Stainless steel chimney liner installation in Belle Isle

Liquid fuel and solid fuel never share a liner

One liner maker states that an appliance burning a liquid fuel must not be connected to a chimney liner used to vent a solid-fuel appliance. It is a firm rule written into the instructions, not a preference.

We ask what burns in each connected appliance before proposing a layout, and we keep each flue to the use its listing allows. If two appliances would conflict, we explain the options in writing, such as separate flues or a change of appliance, and leave the choice with you.

How the installation day runs

Relining day follows a set order, and we tell you the plan the day before, including when the fireplace and the roof will be in use and roughly how long each stage takes for your chimney.

• The flue and smoke chamber are cleaned
• The route is proven with a test piece or guide cone
• Insulation, where required, goes on the liner
• The liner is lowered from the top
• The base connection is made and checked
• The top plate and liner cap are fitted and fastened

Questions worth asking before you approve relining

A sound relining proposal should answer each of these clearly. If one of them gets a vague answer, ask again, since each one affects how the liner performs or what the job includes.

• What finding makes the current lining unsuitable?
• Which listed product is proposed, and at what size?
• Is insulation required, or only recommended?
• What preparation happens before the liner goes in?
• Which old parts stay, and which come out?
• Which separate repairs, if any, are recommended?

Sealing the chimney top around the liner

The top plate closes the gap between the liner and the flue opening. One manufacturer describes fastening it to the masonry with silicone or masonry screws once the liner is clamped.

A tight, sealed top keeps rain out of the space around the liner, which is why the surface under it has to be sound. We check the seal at handover and again at the next yearly inspection, since this is a likely place for water to find its way in if anything has shifted.