A chimney is a device that serves to remove combustion products. The design of this element of the furnace, boiler or fireplace will determine its efficient operation and safety during operation.
All types of chimneys, regardless of the cost and types of materials used, have the same requirements:
- high temperature resistant;
- corrosion resistance;
- mechanical strength at high temperatures;
- durability;
- easy installation.
This is an incomplete list of requirements for chimneys. All of them are described in a special regulatory document SNiP 41-01-2003. It is deciphered as follows: "Heating, ventilation and air conditioning."
Varieties
There are several types of devices in total:
- classic chimney;
- modular chimney.
The classic version was made of brickwork. It is built at the last stage, after or before laying the roofing material. For its installation requires the involvement of a specialist in the field of bricklaying. When using low-quality material, it fails rather quickly.
Modular chimney - a modern development, the creation of which uses the latest materials. It is installed at any stage of construction, meets all Russian building codes. Made from the following materials:
- carbon steel;
- stainless steel;
- ceramic material.
During installation, the modular chimney does not require the involvement of specialists and the use of specific tools. The design does not damage the facade of the building.
Steel single-circuit products
This modular chimney is made of thick-walled or thin-walled steel and is the cheapest in its class. Has a polished outer wall that blends in well with the interior.
This type of chimney is used only inside the building. Due to its rapid cooling, condensation may form, which, when interacting with carbon monoxide, forms a harmful substance that has a bad effect both on people and on the product itself. Thick-walled modular chimneys have a limited service life, while the thin-walled variety has even less.
Steel double circuit options
For the possibility of outdoor use, the design of metal chimneys was radically changed, a heat-insulating gap was added. To do this, use two metal pipes of different diameters inserted into each other. Spacebetween them is filled with mineral wool. This allows you to maintain a high temperature inside the chimney for a long time, without overheating the external circuit. Thus, the conditions for the formation of condensate are excluded. However, due to poor corrosion resistance, the service life of such a modular chimney is limited. This causes its low popularity.
Double Modular Stainless Steel Chimneys
Structurally, the modular system is similar to a double-circuit steel chimney. Stainless steel has amazing physical properties. Compared with ordinary metal, it has a lower specific gravity, better corrosion resistance, and is not affected by sulfuric acid. The only downside to this design is its cost. However, if we compare the service life of analogues, it turns out that it is several times less, and, consequently, the total cost of a cheap chimney will eventually be higher.
Modular ceramic chimneys
They are made from a special composition of clay that has undergone heat treatment. They are also called ceramic fireclay pipes. The weight of the structure is relatively small. External walls have various shapes and patterns, are durable, but require some care. When heated, they do not emit harmful substances.
Device
For simplified installation, modular chimney systems provide a variety of fittings to minimize costs. Consider the main elements of the modular system:
- Straight sections are the main elements. Are madedifferent lengths (from 1.5 to 0.5 meters). They are joined together butt to joint.
- Tee - serves to change the route at a right angle with the possibility of cleaning the chimney. To do this, a plug is placed on one unused side - a glass. It hermetically closes the entire system, preventing smoke from entering the room. When it's time for chimney preventive maintenance, the cup is easily removed to provide access for cleaning the chimney.
- Knee - used to change the route at an angle of 45 degrees. In the case when there is an obstacle along the path of the chimney, this element allows you to move away from a straight path and bypass the difficulty.
- Passing component - serves for the passage of the chimney between the ceilings. This device will allow you to safely pass between combustible floors, for example, if there is a wooden floor between the first and second floors. Its installation is dictated by building and fire regulations. There are elements with different inclination angles of the insulating plates. During installation, their joining inside the pass-through component should be excluded.
- Roof passage element - serves to seal the exit of the chimney through the roof. Structurally similar to the passage, however, it has an insulating gasket in its design for waterproofing the penetration. The insulation material is suitable for most types of roofs with different angles of inclination. When choosing this element, you should pay attention to this fact. All necessary clamps andinsulating pads are supplied.
- Wall bracket - designed to mount the chimney on the outer facade wall of the house. Withstands wind loads, painted silver or hot-dip galvanized. Each manufacturer has a different distance between the fasteners, you should consult the seller.
Important procedure
Installation of modular chimneys is made from the furnace and moves from the bottom up. All elements are sealed together. No special tools, welding or soldering required. The connection takes place through special pressed-in grooves. The only major obstacle may arise when crossing partitions.
The modular chimney is attached to the bearing surface with special brackets, which are bolted together. All work does not take much time and does not require professionalism. After installation is complete, you will need to remove the protective film from the outer shell of the chimney, which protects against premature scratching of the mirror surface.
