Getting to Know Your Chimney from Top to Bottom
Chimneys are seemingly simple structures, but there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye. Mercer County Chimney Services of Hamilton, NJ, would like to help you get to know your chimney better with this simple overview.
The Visible Parts of Your Chimney
Modern masonry chimneys are more than just bricks and mortar, even though these materials make up the majority of what you see when you look at a chimney.
Special chimney bricks and long-lasting mortar should be used to provide a stable structure that’s also nice to look at. But along with the masonry, there are other important external parts of a modern chimney system.
(NOTE: If you have a manufactured fireplace, you’ll have a metal chimney chase instead of a brick-and-mortar chimney.)
Chimney Tops
These include full-width chimney caps, flue covers and chase tops. These components are in place to keep debris, water and small animals out of the flue. Chimney caps and chase tops protect the entire top of the chimney beyond the flue opening.
Chimney Crown
The chimney crown is a concrete slab at the top of the chimney that’s designed to allow water to run off it and not damage the bricks underneath. It provides a barrier between the interior spaces of the chimney and the outside world.
Chimney Flashing
The gap between the roof and chimney needs to be sealed. Flashing is the way it’s done. Properly installed flashing keeps water from moving down below the roof and damaging unseen chimney masonry and various parts of your home.
The Parts of Your Chimney You Don’t Usually See
The “unseen” parts of your chimney are important for efficient drafting and safe operation.
Chimney Liner
Required in all modern chimney systems, chimney liners protect the masonry and nearby materials of the home from intense heat, flames and acidic combustion gases. Liners can be made of stainless steel, a poured-in-place compound or clay tiles.
Smoke Shelf
Just below the liner is the smoke shelf. This component holds any debris and water that may have entered the chimney. Designed like an actual shelf, it also helps to reduce the downdrafts that can blow debris out of your fireplace.
Fireplace Damper
When placed above the firebox, they’re called “throat dampers.” Their job is to control air flow and the intensity of flames in the firebox. A closed damper keeps conditioned air inside the home from escaping. Dampers installed at the top of chimneys are called “top-mount dampers.”
These are the primary seen and unseen components that make up a modern chimney system. To ensure safety and performance, each component must work properly and be free of damage.
Smoke Chamber
Located under the smoke shelf and above the firebox, the smoke chamber moves smoke and gasses from the fireplace to the flue. Smoke chambers are wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. Parging is the work that smooths out rough chamber surfaces to prevent the collection of flammable creosote and keep drafting smooth.
Keep Your Chimney Safe and Powerful
Mercer County Chimney Services is here to help with any issues your chimney may be having. We offer complete chimney and fireplace repair, rebuilding, sweeping and inspections.
Call us today and speak with a New Jersey chimney expert who can answer your questions. You can also get in touch with our handy contact form.
