It remains hidden to most homeowners, but the chimney and chimney liner can be your defense against fire or carbon monoxide in the house. Using a dirty chimney can create a chimney fire and an improperly cleaned chimney is a carbon monoxide source.

Homeowners should maintain and properly clean their chimneys, chimney covers and chimney liners for optimum use and safety. Also identifying the safe way to use or install your chimney caps, the chimney cover cap, and chimney flue liners will extend their use.

Fortunately your chimney is not as tall as the chimney at the GRES 2 Power Station in Kazakhstan that tops out at 1,378 feet tall, but however tall your chimney is it needs to be inspected fully and have the liner replaced as needed. Stainless steel chimney liners can be an alternative to traditional liners, and an affordable replacement. Alternatively the UL listed stainless liner is the more popular chimney liner.

Once the chimney liner is in good working order, you should pay special attention to the chimney covers. It has several special jobs to help your fireplace run efficiently and with less smoke issues. First, chimney covers keep out the rodents and pests. In the off season for chimneys you do not want to risk a bird or other animal making a nest in your chimney. The chimney covers help mitigate this risk by covering the opening partially.

Chimney covers also create a barrier from the environment. If the wind, rain or snow are blowing around, chimney covers can keep most of that from entering the chimney. Likewise, when the leaves and stuff begin to fall, your chimney covers keep this organic matter from entering the chimney. If any of this organic matter were to pile up it could create a clog and potentially a localized fire in the chimney. Chimney covers are both a cleaning convenience and a barrier against unwanted pests or materials.