What a flue liner does
A flexible flue liner is a stainless steel tube that runs from the top of your stove to the top of the chimney. It gives smoke a smooth, sealed, correctly sized path out, which keeps the flue warm, improves draw and stops tar and fumes leaking into brickwork or next door.
When you almost certainly need one
We recommend a liner in most cases, and especially when:
- The chimney was built for an open coal fire and is much wider than the stove outlet.
- There are cracks, gaps or failed pointing inside the flue.
- Smoke or smells have been noticed upstairs or in a neighbour's house.
- The chimney is on an outside wall and stays cold, causing tar and condensation.
- The existing clay liner is cracked or missing sections.
When you might not
A newer chimney with a sound, correctly sized clay or pumice liner can sometimes be used as it is. The only way to know is to inspect it. We sweep it, smoke test it and run our wireless CCTV camera up to look inside.
What the regulations say
Building regulations do not insist on a liner in every case, but they do require the flue to be sound, the right size and safe. As a HETAS installer we have to be satisfied of that before we sign off the installation.
