What is a chimney flue?
A chimney flue is a chamber through which smoke, hot gases, and other byproducts of combustion are vented. The chimney is the upright structure which surrounds the flue and provides heat insulation to reduce the risk of fire, and it is possible for a single chimney to have multiple flues, as may be the case when a home has several stoves or fireplaces which are linked to the same chimney. Chimney flues come in a range of styles and sizes, and they require regular maintenance and inspection for safety. The purpose of a chimney flue is to provide a vent so that the byproducts of combustion do not back up into a room. Ideally, the flue carries away gases and smoke with minimal heat loss, so that the fire provides warmth without endangering the people indoors. Flues are usually straight, as this provides the best draft, ensuring that there is a steady flow of unwanted material out of the flue. The amount of draft can be controlled with the use of a damper mounted inside the chimney flue, a
A chimney flue is the passageway inside the chimney that the smoke, heat and gases travel through before exhausting to the outside. It is important that the chimney flue be well insulated with an adequate lining material since it can be exposed to very high temperatures–especially in the case of a chimney fire.
Fireplaces have chimney flutes to allow smoke and/or gases to escape out of the chimney when there is a fire. When you aren’t using your fireplace the flute can be closed to keep outside air out or inside air in. It’s just a metal flap that covers the chimney hole and has a handle attatched to it. The spring and hinge on the flute keep it in position. If you have some type of fireplace to install that doesn’t require a flute, you can just close the flute and install the unit. Good luck.
