What Characteristics Make Up a Good Chimney?

Whether you’re house hunting or deciphering the chimney that’s in your current home, knowing what makes a chimney a good chimney is helpful in maintaining and upkeeping it. Chimneys are an essential part of your home, whether you’re using them frequently or not. Even when they’re not in use, it’s important to make sure they’re inspected as an unused chimney can still invite critters, pests, and moisture due to its opening through the roof. Chimneys that are frequently used should be inspected with even more regularity—as well as cleaned. Knowing the factors that make a chimney well-maintained and functioning smoothly will help you understand how to better care for it.

Characteristics of a Good Chimney

A chimney has several parts that work together to make one smoothly operating system. Heating appliances like wood stoves, boilers, furnaces, water heaters, and fireplaces will only work as well as the chimney they’re attached to. The chimney plays an important role in this system by exhausting gases from these heating appliances through its flue, then pulling in fresh combustion air to ensure a steady fire. A good chimney balances air supply, combustion, and exhaust for this process.

Insulated Chimney Liner

One characteristic of a good chimney is an insulated chimney liner. What this does is help ensure that the amount of fresh air being pulled back into the stove matches how quickly the smoke generated from the fire is being pulled up the chimney. This ultimately creates a suction effect, with the air or gas moving from a zone of higher pressure to that of one with lower pressure. The stronger the draft will mean a greater exchange of gases, thus the better the fire will be. Insulated chimney liners are key in making this exchange of gases and suction effect possible. A well-functioning chimney will have a sturdy, insulated liner to help create this balanced system. If your chimney begins having issues drafting or maintaining a fire, then check the liner—it could be time to reline the chimney.

Intact Masonry

Neglected chimneys are easy to spot because you’ll see physical signs of damage and decay. Crumbling masonry is a dead giveaway that your chimney is in need of repairs. A good chimney will have bricks intact with no crumbling mortar, chipping, or missing pieces. The fireplace won’t display any signs of masonry falling apart throughout the chimney and the visible chimney stack on the outside of your home will also appear strong and durable. Masonry that is maintained and orderly tells the story of a good chimney. It means your chimney is likely not experiencing deterioration from age or water damage. Keeping up with your chimney inspections is key in maintaining the integrity of the chimney’s structure, so even if the masonry looks good, still have it inspected.

Minimal Soot Buildup

Of course, a chimney will have some soot and creosote buildup if it’s being used, but a good chimney will keep this buildup to a minimum. It’s dangerous to neglect your chimney and not have it cleaned. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), chimneys should be cleaned when there’s an 1/8” of sooty buildup and sooner if any creosote is present in the chimney system. All it takes is 1/8” of this buildup to start a chimney fire—and that certainly means you won’t have a good chimney! Even if you’re not using your chimney often enough to create this sooty buildup, you should still have it cleaned annually according to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) safety standards.

Appropriate Liner Size

A good chimney will have a liner that’s appropriately sized. What this means is that venting will be more effective for the chimney A flue that is too small will constrict the flow and be too ineffective to maintain fires. Liners that are too big allow the smoke to cool too quickly and that will create a slow draft, which can throw off the chimney’s delicately balanced system. A sluggish draft can make for condensation and creosote buildup—both of which can lead to the dangerous result of a chimney fire.

The Makings of a Good Chimney

A good chimney is one that’s well cared for. Keeping it cleaned by a professional chimney sweep as well as inspected is the biggest factor in having a good chimney. Have your chimney inspected at least once a year and hire a professional chimney sweep when buildup grows to 1/8 of an inch. Of course, having a good chimney also means that it functions well, creating a strong, steady fire with a balanced drafting and venting system. The liner is essential in this respect, so having an insulated and maintained liner that’s an appropriate size will also make for a good chimney. Vertical has been in the chimney care business for over 35 years, and we have devoted our time and energy to bring safety to your home. We have spent all 35 years making sure we give our customers the best possible service. Take your chimney to a higher standard with Vertical and contact us today to get a free quote!