This article will focus most of our discussion on chimney installation.

Everything related to installation, including chimney types, installation tools, chimney size, location, and suction capacity, will be discussed.

The goal is to provide a comprehensive guide to follow.

Chimney Installation Guide

It is assumed that the reader has little to no idea about the installation process.

You’ll find all the critical information needed to embark o such a project. Is professional help required at any stage during chimney installation? You only need to read on to find these details and more.

Chimneys are functional structures installed in homes to vent smoke from appliances like stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces.

For a chimney to function effectively, you must properly install it.

Is DIY Chimney Installation a Good Idea?

Before deciding on the installation approach to adopt, one of the things you’ll have to figure out is whether the DIY installation of a chimney will serve your needs.

Now, DIY installation involves the homeowner performing the installation job with little to no professional help.

While this may sound exciting to most DIY’ers, many issues are likely to be experienced. In other words, you may not correctly execute chimney installation due to a lack of expertise and experience.

So, your best will be to call for professional chimney installation.

Certified and experienced professionals have all it takes to execute an excellent job. You’ll have to carefully select who gets called and find out other things (as shown below).

This way, you’re likely to get a satisfactory chimney installation job.

i. DIY Chimney Installation

If you feel you have what it takes in terms of technical knowledge, you might want to go ahead to carry out a chimney installation. As part of the installation process, safety needs to be taken seriously.

Also, you’ll need to get all the necessary tools for the job. The right tools help with better chimney installation.

Tools required for the job include pliers, gloves, scissors, marker pen, measuring tape, and hammer. You’ll need rubber gloves to protect yourself from short-circuiting when it comes to safety.

Also, you’ll need to turn off the power from the mains.

To avoid accidents or someone mistakenly turning on the switches during installation, you’ll need to have the panel box secured or locked. You should also check wires for current flow before handling.

If these safety procedures sound confusing, you might want to call a local technician to handle the power issues.

What Type of Chimney do you wish to install?

Successful chimney installation will require identifying the type as well as its positioning. When it comes to chimney types, there are several to consider.

The most common include masonry chimneys, prefabricated chimneys, brick chimneys, metal chimneys, and wood-burning stove chimneys.

Other chimney types include curved top chimneys, house geometry chimneys, paired chimneys, clay pot chimneys, and “a play of angles” chimneys.

To position these chimneys, you’ll have to choose one of four locations that include a built-in chimney, wall-mounted, corner, and island chimneys.

  • Built-in Chimney

Built-in chimneys are mostly installed or embedded within kitchen wood fixtures, especially those fitted against the wall. The main goal is to help conceal specific chimney components from being exposed or visible.

However, not all homeowners want the same thing. Other options may interest you.

  • Wall Mounted Chimney

As the name implies, wall-mounted chimneys are typically installed against the wall. Also, they’re standard, with cooktops fitted against the wall.

Here, your kitchen design and preferences are likely to play a significant role in determining what type of installation fits your needs.

  • Corner Chimney

The name alone suggests what type of chimney this is. Corner chimneys are primarily installed in kitchen or room corners. You may find this above the cooktop and hob and standing against the wall.

If you’re not sure what the ideal positioning of your chimney installation will be, you’ll do well to call a pro.

  • Island Chimney

As expected, island chimneys are primarily positioned in the center of the kitchen. Here, the chimney is installed above the cooktop in the kitchen center.

This type of installation might be a bit complex for some homeowners. You may need some professional help for effective installation.

Installation Process

This is where most of the work is done. Here, several actions need to be taken to guarantee successful chimney installation.

They include figuring out chimney height from the stove, fastening it to the wall, and checking your chimney type. The universal spigot is essential. Additionally, wiring and airflow methods need to be carefully figured out.

  • Chimney Height from Stove

One of the primary things you’ll need to address when installing a chimney is its height from the stove. The chimney shouldn’t be too low or high from the furnace.

When it’s too low or close to the stove, it may result in a fire hazard. On the flip side, being too high may result in the chimney sucking up the fresh air.

The ideal distance of your chimney from the stove should be around 21 to 30 inches for electric stoves and 24 to 30 inches for gas stoves.

Apart from the suction capacity, you’ll have to factor out the kitchen design and the stove’s position. What’s the length and number of bends in your duct?

  • Fastening Chimney to Wall

To have your chimney correctly installed, you’ll need first to measure and mark out a suitable height. This is followed by drilling holes into which you will drive screws.

These markings and drillings must align with the provisions made on the chimney before permanently fixing it in place.

  • Checking Chimney type

Chimneys come in two major designs; ducted or ductless. Each of these serves a unique purpose.

Whichever type you’re installing, you need to ensure that it has a shorter or smaller duct pipe to allow for better suction.

  • Universal Spigot

A universal spigot usually comes as a built-in component of more recent chimney designs.

It comes in varying sizes that easily fit into pipes of different sizes. To better install your chimney, you’ll need to refer to the installation guide that came with your chimney.

  • Wiring the Chimney

Wiring is an integral part of chimney installation. This requires some electrical experience. You may want to call an electrical technician to handle your chimney wiring job.

After installation, you should perform tests to determine whether the installation has been done correctly.

  • Understanding Airflow Methods

Airflow is crucial to a functional chimney. As such, you should carry out the installation carefully.

A chimney installation process that’s performed effectively will result in the seamless functioning of different parts like the turbine, collector, and tower.

The exhaust mode of airflow tends to work better than the recirculation mode because not only is smoky air sucked in, it’s pushed out through the duct pipe and out of the building.

ii. Professional Chimney Installation

A lot has been said about DIY chimney installation. While such a procedure might give a good result, a lot could go wrong because the job isn’t professionally executed.

To guard against such, you’ll need to call for professional chimney installation. Here, certified and experienced chimney technicians handle all the work.

It would be best to trust not all chimney installation professionals at face value. Some of these contractors aren’t who they claim to be. With this reality, hiring the wrong technician could result in a terrible job.

Helpful tips for hiring the right chimney installer include researching your options, knowing what professional estimates are all about, and understanding certification.

What more? You need to know some standard sharp practices adopted by bad contractors.

After chimney installation, you’ll periodically need maintenance to guarantee continued smooth operation. So, it would be best if you had that in mind when seeking chimney installation.

Let’s discuss each of these points for better understanding.

  • Researching your Options

Before settling for any chimney contractor, you need to do the work by researching a wide range of things.

Thankfully, the internet is a ready resource to find out about potential chimney contractors to hire. Begin by seeking recommendations from friends and neighbors.

The Better Business Bureau is another resource that could help you find reliable chimney installers.

  • Knowing what Professional Estimates are About

Reliable professionals tend to have a more detailed approach to chimney installation. These professionals want to identify what your needs are. Recommendations may be given by the professional.

Whatever the case is, a professional must be able to interpret the estimate to your understanding.

  • Understanding Certification

While certification can be tied to the level of skill a chimney contractor has, there may be fraud cases. One of the best ways to guard against such is finding out the meaning of such certifications.

You might want to conduct online research to see if the certification holds water.

  • Forming Lasting Bonds

After chimney installation is completed, you’ll need periodic maintenance to ensure it’s always functioning.

You have reliable professionals to call for your maintenance needs by choosing suitable chimney contractors. A chimney should last several decades, and so should your relationship with the contractor.

So far, we’ve seen that chimney installations vary.

The type of chimney you want to be installed will determine the approach adopted. Irrespective of the option, it’s best to seek professional help with your installation needs.

That way, you’re likely to have desired outcomes.

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