What Is a Smoke Pipe?
A smoke pipe is the pipe extending out of your heating appliance that removes fumes and combustion byproducts safely into the chimney and out of the home. A smoke pipe is regularly exposed to high temperatures, in many cases over 500 degrees. To handle the continuous extreme temperature variations it is constructed from steel.
Why is Smoke Pipe Important?
Smoke pipes are designed to transfer toxic gasses from your home. Most are outfitted with a draft regulator to help regulate the draft from your chimney so that more heat than necessary is not removed from the appliance.
What Causes a Smoke Pipe to Malfunction?
- Age and corrosion: Over time, the metal can become corroded or weakened, leading to cracks or holes.
- Poor installation: The pipe should be regularly taken down and cleaned. If it was not reinstalled correctly, it may not be functioning correctly, leading to problems with draft and the buildup of soot or toxic gasses.
- Blockages: Debris, soot, or other materials can accumulate in the pipe, causing blockages that prevent the proper ventilation.
- Lack of maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential: with neglect of routine tune-ups, the pipe is likely to become restricted.
How Do I Know if my Smoke Pipe is Broken? How Will it Affect My System?
- Draft problems: A weak draft can lead to excess soot build up. If not remedied, it may lead to positive draft resulting in the emissions leaking into your home rather than up the chimney.
- Leaks: If you see visible cracks or holes in the pipe, it is likely causing draft issues or you may see soot falling on the floor around the issue.
- Corrosion: It’s normal for smoke pipes to corrode and rust over time. But this should be dealt with before the slight rusting causes the smoke pipe to become weakened.
- Carbon monoxide alarm: If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, it could be an indicator that there is a draft problem related to your smoke pipe.
What To Do & What To Expect from a Levco Technician
Levco technicians remove, clean out, and reinstall the pipe on every heating annual tune up visit. But, if you believe your smoke pipe is causing an issue with your heating system or you would like it to be assessed by a professional, Levco would be happy to diagnose and provide you with a solution. Most times the replacement of your pipe can be done the same day.