from the top of your chimney to the bottom of the fireplace opening. It is illegal to join two pieces of flue liner together, so it is crucial to confirm the length you want. For any curves or offsets you may have in your chimney space, we advise buying one or two extra meters of flue liner.
The advantages of installing a stove flue liner….
In this section of our blog will describe the functions and advantages of a flue liner and why, in our opinion, installing one with your new stove is a no-brainer. Although there are many reasons to purchase a flue liner, the following is a list of the key benefits of installing one:
- Safer Chimney – Because older chimneys can lose their structural integrity and/or get warn with time, a flexible flue liner solution is frequently needed. A flexible flue can help avoid the potential hazard of pollutants leaking into other areas of your home due to cracks that may emerge in your chimney cavity. Finding some of these issues can frequently be aided by having the smoke in your chimney tested.
- Increase Heat Efficiency – An older chimney without a flue liner may be damp and cold, making it harder for hot gases to rise and creating a weak updraught. Large chimneys with a diameter of more than 200mm may have an impact on how well an appliance operates. A flue liner can increase your stove’s efficiency by insulating and warming the flue gases as they ascend, which will enhance draught and efficiency.
- Straightforward Maintenance – As a by product of combustion, smoke from your wood-burning stove builds up in the chimney, causing soot accumulation. Smoke from an excessive amount of smoke can clog your chimney and cause creosote, which can obstruct it. A flue liner is simple to sweep, and there are brushes designed specifically for chimney sweeps that make cleaning and maintaining your flue liner easier.
Does my log burner require a flue liner to be installed?
While installing a flue liner with a wood burner is not legally required, it is generally advised by stove installers and retailers. It is challenging to assess the chimney’s function and quality simply by looking at it if there is no flue liner. If you choose to install a flexible liner with your stove, you may experience fewer problems including inadequate flue airflow, trouble lighting and shorter burn periods. An expert, preferably HETAS registered, should inspect your chimney prior to installing a wood burner. For a newly constructed chimney to be appropriate for a wood-burning stove, a flexible flue liner might still be necessary. For instance, a gas flue liner that was initially placed might not be appropriate for a solid-fuel stove since gas flues are often single-skinned and cannot withstand the heat generated by a wood burner. Ultimately, even if you have a chimney liner installed, you still need to repair any internal or external damage to your chimney. A chimney liner should never be used in place of a suitable chimney. In conclusion, we have discovered that installing a flue liner will assist to safeguard your chimney and save you money on future repairs. However, if you choose not to install a flue liner, make sure you adhere to Document J Building Regulations.
Advice on cleaning and maintaining your chimney…
In order to keep your stove and fireplace in good working order, you should sweep the flue liner. The best times to do this are right before the heating season begins and right after spring, when you want to put your fire out. Whilst burning wood or bituminous house coal, you should have your chimney swept at least twice a year, whereas on the other hand, whilst burning smokeless fuels, you should have it swept at least once a year, according to HETAS and The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS). In addition to regularly cleaning the flue to help prevent obstructions or debris that could increase the risk of a chimney fire, a professional chimney sweeper can also search for any additional dangers you might not be aware of. Whatever kind of chimney you have brick, clay, double wall flue system, or flue liner, it needs to be swept on a regular basis.
To ensure you’re receiving the best guidance and assistance when it comes to cleaning your chimney, get in touch with a respectable chimney sweeper. The NACS and HETAS are trustworthy organisations that offer chimney sweep services and can help you locate a suitable candidate. The greatest chimney sweepers are trained to prevent soot and dust from escaping while performing the sweep, and they are extremely conscious of leaving as little mess as possible. But some mess is inevitable, particularly if the chimney is clogged or hasn’t been cleaned in a while. In these cases, it’s hard to promise a spotless job. If you’re wondering how much this would cost, the typical cost of a chimney sweep is approximately £80, although this can vary. Additionally, you should take into account that if your chimney has unusual blockages or hasn’t been properly maintained, sweeps may charge extra.