Chimney liner installation in Chanhassen, MN for a flue that holds heat and smoke where they belong
A chimney liner is the sleeve inside your chimney that carries smoke out. If yours is cracked, missing or the wrong size for a new appliance, we install a stainless steel liner that fits, so the smoke has a sealed path to the sky.
What does a chimney liner do?
The liner is the flue itself. It channels smoke and gases up and out, protects the brick from heat and acid, and shields the framing of the house from the hot gases inside.
Older masonry chimneys often have clay tile liners. Tile is durable but brittle, and tiles can crack or shift after years of heating and cooling. A cracked tile lets heat reach combustible wood around the chimney. A liner replaces or lines that path with a continuous sealed tube.
When do I need a new chimney liner?
Usually after an inspection finds a problem, or when a new appliance changes the flue's job.
- An inspection finds cracked, missing or spalled clay tiles
- You are installing a wood stove or fireplace insert
- You are switching from wood to gas, or replacing a gas appliance
- A chimney fire damaged the flue
- The flue is the wrong size for the appliance connected to it
- Smoke or fumes leak into the house or through the masonry
If you suspect a cracked liner, hold off on fires until the flue has been checked, since a gap in the liner can send heat to wood framing you cannot see.
Why do most liners use stainless steel?
Stainless steel stands up to heat and to the acids in flue gases, and it comes as a flexible tube that threads down a crooked chimney in one piece. It also has smooth walls, so soot has less to grab onto.
The grade and the size matter. Wood, gas and oil produce different gases, and each wants a liner suited to it. The diameter must match the appliance. A liner that is too big cools the gases and builds creosote. One that is too small restricts the draft. For a wood stove or insert, the liner usually runs all the way from the appliance to the top of the chimney.
How is a chimney liner installed?
Inspect and measure
We scan the flue, check the condition, and measure its height and size.
Clean the flue
The old flue gets swept so the new liner can pass through.
Feed the liner
From the roof, we lower the liner down the chimney and connect it at the bottom.
Top plate and cap
We secure the liner at the top with a top plate and a cap, and seal the connection.
Liners for Chanhassen stoves, inserts and older masonry chimneys
Chanhassen homes include older masonry chimneys from the 1960s and 1970s, and those are the ones that most often need relining. Newer houses with gas fireplaces vent through a manufactured pipe that is part of the appliance.
Thinking about an insert for an open fireplace? An insert turns an open fireplace into a much more efficient heater, and it needs a liner to carry the smoke. Tell us the make of the insert and we will talk through the match.
For the full picture of your chimney's condition before relining, see chimney inspection.
What affects the cost of a chimney liner?
- Chimney height, which sets how much liner is needed
- Flue size and shape, and whether it has bends
- The fuel and appliance: wood stove, insert, gas or oil
- The grade of the liner and the insulation around it
- Repairs the chimney needs before relining, such as a crown or cap
Chimney liner questions
Can a cracked clay liner be repaired instead of replaced?
It depends on the damage. A camera look shows how far the cracks run. We then tell you what the options are, which may mean a new stainless steel liner.
Do I need a liner for a wood stove?
Almost always. A stove connects to a flue sized for it, and a full-length liner keeps the smoke hot and moving. We confirm the right setup for your stove.
Does a gas fireplace need a liner?
A masonry chimney that now serves a gas appliance often needs one, since gas exhaust is cooler and wetter, and the acidic condensation it leaves can eat at old mortar. Gas fireplaces vented with their own pipe use that pipe.
Will a liner change how my fireplace works?
A correctly sized liner improves the draft. Lined flues also stay cleaner and are simpler to sweep.
How long does a liner last?
Stainless liners are built for long service, and the figure depends on the grade, the fuel and how well the chimney is kept. Regular sweeping and inspection keep the liner in good shape.
Do I need a cap with a new liner?
Yes. The cap protects the top of the liner from rain and animals. See chimney cap installation.
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below.
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below.
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time