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We know a fireplace has some kind of chimney design but the level of importance this feature offers is often misunderstood. For a chimney design to be highly effective, it must operate on the principle of hot air rising higher than cold air, which means hot gas within a chimney would rise due to air outside the house being less dense. The truth is that the majority of problems seen with fireplaces typically lead right back to the chimney.
The way the chimney design works is that as gas rises, a draft is created by drawing combustion air into the fireplace, then expelling exhaust gas through the chimney to the outside. When the gas inside the chimney is hotter than the air on the outside, the draft becomes strong. Keep in mind that even when you have no fire in the fireplace, the chimney design is such that a slight draft would still be created. While the concept is not difficult, for the chimney to function properly, a number of things must be done. For instance, the chimney design should be able to handle high gas temperatures, which can occur from chimney fires and over-firing. Additionally, chimneys must be capable of separating closely located, combustible materials from the gas heat in the flue. Other functions of the chimney design includes conserving flue gas heat so a consistent and powerful enough draft is created and resisting any type of weather effects, corrosion, and leakage. For the chimney design to do its job, it must be installed properly. This means the top of the chimney must be tall enough so it is above air turbulence from wind gusts against the home’s roof. In addition, the right chimney design would need to extend a minimum of three feet above the highest point where it connects to the roof. Lastly, the chimney needs to be at least two feet higher than your home’s roofline. Because there are definite guidelines, unless you have experience with a chimney installation, a professional should handle the project. When it comes to a chimney deign for wood-burning fireplaces, you would have a choice of masonry and factory built. The masonry chimney is made with a clay tile liner, which is then enveloped with block, brick, or stone. To prevent damage that can be caused by a chimney fire, the masonry chimney can have a stainless steel liner installed. Finally, a factory built chimney is one that uses 650-degree metal, meaning this chimney design features continuous gas temperatures, much higher than chimneys that use other types of fuel. |
