What are factory-built chimneys?

Many homeowners desire the ambiance, warmth, and added value that a fireplace or stove can bring to their home. In fact, a fireplace is such a desirable option for homebuyers that nearly 99 percent of realtors surveyed by Angie’s List said that a fireplace adds value to a home, with 15 percent of those realtors saying that it adds more than $5,000 dollars of value to a home. With so many perks associated with owning a fireplace, it’s no wonder why they are desired so much. However, some homeowners are reluctant to add a fireplace to their homes because they believe that there is a lot of hassle and cost associated with installing a chimney. However, there are many different types of fireplaces and chimneys. Although it is true that installing a brand new masonry fireplace out of brick or stone can cost a lot in materials, construction costs, and time, there are other options that are a lot more convenient to install and won’t bust your budget. A factory-built chimney is a great option for a homeowner that is looking for a cheap and effective way to add ventilation for their prefabricated fireplace, stove, or any other heating appliance that needs heat and gas ventilation. At The Chimney Guy, our technicians are trained to assess your ventilation needs and design a chimney system that will be durable, efficient, and as cost-effective as possible.

What is a factory-built chimney?

A factory-built chimney is a chimney that is constructed entirely in a factory and installed in your home, instead of the traditional way of building them brick by brick in your home. Because they are built in a factory, they are cheap and easy to install, making them a more desirable option for many homeowners. One of the major benefits of a factory-built chimney is that they are UL tested for quality assurance. In addition to that, we here at The Chimney Guy inspect every factory-built chimney that we install, so you know that if you get a factory-built chimney from us, you know that it is going to be of the highest quality standards. The factory-built chimneys that we sell are made of durable stainless steel, so you know that they are going to be working properly years down the road and will always look nice.

Types of factory-built chimneys

There are two main types of factory-built chimneys that we offer here at The Chimney Guy: DuraTech class A (DuraVent) and Ventis class A (Olympia Chimney) chimney pipe. These chimneys have different things to offer based on your home’s needs.

• DuraTech Class A Chimneys – DuraTech class A chimney piping is double-walled and is versatile meaning it can be used on a wide variety of appliances including water heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, boilers and factory-built fireplaces. It is approved for use with all fuel types which makes it a popular choice for many homeowners. DuraTech class A Chimneys are also made from stainless steel, so you know they are designed to last.
• Ventis Class A Chimneys – Ventis class A chimneys are also stainless steel, but are constructed with the intention of reducing the risk of heat transfer, making them safe and efficient. We carry two versions of this product, 304L, and 316L. The 316L version carries a Forever Warranty for use with all fuel types and the 304L version carries a Forever Warranty for all fuel types except coal. A Forever Warranty means that you know your chimney will be operating properly for the life of your home, guaranteed.

Installation of factory-built chimneys

There are a lot of “how-to” videos online when it comes to installing a factory-built chimney. However, installation of factory-built chimneys should only be left to the professionals. Depending on where you live, there are a lot of building codes that are meant to keep you safe. Many of these codes are related to proper clearance. If these codes aren’t followed exactly, you could be putting your home at risk of a fire. You should only trust your chimney installation to a chimney technician that has been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). [www.csia.org] A CSIA certified chimney technician has been trained, tested, and certified in the proper chimney installation techniques and has been trained to prioritize your safety above all things. At The Chimney Guy, we will always have a CSIA certified chimney technician working on your chimney installation, that way you know that it will be done correctly and safely.

If you think that you are ready for a new chimney to go with a new fireplace or stove and you live in Oshkosh, Green Bay, Green Lake, and other surrounding areas give The Chimney Guy a call at 920-830-1920 or contact us online today. You can rest assured that we will install your chimney for your specific needs and that we will perform the installation correctly and safely. We look forward to serving you!