A well-chosen chimney contributes to ensuring the proper level of thermal resources and is responsible for indoor safety. Next, Sonoma Old World Cast Stone specialists will help you with how to correctly choose and buy a chimney, taking into account the heating system and the planned budget.
The chimney design refers to the channel that is responsible for removing smoke from the furnace. According to its external characteristics, it is a pipeline made in a vertical version with a round or rectangular cross-section. These products are simple designs, but to ensure a safe stay and a comfortable microclimate in the room, it is necessary to approach their selection and installation process with all responsibility. It is worth saying that the quality characteristics of the chimney are no less important than the properties of a gas boiler, for example.
It is not possible to make a chimney structure using improvised raw materials. This will negatively affect the air quality in the room, as well as contribute to high heat loss. A hand-made structure can even explode.
Kinds
Given the type of installation of these structures, they can be divided into internal and external types. In the interior of buildings, chimney pipes can be placed both horizontally and vertically, as well as at an angle and with turns (45 and 90 degrees). This moment is determined by the geometry in the room, the design features of the heating installations, as well as the material that is the basis for the manufacture of pipes.
Today, the use of brick chimneys is a thing of the past. Such options are characterized by short-term durability, as they do not have the necessary degree of resistance to condensate formations.
On the modern market, you can buy chimneys based on ceramics, consisting of:
- own chimney for a fireplace made of ceramics with fire-resistant qualities;
- heat-insulating mat;
- protective box
Today, ceramic chimneys are not quite in demand due to the high price segment.
The field of use of polymer chimneys is the encasement of channels made in brick and concrete versions. This type should be used to remove flue gases in heating installations with gas columns and boilers. This application is determined by the low degree of heat resistance of the polymer material. Despite the low price segment of the polymer chimney, it is not the best choice due to its narrow scope of use.
Another type of chimney includes asbestos-cement structures. The main field of their use is heating units, for which the temperature range of combustion gases is not higher than 300 degrees. These designs are characterized by lightweight, simple installation and an affordable price. However, even these advantages do not make the designs too popular due to their low versatility.
The leaders among chimneys are metal structures, sandwich chimneys, and coaxial structures.
Steel chimney
To create this type, black or stainless steel is used, which is characterized by high durability. Compared to other materials, stainless steel is characterized by high resistance to loads. This is the key factor that determines the cost of the product.
The right chimney for a fireplace has the following advantages:
- smooth inner surface, which facilitates the unhindered extraction of smoke;
- universal application;
- the possibility of installing modular units using minimum labor costs;
- the possibility of installation during the construction process, as well as after finishing finishing works;
- indicators of long-term operation without loss of efficiency;
- low risk of blockages in the inner part of the structure.
The new design has several sections, each of which is characterized by a diameter of 90,700 mm and a length of 1,000 mm.
Sandwich chimneys
This type implies the presence of two steel pipes nested in each other. Special heat-insulating types of materials are used to fill the gap, and the diameter indicators are calculated according to the characteristics of the inner pipe.
The main difference in the installation is the ability of the heat-insulating layer to take on the high-temperature range coming from the inner pipe. This makes it possible to prevent heating above the norm. Answering the question of which chimney is better for houses made of wood, we can say without a doubt that this option is the best since sandwich chimneys have high fire safety.
Coaxial chimneys
The only difference between this option and the sandwich design is the heat-insulating layer between the pipes. The required gap between the inner and outer pipe is determined by holding with the help of metal jumpers. The heat-insulating layer in the structure is air, which is characterized by the provision of oxygen, which promotes combustion.
The main advantage of this option is the possibility of bringing the structure to the street through the wall. Thanks to this feature, the chimney for fireplaces has a lower cost. A coaxial chimney is not characterized by universality, and its use is mainly made for gas heating systems.
Which chimney is better for a fireplace and what factors are key when choosing?
 When choosing a smoke structure, it is important to take into account the evenness of the base and the presence of clear shapes of all elements without dents. If it is possible to check the mating of parts with each other, this is an ideal solution for determining the identity of their diameter. Another important criterion is the presence of a cut of the insulation, which should be even and dense. It is also important to have additional connecting clamps and pipe markings from the manufacturer in the design.
