Knowing Your Fireplace and Chimney Part Names

 

So, you have a chimney, but how many parts of a chimney and fireplace can you name? well, knowing the parts of the fireplace and chimney, understanding their functionality and how they are and where they are is advisable if you want to keep up with the care and maintenance of your fireplace. And believe me, you want to avoid those extra bills that may result due to negligence and ignorance.

Knowing the parts of your fireplace chimney ensures you are aware which part has failed and how incase of any damages or failures. In that case, you can deal with the problem or be in a a better position to explain to a professional technician. This article is meant to give you an insight understanding of the parts of the fireplace chimney and ensure that it is to your understanding. The following are the basic parts of the chimney:

1.     Chimney flue

Chimney flue and chimney liner sometimes have a problem in balancing if they are the same or not. Most of us will therefore tend to confuse between the two, talking about the flue when you mean the liner and vice versa. When you want to locate the chimney flue, just follow the vent that the byproducts of the combustion exit the fireplace with. It is basically a vertical like pipe that allows all the combustion material to leave the fireplace and out of the home instead of the room.

In older traditional homes, masonry have been constructed in a way that they can be seen above the roofline encompassing the flue. With time, authorities that govern construction works saw it fir to make the inclusion of the flue liner mandatory. In this case, clay tiles have been preferred because of their durability and affordability

2.     Chimney liner

Chimney liners are the reason that the parts of a home that can easily burn are not subjected to extreme temperatures cause by the fireplace chimney furnace. They ensure that these parts are kept safe from any possibilities of fire or any hazards as a result of subjectivity to high temperatures.

It is advisable to replace and repair the liner as soon as a crack, regardless of how small, appears on it. On the other hand, we put a liner simply because we have installed a new stove or fireplace chimney. Ensure that the liner fits perfectly on the appliance for efficient production of heat and minimized pollution.

3.     Chimney cap

A chimney cap is not part of the chimney. The chimney is not purchased or ordered with the inclusive of the chimney cap. Therefore, it must be added as a separate part of the chimney because it is an important part of the chimney given its functions.

 

The main function of the chimney is to keep away environmental constituents like rain, snow, debris as well as animals. They also come in handy in regulating the flow of the draft. That’s not all, the cap has a wire mesh that time and again acts as a guard in preventing sparks and embers from settling on the roof and resulting to fire hazards

4.     Chimney flashing

The meeting point between the chimney and the roof is where the chimney flashing is located. It has the main duty of keeping the water away from the fireplace chimney or through the roof as this may result to major damages. Chimney flashing is made of metal, which means it is subject to rusting and wearing out as quickly as compared to the other parts of the chimney. This is why it needs regular check up as a slight damage could lead to leakage that may cause an expensive damage.

5.     Chimney crown

The crown is made of cement and located at the very top of the chimney. It has the duty to keep water away and prevent it from finding its way into the chimney. Often, it if exposed to damages like cracking which requires immediate attention. Once cracked, repairs and replacements are required as soon as possible to prevent extensive damages.

6.     Damper

The damper always has two doors located just above the firebox. These doors must be opened just before lighting a fire and kept open until the fire goes cold. Ensure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in se to prevent heat loss through the chimney vent. Immediate repair or replacement should be done should the damper become rusted or fail to provide maximum seal

7.     Smoke chamber

This part of the fireplace chimney is located between the damper and the flue. It is in this space that compression of the byproducts of burning takes place. The byproducts have to be compressed into a smaller space prior being released through the chimney and into the environment. If the fireplace is well designed with its functionality in mind as well as how it operates, then the essential part will be the smoke chamber with the inclusion of the sloping walls.

Understanding the parts and functioning of your chimney as well as you should helps you better maintain it easily for longer. Should you have any questions and clarification regarding the parts of your chimney, simply fill in the form below. We will get back to you as soon as possible. We are here to ensure that you get the best out of your chimney.