CHIMNEYS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

To keep a chimney beautiful one must make sure that the combustion gases do not condense before they exit the top. The modern furnace of today is anywhere between 80% and 98% A.F.U.E. That means for every dollar you spend on fuel you are receiving 80% or more in heat coming into your home. In order to do so the furnaces or boilers are extracting more heat from the gases produced from the combustion process. In other words flue gas temperature has dropped from over 600 degrees Fahrenheit all the way down to under 100 degrees in some cases. The furnaces being vented into traditional chimneys are running around 325 to 400 degrees. An oil furnace with 325 degrees at the chimney is approximately 88% A.F.U.E. which is extremely close to condensing its flue gas. Any more efficient and the appliance would be producing condensation (water) and would be vented using  PVC or other plastic like material approved for venting this type of appliance.

Chimneys Can Be Your Best Friend

Unless a brick chimney  is in good condition, with a tile liner and the correct size, it should be lined with a stainless steel liner approved for oil fired appliances.  Gas appliances, due to the cooler flame produced within,  are usually lined with an aluminum chimney liner approved for those appliances. Even at that listing, the aluminum liners have been known to fail due to the moisture in the flue gas. Although more expensive, the stainless liner will last at least as long as the mid-efficient gas appliance it is venting. A chimney inspection prior to upgrading to a  80%+ oil, natural or propane gas heating appliance is not a bad idea. Your HVAC contractor may be able to do this. If not, he probably knows a chimney specialist that is.

​TRANS CONTINENTAL EQUIPMENT, LTD,
​For many years now Thompson Sales, Inc. has sold stainless steel liners made by the above company. The liner kits made for us are a little different than those from other manufacturers. TCE makes ours with additional small venting holes in the roof termination. Often times the chimneys that are being lined have had years of condensation exposure. The brick and mortar are still moist. It is best to allow the chimney to dry out over time and the vent holes allow that trapped moisture to exit up instead of finding its way out through the mortar causing further mortar erosion. It cost more to add this but, like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. A small premium to protect an expensive chimney.

ChimneyFlex's World Famous "Clip Cap"

Pretty fast and easy. Makes this chimney sweep friendly if and when it needs cleaning. The base "Tee" has a similar connection methodology. The kits Thompson Sales stocks has everything in it that one needs to do a lining job but it's BYOT (Bring Your Own Tools). For more on TCE, Ltd and chimney liners, click button below.
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​Wholesale only- Contractors see the next page for sizes and prices.
​Homeowners- Stay off the friggin' roof! It's not worth it.