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A historic chimney can get a new flue from the inside, without anyone seeing a difference from the street. Relining goes in through the existing openings, so the masonry, the crown and the look of the building stay as they are. That makes it the first option to consider before anyone talks about taking a chimney down. WHY OLD CHIMNEYS FAIL Older chimneys were often built with clay tile, or with no liner at all. A century of heat cycling and freeze-thaw cracks the tile and ero

When an old boiler or furnace comes out and a modern one goes in, the existing masonry flue is frequently wrong for the new appliance. It can be oversized, unlined, or already damaged by decades of acid condensate from the old unit. Finding that out before install day keeps the project on schedule. WHY THE FLUE HAS TO MATCH THE APPLIANCE A flue is sized for the appliance it serves. An old atmospheric boiler sends a large volume of hot gas up the chimney. A modern unit runs co

For most chimneys, the repair for cracked flue tiles is a new liner. The tiles are built into the masonry, so they cannot be swapped out one at a time. Relining restores a continuous, sealed flue inside the chimney you already have, with no demolition. WHY TILES CRACK Most chimneys in the Gallatin Valley are lined with terra cotta tile. It is a good material, and it does not last forever. Heat cycling, freeze-thaw, water and the occasional chimney fire crack it. We find this

Both reline a masonry chimney without tearing it apart, and 406Chimney installs both. The appliance at the bottom of the flue usually decides which one goes in. The shape of the flue and the bends in it decide the rest. SIDE BY SIDE FuranFlex composite Stainless steel How it goes in Soft liner, cured hard in place Rigid or flexible pipe fed down the flue Demolition None None Time on site One day, in most cases One day, in most cases Flue size Retains nearly the full flue area

The honest answer is that it depends on your chimney. Height, flue size, bends, access and the appliance all change the job. The good news is that "it depends" turns into a firm number after one visit, and this post explains what goes into that number. WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR A chimney liner is the only thing standing between the fire and the rest of your building. Relining puts a new liner inside the chimney you already have, so the masonry stays where it is. The alternative