We’ve officially entered fall, which means that cool weather is on its way and residents of Havertown and Springfield, PA will start putting their fireplaces to use again. That also means planning for some maintenance on your fireplace in the next few weeks, including the chimney liner. The more attention you can give it now, when temperatures are still relatively warm, the fewer problems you may run into when you really need your fireplace to function. Here’s a brief breakdown of the kinds of problems chimney liners can experience, and when you need to look at relining.
Cracks and Wear
Most issues with chimney liners result from wear and tear, since they have no moving parts and aren’t directly exposed to the elements. But they still wear out as everything does, and when they do, you need to replace them quickly. Chimney liners protect the masonry of your chimney – and the rest of your house – from heat transference created by fires in your fireplace. Without the liner, the heat could spread to combustible materials and start a fire in your house. Over time, chimney liners can crack, especially if they’re made of older ceramic, and when they do, your house is exposed to danger.
A Change in Your System
A chimney liner doesn’t necessarily need to be cracked or old to merit replacing. If you have just replaced your heater with a more powerful system, for example, you may want to look into replacing your liner with one more able to handle the increased heat. The same holds true for a new water heater. These appliances often use your chimney to vent excess heat, and without a good liner, you may be asking for trouble.
The pros at WM Henderson, Inc. handle chimney liner replacement, so give us a call today!