Flue installation and chimney systems

Flue installation and
chimney systems across
the North East

The flue is what makes a stove work. We design and install the whole system, whether that is a liner down an existing chimney or a twin wall route through a house that has never had one, and we test it before we sign it off.

HETAS registered
Liners and twin wall
Designed to the property
Tested and certified

Every property takes one of two systems

Most stove problems we get called out to are flue problems rather than appliance problems. Which system you need depends on whether there is a serviceable chimney, and the free survey tells you which before you spend anything.

01

Flexible flue liners

For a property with an existing chimney. An old masonry stack was built for an open fire, so it is usually far too wide and too cold for a modern stove, which is what causes poor draw and tar. A liner gives the appliance the correct diameter and keeps the gases warm all the way to the top.

We supply and install both 316 and 904 grade stainless liners. 904 stands up better to the acids from smokeless fuels, so which one suits you depends on what you intend to burn.

  • 316 and 904 grade stainless
  • Correct diameter for the appliance
  • Closure plate, pot and cowl
02

Twin wall insulated systems

For a property with no chimney at all, or one that cannot be lined. A twin wall system builds a flue where there was not one, running from the appliance up through the ceilings and out through the roof, or up an external wall.

The route is designed around the layout of the house rather than forced through it, which matters for both how it performs and how it looks. Common on extensions, garden rooms and newer properties.

  • Internal or external routes
  • Flashings and weathering
  • Designed around the building

Signs your flue needs attention

If any of these sound familiar, the flue is worth looking at before you spend money on a new appliance.

Smoke in the room The most obvious sign, and almost always a draw problem rather than a stove problem.
Cold downdraft Cold air coming down the chimney when the stove is not lit points to an unlined or oversized flue.
A deteriorated liner Liners do not last forever. An old one can crack or corrode, particularly if smokeless fuel has been burned on a 316.
Tar and staining Tar build up or staining on the chimney breast means the flue gases are cooling too much on the way up.
A new appliance A different stove often needs a different flue size, so an existing system may not simply carry over.

Designed and installed by us

We do not fit an appliance and leave the flue to somebody else. The same HETAS registered team designs the route, supplies the components, installs it, tests it and issues the paperwork.

Book a free survey
  • Flexible flue liners
  • Twin wall systems
  • Insulation
  • Closure plates
  • Pot hanging cowls
  • Flashings and caps
  • Ventilation and direct air kits
  • Testing and certification

Flue and chimney work across the North East

Based in Hebburn and working across Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland. If you are not sure whether we reach you, just ask.

Flue and chimney questions

The things people ask us most often about lining a chimney or fitting a new flue.

Does my chimney need lining?

In most cases yes. An old masonry chimney was built for an open fire, so it is usually too large and too cold for a modern stove, which causes poor draw and tar build up. A liner gives the stove the correct diameter and keeps the flue gases warm.

What if my house has no chimney at all?

We install a twin wall insulated flue system instead. It runs from the stove up through the ceilings and out through the roof, or up an external wall, and is designed around the layout of the property rather than forced through it.

What is the difference between 316 and 904 liner?

Both are stainless steel. 904 grade has a higher nickel and chromium content, so it stands up better to the acids produced when burning smokeless fuels. If you burn only well seasoned wood, 316 is usually enough. We advise on which suits your fuel at the survey.

Why is my stove smoking or drawing badly?

Usually the flue rather than the appliance. Common causes are an unlined or oversized chimney, a liner that has deteriorated, a blocked or missing cowl, or not enough ventilation in the room. A survey will identify which it is before you replace anything.

Does the flue need ventilation as well?

Stoves above 5kW need a permanent air supply to the room, and many modern airtight homes benefit from one at any output. We fit ventilation and direct air kits as part of the installation where they are needed.

Not sure what your chimney needs?

Tell us a little about the property and we will tell you honestly whether it needs lining, a twin wall system, or just a cowl and a sweep. We can survey in person, or remotely from photos and Google Maps. No charge and no obligation.

Showroom
Unit 8J, Victoria RoadIndustrial Estate, Hebburn NE31 1UB
Hours
Tue to Fri, 9am to 3.30pmSat 10am to 2.30pm, Mon by appointment