Family-owned chimney flue repair in Lake Como

How far the top tile should stand above the crown

BIA Technical Note 19B has the flue liner stand 2 inches or more above the masonry cap, the part the trade calls the crown. That projection keeps water on the crown away from the flue opening and gives a cap something to attach to.

When a top tile has broken off flush with the crown, rain can run into the flue and the cap may have nothing to grip. Replacing that section restores the projection, and we explain how it ties in with any crown or cap work that is also needed.

The yearly check NFPA 211 calls for

NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, fireplaces, vents and solid fuel-burning appliances, calls for a yearly inspection of each chimney, fireplace and vent to confirm it is sound, not clogged with deposits and at correct clearances, with cleaning, upkeep or repair if the inspection shows a need.

A yearly look is how flue damage tends to get caught early, while a repair is still small. If your chimney has gone longer than that, our free inspection is a good place to start, and it tells you whether the flue needs anything at all.

Repair or reline, how the choice is made

The decision between a local repair and a new liner rests on a handful of findings. We record each one and show you how they point toward one option or the other.

Where the findings are mixed, we say so and give you both options in writing.

• How many sections are damaged, and where
• Whether the tiles are still in line and supported
• Whether damage is visible end to end or only in part
• What the flue serves now and will serve later
• Whether a listed repair system fits the flue's condition

A flue that serves a gas appliance

Section R1003.11.3 of the Florida residential code says flue lining systems for gas appliances shall be in accordance with Chapter 24, the fuel gas chapter. The lining suited to a wood fireplace is not automatically right for a gas appliance.

When a masonry flue serves a gas appliance, we check the lining against what that appliance needs and explain the options within that chapter. Repairs to the tile are written with that appliance in mind, not just the chimney. Where the lining does not suit the gas appliance, the usual answer is a listed liner made for that appliance rather than a tile repair.