Swede Chimney Sweep Prefab Chimney Characteristics

Prefab Chimney System Characteristics

The firebox, where you make the fire, is built out of steel and typically has four walls (two sides, a back, and a floor) of refractory panels inside the box.

The panels are cast out of a refractory cement and stamped to look like bricks.

Their purpose is to reduce the heat to the firebox. In older systems, the sidewalls and and/or backwall may be metal panels.

These refractory panels can easily crack and are expensive to replace.

Cracks in the panels can also cause a potentially dangerous situation since they have lost their insulating ability and may transfer heat to combustible materials.

Most of the fireplace manufacturers recommend replacing a panel if you can fit the edge of a nickel inside the crack.

The main cause for cracks developing is having too big or too hot of a fire.

We highly recommend that you should limit the size of your fires to either ONE prefabricated log (i.e. Duraflame or Pine Mountain), or just 2 to 3 small pieces of wood at a time.

Having large fires will guarantee that you will prematurely crack the fragile panels.

Prefab Fireplaces can't be modified in any way or it will void out the UL Listing, and void the warranty.

This means the homeowner can not go back to the manufacturer for any liability should a problem arise.

Therefore it is essential for a homeowner to hire a professional who "knows the rules" about prefab fireplace systems.

This tag is located on one of the front areas of the firebox.

We need the information from this tag of the name of the manufacturer, the model number, and many times the manufacture date in order to price and order replacement parts.

Most prefab systems only have a life span of about 15-30 years (partly depending on how close it is to the coast), whereas masonry chimneys built today could last upwards to one hundred years or more.

Many of the prefab systems that are in homes built in the 1970's here in San Diego, CA are getting to the end of their life span.

This makes it that much more critical to have your system maintained by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to avoid as much risk as possible of a costly fire.

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