A well designed and constructed chimney flue can withstand heat, smoke, and all the other byproducts that are produced when you burn a fire in your fireplace or stove. However, over time even the most well-constructed flue will start to deteriorate due to everyday use and exposure to corrosive gases and creosote. Once your flue starts to deteriorate, a lot of issues can arise that can can be hazardous to you and your home. If you have a chimney flue that is cracked, chipped or crumbling, you may think that you have to replace it entirely. However, we here at TN Fireplace & Chimney have another option for you. If the damage to your flue isn’t too extensive, we may be able to save it with a product called HeatShield®. HeatShield® is a product that is designed to fill in cracks and gouges in your flue, giving it a nice smooth surface. This allows smoke, heat and other exhaust to exit your chimney quickly and easily. If your chimney flue needs minor repairs, HeatShield® can save you a lot of time, money, and energy compared to replacing it.
Why is a healthy flue important?
The health of your chimney flue is very important and having a damaged flue can be a real hazard. There are a number of issues that we here at TN Fireplace & Chimney come across when we inspect chimney flues. We want to share with you some of the more common chimney flue issues we come across and let you know why it is so important to get them repaired right away.
Just like the rest of your chimney masonry, the tiles that make up your flue are held together with mortar. You may have noticed in older masonry that the mortar between bricks can loosen and even crumble. The same thing can happen to the mortar holding your flue tiles together. This is usually due to moisture, heat and chemical exposure. When your mortar erodes, smoke and other byproducts of burning fuel can leak into your home and expose you to dangerous toxins like carbon monoxide
Cracks in flue tiles are also common. Cracks in a flue tile can stem from a number of things including seismic activity, sudden temperature swings, or even your home settling. Small cracks are a cause for concern because once a crack is formed, it will grow bigger and bigger to the point that large pieces of your tile can become detached. Spalling is another issue that we run across a lot. Spalling occurs when your flue tiles start to chip and create gouges. This is an issue because when smoke doesn’t have a nice smooth path out of your chimney, it will churn inside your chimney, causing smoke to back flow into your home. Detached flue tiles and gouges can also cause heat to transfer more readily to your chimney. If your chimney is too hot, it can ignite your home’s framework, causing a house fire.
HeatShield® can help!
At TN Fireplace & Chimney we can repair your flue with HeatShield®. HeatShield® is a product that can be used to fill in gaps, cracks, or chip in your chimney flue. HeatShield® works by spreading a refractrant on the inside of your flue, filling in cracks and gaps, making your flue’s inside nice and smooth again. If there are minor issues with your flue we like using HeatShield® because it’s cheaper, and less time consuming than completely relining your chimney. However, if it’s determined that your chimney needs to be relined, we can do that for you as well!
If you think that your flue may need repairs, or you haven’t had your flue inspected in a while, you can trust Knoxville’s only Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney technician to help! Call TN Fireplace & Chimney at (865) 922-2262 or schedule an appointment with a technician online with today. We look forward to hearing from you!
