Do You Need A Chimney Liner In NH?
You do need a chimney liner in NH. This is according to the NFPA 211, which is the standard New Hampshire follows for the construction and inspection of chimneys and vents. Having a chimney liner installed in NH has many benefits.
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The first benefit of having a chimney liner installed in NH is that a properly installed chimney liner can significantly reduce the risk of having a chimney fire turn into a structure fire. This is because most chimneys in New Hampshire were built without proper clearances being met. Did you know that all chimneys constructed in NH are actually supposed to have between one and two inches of clearance from the chimney structure itself to anything combustible? Most chimneys do not meet this clearance. There are often framing members placed directly against the chimney structure. This may not seem like a big deal under normal circumstances, but under the circumstances and conditions of a chimney fire, this quickly becomes something to worry about.
An active chimney fire can reach temperatures in excess of two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. This type of heat can radiate directly through the bricks of the chimney and into the framing members touching the chimney. Remember, it does not take an actual flame to start a structure fire. Fire, in and of itself only requires three ingredients in order to be produced. These ingredients are fuel, oxygen, and heat. In our very common example here we have all three of those ingredients. We have the heat from a chimney fire taking place inside of a chimney which is radiating onto the framing members of the chimney. We also have fuel. The fuel in this situation are the framing members. And of course, we have oxygen in the home. These three ingredients will take a contained chimney flue fire and turn it into a very uncontained structure fire.
How does this pertain to a chimney liner and why is a chimney liner is required in NH?
A properly installed and insulated chimney liner is vigorously tested to meet certain clearance requirements under the conditions of a chimney fire. These tests include the example listed above. A properly installed and insulated chimney liner has been, in most cases, and by most manufactures, tested under the conditions of a chimney fire and it has been found that the chimney liner will not radiate enough heat to the framing members touching the chimney to ignite a structure fire.
Why is this so important?
In my experience as a professional chimney sweep and repair technician, I can honestly say that I have come across very few chimneys that have met their clearance to combustibles requirement to the chimney itself. This is especially a hazard when it comes to solid fuel burning chimney flues.
Okay, so hopefully the importance of having a properly installed chimney liner for a solid fuel burning appliance is well understood at this point. Solid fuel burning, by the way, is referring to a wood stove, pellet stove or coal stove. But, what about oil and gas appliances? Oil and gas do not generally produce creosote when burned, so why is it mandatory to have chimneys venting oil and gas appliances properly lined?
The reason that it is mandatory, in the state of New Hampshire, to line a chimney venting oil or gas is because oil and gas produce carbon monoxide when they are burned. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that is responsible for many annual deaths in the United States and all over the world. Therefore, it becomes fairly obvious that these gasses should be contained in a properly constructed chimney liner.
I have carbon monoxide detectors in my home. They have not gone off and I do not have a chimney liner for my oil burning appliance. I feel safe not having a chimney liner. Are there any other potential benefits of having a chimney liner, or can I just trust my carbon monoxide detectors?
While having carbon monoxide detectors is an important part of preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, it is not recommended to solely rely on them when you know that you have a defective chimney liner. That being said, yes, there are other benefits of having a properly installed chimney liner for and oil or gas appliance. These benefits include containing the sulfur produced by an oil appliance, and reducing or eliminating excessive condensation produced by a gas burning appliance.
With oil burning appliances, when the oil is burned in the appliance and the fumes go up the chimney, the fumes contain a product called sulfur. When sulfur mixes with the moisture in the chimney, the sulfur turns into sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and will damage the chimney from the inside out, so even if, as a homeowner, you are not concerned about the potential carbon monoxide risk of having a defective chimney liner for an oil venting chimney, the gasses from the oil are still going to destroy the chimney from the inside out and cause the need for extensive masonry repair over time.
With gas burning appliances, there is a greater chance for excessive moisture. This is because gas appliances burn so efficiently. However, the moisture produced by these appliances will do nothing good for the chimney structure if it is not contained properly.
The bottom line is that with any appliance and any chimney, a properly installed chimney liner will only benefit the homeowner in the long run. Whether it is by preventing a chimney flue fire from spreading into a structure fire, or by helping to preserve the life of the chimney structure, having a chimney liner installed by a certified chimney professional is never a bad home investment.
