Your chimney is an important part of your home. The chimney system ventilates smoke and dangerous gases, keeping your home and family safe. Here are some chimney and fireplace terms to know so that you can look out for components that need repair.
The firebox is the area of the fireplace in which the fire actually burns. This is where the logs are placed and ignited. The firebox is lined with firebrick that withstands extreme heat.
Another important component of a fireplace and chimney system is the hearth. The hearth surrounds the fireplace. Its purpose is to protect the immediate area around the fireplace, such as the floor, safe from extreme temperatures.
The metal plate that opens and closes the flue is called the damper. The damper can seal the chimney when a fire is not burning to eliminate drafts. It can also be adjusted during a fire to control how much oxygen reaches the fire.
The flue is the shaft inside your chimney through which smoke and other combustion debris exits your home.
Flue liners, or chimney liners, prevent combustion debris from damaging the interior of your chimney.
A smoke chamber sits just above the firebox and underneath the flue. The smoke chamber guides smoke and gases from the fireplace and up the flue.
A chimney cap is a metal fixture that covers the opening of the chimney. Chimney caps typically have a solid top that prevents rain, debris, and animals from entering your flue. The sides consist of small, grate-like openings to allow for ventilation.
The chimney crown covers the entire top of the chimney to prevent water from running into the chimney. Chimney crowns can be constructed from metal, concrete, or stone.
Flashing is a piece of metal that connects the roof to the chimney. The flashing creates a watertight seal around the bottom of the chimney so that water cannot soak into the brick.
Learning these important chimney terms will give you a better idea of what to look out for when it comes to chimney maintenance. Knowing what part of the chimney system is having issues can give you a better idea of what your chimney repair might entail. If you’re having any issues with your chimney or fireplace, give the experts at Sootmaster a call to schedule an inspection.