Which pipe is better to use for the chimney - video
Ensuring fire safety and eliminating the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning are the main tasks in arranging the smoke exhaust channel. Most craftsmen who install heating equipment do not lay pipe, leaving these concerns to the homeowner. Without experience and knowledge, it can be difficult to figure out how to properly install the smoke exhaust duct and figure out which pipe to choose for the chimney. This article will tell you how to make the right choice.
Brick chimneys
When it comes to the classic version of the chimney, in the first place, the masters call the brick version. The first stoves and fireplaces, invented by man, were supplied with smoke extraction channels from this material. For the manufacture of pipes used burnt solid brick, which has high heat resistance. Brick chimneys have the following advantages:
- Aesthetics. The stovepipe chimney from the red furnace brick looks expensive, elegant and presentable. It perfectly adorns the roofs of luxurious mansions, cottages and modern town houses.
- Fire safety. Perhaps the main plus brick is that it is better than other materials protects against the occurrence of fires.
- High temperature resistant. Brick perfectly tolerates heat without losing its operational properties. Brick chimneys can even be used for stoves and fireplaces that use solid fuels, in which the temperature of the exhaust gases is 500-700 degrees.
- Long service life. Well laid brick pipe is at least 50 years old, and proper care and maintenance prolong the “life” of the chimney to 100 years or more.
Important! A brick chimney weighs a lot, so for the construction of a pipe made of this material, it is necessary to pour a foundation that is not associated with the main one. The cost of concrete casting increases installation costs. A brick smoke channel is the most expensive option, but over time these costs will pay off.
It is better to entrust the installation of a chimney pipe from a brick to an experienced craftsman, since it is difficult for a person without experience to choose the required diameter that supports the thrust force necessary to sustain combustion.
Ceramic chimney
Recently, furnace masters are actively introducing ceramic chimneys, which differ from classical brick chimneys. They are ceramic pipes with a length of up to 3 m. Light blocks with a hole, the diameter of which corresponds to their size, are supplied with them. Compared to other materials, ceramics has the following advantages:
- High temperature resistant. Ceramic pipes "block" the heat emanating from the mixture of smoke and combustion products inside, not allowing the external blocks to heat up. Therefore, they are considered the safest and most reliable. Ceramic chimney does not require additional thermal insulation due to the high heat absorption of the material.
- Resistance to moisture, corrosion and aggressive chemical compounds. They began to use ceramics for the construction of the chimney, noticing how inert it is. Pipes from it serve not less than 50 years, without demanding special leaving.
- Easy to assemble. Install a chimney of ceramic pipes, in contrast to the brick, you can own. The main thing is to choose the diameter of additional elements that you intend to use. For installation, reinforcement rods and cement mortar are required.
- Versatility. Due to the variety of ceramic products, it is easy to choose a suitable diameter for connection to the inlet of the heater. Therefore, chimneys made from this material are used for all types of stoves, fireplaces, gas boilers and boilers.
- Ease of care. The inner surface of the ceramic tube has a dense, smooth structure, so that soot does not accumulate on it. The chimney of their ceramics is easy to maintain, as it does not require frequent cleaning.
Important! The weight of the ceramic chimney is slightly less brick, however, it still has a significant load, so it also requires a separate foundation. It is better to install the smoke exhaust channel before the construction of the roof and the beginning of the interior decoration. It is suitable if the channel configuration is strictly vertical. The complexity of this option is that after the completion of installation work it is impossible to alter the pipe or increase its diameter.
Stainless Steel Chimneys
The most democratic way of arranging the chimney is the use of stainless steel pipes. The kit for assembling the smoke exhaust duct consists of direct additional elements, swivel bends, tees, condensate collectors and revisions. Stainless steel chimneys are convenient to use for self-assembly, as they do not require pouring the foundation. Skilled masters advise the following options:
- Single-flow pipes. They are hollow metal cylinders that are connected with steel clamps to obtain the required length and configuration. These are the cheapest chimneys, however, for efficient operation they require external thermal insulation with non-combustible material.
- Double-circuit pipes. The smoke removal channels of them are called sandwich chimneys, since they consist of several layers: a stainless steel inner loop, a thermal insulating layer of basalt fiber, an outer loop of heat-resistant steel. The inner diameter of the sandwich pipe is smaller than that of the ordinary one, therefore, to ensure thrust, it is necessary to increase the height of the chimney.
- Corrugated pipes. For channels having a complex configuration with many turns and bends, corrugated stainless steel pipes are used. Due to the ability to bend at any angle and stretch up to 3 m, the installation process produces fewer connecting joints, which favorably affects the tightness of the chimney system.
Note! The cost of components for the assembly of the smoke exhaust channel from stainless steel is lower than that of ceramic and brick. Different types of pipes are perfectly combined with each other, so you can make a combined channels. Single-circuit pipes are used for laying indoors, double-circuit pipes are used outside, and flexible pipes are used in places of passage through ceilings and turns.