Repairing a Chimney with a Broken Flue Tile and Why You Should
When utilizing your fireplace, the chimney flue liner is essential for fire prevention and to prevent poisonous gases from seeping back into your home. The clay tile lining of your chimney could crack and cause serious injury or death depending on when it was built.
Let’s take a look at what causes cracked flue liners, how bad it can get, and what can be done about it.
Why Do Flue Tiles Crack and Break?
Due to their low initial cost, clay flue liners are a common fixture in Chimney Contractors Westchester NY. They don’t endure as long as cast-in-place liners or metal, though.
The main cause of broken clay tiles is the chimney’s uneven distribution of heat. The tiles could bend and break if the heat is applied unevenly, as clay does not absorb heat as well as other materials.
Problems Caused By Broken Chimney Tiles
Because they are the first line of defense against chimney fires, flue liners are required in the building of every new fireplace. However, the risk to your home and family from a damaged liner increases the longer the problem is ignored.
The Following Complications May Emerge As A Result Of Broken Or Missing Flue Tiles.
Leakage of Gas Dangerous combustion byproducts are carried up the flue and out of the structure when the chimney is working properly. If your flue liner is damaged, carbon monoxide gas could leak back into your home, putting your family’s health at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there were 2,444 accidental carbon monoxide poisoning deaths from 2010 to 2015, with the highest death toll occurring during the colder winter months. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer since it has no taste or smell and is therefore frequently missed until it is too late.
Wasteful Practices
If your chimney were a straw, cracks would cause liquid to move more slowly through it. The same holds true for the chimney. If there are cracks in the flue tiles, the smoke and gases produced by the fire won’t be able to leave the house. Your fireplace will not heat as well and burn less efficiently without a fully functional chimney liner.
House Fire
A faulty chimney liner increases the risk of a house fire. Cracks in the chimney could allow the chimney’s high temperatures to enter the home and ignite flammable materials. Woodwork can catch fire in as little as 3.5 hours if the chimney is damaged or not lined. It could be devastating if your loved ones aren’t around to feel the loss with you.
Fading Structure
Finally, if the chimney liner is destroyed, gases could seep into the chimney’s brick and mortar parts. Damage to the brickwork components from these gases might cause the chimney to lean or even collapse.
Fixing a Cracked Flue Liner
We’ve already established that clay flue liners aren’t as long-lasting as metal ones, don’t absorb heat as well, and corrode at a faster rate. Fixing any cracked tiles is the best option, but keep in mind that the issue will likely arise again soon. The average lifespan of a clay liner is between five and ten years. If you can spare the extra cash, a stainless steel or cast-in-place chimney liner is a better option than replacing a damaged clay tile liner. If you take care of both liners, they will last you a lifetime, making them a better long-term investment than clay.
How Can I Know If My Chimney Liner Needs To Be Replaced?
The typical homeowner might not notice that their chimney requires repair unless something catastrophic occurs. The best approach to stay informed about the state of your chimney is to schedule an annual inspection with a trained expert. Creosote buildup is another potential cause of chimney fires, but it can be prevented with regular cleaning and inspections, and a skilled chimney expert may notice minor damage and fix it before it becomes a major problem. A specialist like Chimney Contractors Westchester NY can tell you if it is more cost-effective to repair your broken flue liner or to replace it entirely.
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