A flu liner is “lining for chimney flues that consists of successive hollow sections of rectangular or circular hard burned clay and serves to protect the house against escape of gases or fire from the flue, the brick of the chimney usually being built around the lining”. Well that is it in a nutshell, but you probably want to know more if you’re considering investing in a log burner or multi-fuel stove. So here goes…
A flu liner will keep your home safe from hazardous gases, and they improve the flow of air within the chimney. Wood or fuel consumption will be reduced since this causes better heat retention. It’s important to understand that there are several materials used in chimney liners today, stainless steel being the most popular option for its affordability and ease of installation. If the flu liner is properly installed and maintained, you’ll be fine but in our opinion, stainless steel flue liners are extremely safe and durable so they are the best option.
We should probably make it clear that you should never install your own flu liner because it requires a DEFRA approved specialist if you want the work to be safe. It takes years of experience to become a fully qualified fireplace fitter and stove installer, so do your homework and choose a fitter who has plenty of experience and many positive reviews. This could be online messages or word of mouth recommendations. You can buy all of the equipment but the installer will advise you on the best flue supplies to carry out the job, and then it’s simply up to them to complete it so you can get back to enjoying the fire.
A wood burning stove can certainly add charm, character and a wow factor to your home, but the flu liner plays an important role so do not neglect this aspect. If you do, your home will no longer be safe, so it really isn’t worth it. Invest in a quality flu liner and a reliable fitter, and then you’ll have no problems with your stove. We all know just how important it is to choose q quality stove too, and there are plenty of online review websites which can provide further insight into the best models on the market. With flu liners, it’s also important to know that given the considerable investment of time and money that goes into fitting a chimney liner, it’s best you reduce your costs where you can, but never get low quality products. This is why it’s paramount you choose a fitter who c=you have complete faith in.
The right size liner is also critical to the performance of your burner, and helping your fires burn clean.
• If your liner diameter is too small your chimney will not have efficient draft, backing smoke up into your home.
• On the other hand, if your liner diameter is too large, you will be losing a great deal of heat up your chimney, decreasing the efficiency of your stove.