What to Know About Pre-Fabricated Chimneys and Their Installations

Class A chimney systems—also known as an all-fuel, prefab, or factory-built chimneys—are a complete system all to themself. The pipe can be run up an existing masonry chimney or on its own separate structure. The factory-built chimney is a double wall pipe, which is made of an inner wall of stainless steel and an outer wall of either stainless steel or galvanized steel. These chimney systems are designed to vent any fuel (oil, gas, wood, or coal). We encourage you to keep reading to determine if a prefab chimney is right for you and your home!

Installation Considerations

If the chimney is being used as an exterior chimney, the stainless steel outer wall is recommended. In between the two layers is a one-inch layer of insulation. This added layer reduces the clearances to a mere two inches. This means that the pipe can be installed in the middle of your house with ease. It can also be enclosed with a wooden chase that’s finished off with a chase cover made from a material of your choosing. The particular type of all-fuel chimney you need varies depending on the size of your appliance. Improperly sized chimneys will result in a poor drafting appliance as well as increased amounts of creosote deposits; both of these scenarios put your home and family at an increased risk for both chimney fire and/or CO poisoning.

Affordability Considerations

Class A chimney systems have increased in popularity since they came on the market in the 1980s, in part because of their low cost to construct and maintain as compared to a traditional masonry chimney. Their configuration allows the system to keep cool on the outside while still providing a hot draft on the inside, thereby boosting system efficiency by exhausting the hot flue gases easily. This increased efficiency will provide you added cost savings over the life of the system.

Care and Maintenance Considerations

The same fire safety precautions that are used for a traditional masonry chimney should be observed where a factory-built chimney is in use as well. In order to ensure the safe and optimal operation of the heating system, normal maintenance and cleaning are required, similar to those used for a traditional system. Many chimneys may appear to be in fine condition on the outside, but the inside could be a completely different situation entirely. We urge every homeowner to have their chimney inspected on a regular basis to keep their home and their family safe from fire hazards. The chimney should be inspected monthly during the heating season to determine if creosote has accumulated. A professional chimney sweep should be hired to clean out the unit at least once a year; however, it wouldn’t hurt to have it cleaned more frequently if the system is relied upon quite heavily.

The certified professionals at SirVent Chimney & Venting Service work hard to offer our neighbors in the greater Lake Norman, North Carolina area reliable, comprehensive chimney care. We believe the only way to do a job is to do it right, especially a job that exists to keep you and your family protected and warm. We hope you’ll trust us for your chimney and dryer vent needs. Your safety and satisfaction are our primary objectives, and we look forward to serving you! You can schedule an appointment with one of our team members by calling (704) 413-3773.

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