Switching the Fuel Type on Your Fireplace May Lead to Flue Problems
Converting your old wood-burning fireplace into a gas heating appliance has become very popular because not only will this fuel change save you money, but the new unit can also heat your home more efficiently. While installing a new gas fireplace insert may seem like an easy do-it-yourself project, you could end up with serious problems that could cost you more money on repairs than on a professional installation. These problems could even endanger the lives of you and your family. At Chim Cheree Chimney Specialties, we have two technicians who have been certified by the National Fireplace Institute (NFI) as Gas Specialists, who you can trust to properly install your new gas heating appliance into your old traditional fireplace. So that you can understand exactly why professional installation of gas fireplaces is so important, we would like to tell you about a couple of the problems that can occur as well as what we do to prevent any damage from happening to your flue.
What could possibly happen to my flue from converting to a gas-fueled heating appliance?
When you install a new gas heating appliance into the opening of your old wood-burning fireplace, the biggest problem typically is the flue being too large for the gas appliance. Because your new gas appliance produces less heat, this size issue can cause chimney draft problems. During the combustion process, water vapor is produced, and without enough draft and heat, this moisture will stay inside the flue longer than it should. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), this moisture will turn into an acidic liquid in your flue, and this corrosive liquid can damage the flue by eating away at the inside of your chimney, which causes the flue to crack and break apart. If this damage continues and is not repaired, sections of your chimney liner will deteriorate and crumble. This can lead to an even more dangerous problem because the broken parts of your liner may cause a flue blockage, which can cause a chimney fire or a carbon monoxide leak into your home. You can also experience problems with incomplete combustion due to a lack of oxygen because of the draft issues. When incomplete combustion occurs, carbon monoxide is produced, and this will put you at a larger risk of this toxic gas entering your living space.
What can Chim Cheree Chimney Specialties do to prevent these problems?
Our NFI-certified Gas Specialists understand the specific venting requirements for gas heating appliances and take these under consideration when installing these units. We will inspect your chimney before installing a gas fireplace insert to be sure they can work efficiently and safely together. To solve the problem of the flue being too large for your new appliance, we will create a new properly sized flue with a new stainless steel chimney liner. This will allow your gas appliance to work at its highest level of efficiency. You can trust our NFI-certified Gas Specialists to know exactly which chimney liner will work the best with your new gas-fueled heating appliance.
If you are thinking about upgrading to a gas fireplace insert, leave the installation to our experts at Chim Cheree Chimney Specialists. Contact us at 864-895-4204 to learn more about how you can heat your home more efficiently and less expensively this winter.