Chimney Liners Deliver Fireplace Safety to your Home

A chimney liner might seem like a “nice to do,” instead of a “have to do” for your chimney system. After all, it’s hidden, undetectable, and deep inside the chimney structure, how important can it be? It’s actually an essential safety component for your chimney, and here’s why.

The Role of a Chimney Liner

Chimney liners are a protective barrier that act as a conduit inside your chimney. The liner is a sealed unit from bottom to top to ensure smoke, creosote, and carbon dioxide from burning fuels are forced outside your home without contacting the actual chimney structure. Made of metal or ceramic, liners also:

• Protect your home from accidental fires by absorbing high temperatures, and keeping the heat inside the chimney from reaching the combustible material outside it.
  

• Prevent chimney masonry from forming cracks or crumbling mortar due to repeated heating and cooling.
  

• Defend your masonry from corrosive substances, as liners are more resilient than typical brick and mortar.
  

• Stop hot embers from igniting flammable areas of your home’s structure.

Because of their location in the heart of your chimney, annual inspections are essential in tracking the condition of your liner. A damaged liner can leave your home susceptible to serious dangers such as carbon monoxide poisoning or house fires. A CCP-certified chimney professional can monitor the integrity of your chimney, checking for small cracks or breaches and other signs it might need to be repaired or replaced.

Benefits of a Chimney Liner

Chimney liners not only deliver added insurance to keep your chimney system operating safely, they also provide other benefits such as:

• Increasing your home energy efficiency by reducing the downdrafts that can come through when there is no fire in the hearth.
  

• Enhancing air flow and providing improved heat retention for a more energy-efficient chimney.
  

• Providing proper ventilation to help reduce the amount of creosote that forms inside your chimney.
  

• Preventing water moisture from becoming trapped inside your chimney.
  

• Maintaining good standing with building and fire code standards and homeowner’s policies.

Chimney Liners, Installation, Service and Repair in NH and MA

Looking for a new or replacement chimney liner, contact our CCP-certified chimney professionals for a no-obligation quote. Customers have trusted us with their chimney needs for over twenty years. We can help you find a liner that is right for your chimney and home.

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Seven Signs your Chimney Flashing is Failing

The number one threat to your chimney system is water. Chimney flashing, along with chimney caps and professional waterproofing, is an important defense mechanism in the fight against moisture. In this month’s blog, the CCP-certified chimney professionals at Admiralty Chimney explain how chimney flashing works and share seven signs it might be failing.

What is Chimney Flashing?

Chimney flashing is a type of weather stripping that creates a watertight seal to protect your chimney and roof from water damage and penetration. Made out of vinyl, aluminum, copper, or steel, flashing is installed where your roof and chimney intersect. When chimney flashing is properly installed, it can last over 30 years—depending on where you live, the shape and size of your chimney, and the materials used. But poor installation, violent storms, or sealant deterioration can cause it to pull away from your roofing material, leading to a host of problems.

Signs of Deteriorating Chimney Flashing

Failing chimney flashing allows water to leak in and around the chimney, causing significant and costly damage to your roof, home, and even the chimney itself. If enough water penetrates your chimney, the brick and mortar joints will become brittle, compromising its entire structure. Be on the lookout for these signs of failing chimney flashing:

1. Leaks from the inside or outside of the chimney
   

2. Discolored bricks
   

3. Rust stains
   

4. Moisture stains on the interior ceilings or walls adjoining your chimney
   

5. Musty smells coming from your chimney, especially after it rains
   

6. Sounds of dripping water or puddling within your chimney
   

7. Firebox condensation

If you observe any of these signs, contact your chimney professional to diagnose, repair, or replace the flashing. Replacements are needed if the flashing is missing, rusted, visibly separated from the chimney, or completely covered with roofing tar.

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Replacing your roof? Be sure to install new chimney flashing as part of your new roofing system.

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Inspection is your Best Detection

You can stay on top of your chimney’s overall wellbeing, including the health of your chimney flashing, with an annual chimney inspection. During the inspection, your CCP-certified technician will assess the state of your chimney system and make needed repairs before any concerns become costly.

Chimney Repairs, Installation, and Cleaning in NH and MA

As hearty New Englanders, we understand that our climate delivers year-round moisture. If you’re seeing signs of chimney flashing issues, don’t delay. Contact our CCP-certified chimney experts to inspect your chimney flashing and repair it before it brings problematic leaks to your doorstep.

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Chimney Leaks: Symptoms and Solutions

Rain showers, thunderstorms, and snow can lead to a leaky chimney. Even chimneys without previous problems can develop leaks in as little as one season. By understanding the warning signs of a water leak, you can prevent significant chimney damage. In this month’s blog, the CCP-certified specialists at Admiralty Chimney share key information on the symptoms of–and solutions for–a chimney leak. Here’s what you need to know.

Identifying a Chimney Leak

Homeowners often assume that all leaky chimneys present themselves as water in the fireplace–when there are many different signs, such as:

• Audible or visible evidence of dripping water in the chimney.
  

• Dampness or water staining on walls or ceilings near the fireplace or chimney.
  

• Musty or mildew-type odors emanating from the fireplace.
  

• Cracked or spalled interior or exterior masonry.
  

• Rust or white chalk-like stains (efflorescence) on the exterior chimney masonry.
  

• Leaks in other areas of your home.

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Did you know? When water enters your chimney, it can move through your walls, floors, and ceilings.

It collects at a low point where it forms a leak, causing damage to those areas of your home.

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Contacting a Chimney Professional

If you suspect a leak, contact a CCP-certified chimney specialist immediately. Time is of the essence. Water is villianous, destroying the integrity of your chimney from the inside out. An experienced chimney technician can source the location, determine the cause, and get it repaired before further damage occurs.

Preventing Chimney Leaks

The best way to prevent a chimney leak is by following a professional maintenanceprogram for your fireplace and chimney. Annual chimney sweepings and inspections give your technician the opportunity to identify any changes or damage to your chimney or masonry so it can be repaired before it leads to a leak. They may also recommend additional techniques to prevent water from entering your chimney, such as waterproofing your masonry and installing or repairing a chimney cap, chase cover, crown, or flashing.

Chimney Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair in NH and MA

If you are concerned about water damage to your chimney or have noticed a change in its functionality or structure, contact our CCP-certified chimney professionals. We can work with you to customize a solution that meets the safety and operational needs of your chimney and fireplace.

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