What Are the Different Types of Chimney Construction?
A chimney is a structure that provides ventilation for hot fumes or smoke from a boiler, stove, stove or fireplace. The chimney is usually vertical, or as close to vertical as possible, to ensure a smooth flow of gas and the intake of air into the so-called chimney combustion or chimney effect. The space inside the chimney is called a flue. Chimneys may be found in buildings, steam locomotives and ships.
- The Romans smoked from the bakery with a pipe in the wall, but the chimney only appeared in the twelfth century
- There are generally three types of brick chimneys, reinforced concrete chimneys and steel chimneys.
Chimney maintenance
- One feature of chimneys is that when it is used as fuel with wood, they form creosote deposits on the walls of the structure. Deposits of this substance can interfere with airflow and, more importantly, they are flammable, and if the deposits in the chimney ignite, they can cause a dangerous chimney fire.
- Natural gas-fired heaters significantly reduce the phenol concentration due to natural gas combustion, which is cleaner and more efficient than traditional solid fuels. Although it is not necessary to clean the chimney every year in most cases, this does not mean that the other parts of the chimney will not be in disrepair. Over time, disconnection or loosening of chimney fittings due to corrosion can cause residents to pose serious dangers due to carbon monoxide leaking into their homes. [11] Therefore, it is recommended-in some countries even mandatory-that chimneys be inspected annually and cleaned regularly to prevent these problems. Workers performing this task are called chimney brooms or steeplejacks. This work used to be done primarily through child labor and these characteristics in Victorian literature. During the Middle Ages in some parts of Europe, a crow-like gable design was developed, partly to enter the chimney without using a ladder.
- Masonry (brick) chimneys have also proven to be particularly vulnerable to crumbling in earthquakes. In cities prone to earthquakes such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, the government's housing administration has suggested building new houses with bolted chimneys around metal flues. Supporting or bundling old masonry chimneys does not effectively prevent damage or injury caused by the earthquake. [6]
Potential problems with chimneys
- include:
- 1. "Peeling" bricks, where moisture penetrates into the bricks, then freezes, cracks and peels the bricks, loosens the mortar seal
- 2. Move the foundation, which may reduce the integrity of the chimney masonry
- 3. Nesting animals such as squirrels, raccoons or chimney bugs
- 4. Chimney leak
- 5. Problems with fireplaces or heating equipment can cause harm to the chimney [6]