How Does a House Chimney Work?

house-chimney

Traditional chimneys provide warmth and comfort to your entire family. How does a house chimney work? Built of stone or brick, a chimney has several components: firebox, flue, crown, dampers, smoke chamber, ash pit, and more. How does a chimney work?

The Dampers

When you burn wood in the fire, the smoke escapes past the dampers. Harmful gases like carbon monoxide also leaves. Close the dampers when not using the fireplace. This helps keep the room warm, even in cold weather, and even prevents critters from entering your home. Install the house chimney damper above the firebox.

Drafting

The rising heat helps keep the gases, smoke, and heat up. Drafting prevents your home from filling with harmful gases and smoke. Hot air rises. The hotter the gases the stronger the chimney draft. A chimney protects the house from the hot gases.

The Flue Liner

The flue liner helps with fire prevention. How? The flue liners will prevent overheating and makes the chimney more resistant. Typically you will install three different types of flue liners: Clay, Stainless steel or aluminum, cast-in-place.

Many homeowners have clay tiles. They resist heat but can split under intense heat. Metal flue liners have easy installation over older liners. Cast-in-place liners involve more labor and provide superior protection.

Cleaning Chimneys and Regular Maintenance

Without regular cleaning, flammable creosote builds up, causing a fire hazard. Chimney fires cause massive property damage and can cause bodily harm. Additionally, chimney leaks and damage can allow moisture into the home.

Most homeowners schedule yearly sweeping and inspections before the winter to prevent any damage. An inspection will reveal if a home needs cleaning, repair, or even replacement due to structural problems.

When you need quality masonry and chimney repair, call the experts at Cummins Restoration. We provide a wide range of masonry services. The Cummins Restoration team prides itself on superior customer service and excellent workmanship. When you need a chimney inspection or repair, you can trust our seasoned professionals. Call us today for your initial consultation.

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    Holly Bowman XO
    Holly Bowman XO
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    Brian and the Cummins Restoration team did an incredible job tuckpointing the house. Brian fully understood what was needed and wanted and not only was he professional and efficient, but he was a pleasure to work with. I would recommend Cummins Restoration over and over again. Thanks Brian!
    Gina Donnelly
    Gina Donnelly
    Read More
    Tuck pointing and threshold repair. Did a great job for a fair price compared to other companies. It's been a few months and you can barely tell where the mortar repair was done.
    M.B Toronto
    M.B Toronto
    Read More
    You guys did a terrific job on the tuckpointing, I’d have no problem recommending you to anyone. The front of my house just looks so much better

    Contact us




      Holly Bowman XO
      Holly Bowman XO
      Read More
      Brian and the Cummins Restoration team did an incredible job tuckpointing the house. Brian fully understood what was needed and wanted and not only was he professional and efficient, but he was a pleasure to work with. I would recommend Cummins Restoration over and over again. Thanks Brian!
      Gina Donnelly
      Gina Donnelly
      Read More
      Tuck pointing and threshold repair. Did a great job for a fair price compared to other companies. It's been a few months and you can barely tell where the mortar repair was done.
      M.B Toronto
      M.B Toronto
      Read More
      You guys did a terrific job on the tuckpointing, I’d have no problem recommending you to anyone. The front of my house just looks so much better