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How is the Eldfast system installed?

Click here to see the animation we commissioned which helps show how the Eldfast lining system is installed.

The Eldfast Lining system is fitted by our HETAS registered fitters, without the need to remove the fireplace or mantel piece. Unlike some chimney lining techniques were it is common to have to knock into the chimney breast if the flexible liner gets stuck, the Eldfast chimney lining method is none disruptive and very clean to install, as the fireplace stays fitted to the wall. This is why it is a popular chimney lining technique in listed buildings. It is the only lining system to be approved by the National trust on their antique chimneys.

When installing the Eldfast chimney lining system, our chimney experts install a winch on top of the chimney stack, after carefully removing the chimney pot. An inflatable pillow shape, known as a “bladder” or “plug” is then connected at the bottom of the chimney flue and connected to the winch via a very strong metal wire. The bladder is then pulled up through the chimney flue by our lining company’s Hetas qualified chimney specialists, whilst the ceramic epoxy “slurry” is poured down slowly at the top of the chimney.

As it is pulled up the leaking chimney flue, the problem chimney is fixed by the ceramic Eldfast slurry being pushed into the gaps where the mortar has failed, and the cracks in the leaking stack are smoothed over by the chimney lining balloon being pulled through at around 3-5 bar pressure. This technique is the only cast in-situ lining system allowed for solid fuel by building regulations as set out in Section J of building regulations October 2010. It is also suitable for gas fires and wood burning stove installations.

Before the installation of the Eldfast Lining system, the chimney is run through with a specialist wire brush, to take away any imperfections in the flue. Stubborn areas where creosote has built up are cleared with a reaming brush. One of the best features of the Eldfast chimney lining system is that it does not reduce the cross sectional area of the chimney flue, as it gives the inside a nominal thickness of between 3-5mm thickness.

Once the first run through the leaking chimney, our chimney experts will take the specialist chimney balloon out of the top of the previously problematic leaking chimney and set it up at the bottom of the flue. During this time the first, where the Eldfast ceramic chimney lining slurry has filled the main gaps in the chimney flue, there may be some other parts that need a second run. Our chimney lining fitters then start the process again, completing a second run through the chimney flue. By the time the second pull through of the inflatable chimney balloon (known as a bladder) is set up, the first freshly applied ceramic epoxy slurry starts setting. This then gives the second run through a much better surface to stick to and totally covers the inside of the leaking chimney with the same chimney fire proof material. By this point the chimney will be fully lined and the job would be finishing in the afternoon, after arriving early in the morning.

The process is a 2- 3 man job for a whole day per chimney flue. The lining system is world renowned as it can with stand a chimney fire! It is an extremely strong and has a 25 year guarantee, but is expected to last much longer, as it is a ceramic material, which means it does not have any acidic qualities and will not deteriorate over the years due to having concrete in it.

The Eldfast chimney lining system is the “Rolls Royce” of the chimney lining world and The Cast Iron Fireplace Company.co.uk is one of very few company’s who install it. This is because our chimney lining experts and chimney engineers really know their stuff and we are able to professionally assess the condition of the chimney flue using specialist chimney CCTV cameras before lining a chimney where required. By doing this we help customers by reporting which lining system is best for their chimney. We travel a wide area, please click here for the list of main areas we install the Eldfast system, however we do cover a wider area, please contact us with any questions on 020 8942 8881.

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