How do different Flexible Chimney Liners match up to one another?

In this article we compare different brands of chimney liners and see if there is any major differences the homeowner needs to be aware of when looking to buy a chimney liner. The chimney liner brands we will be looking at are Flex King, Flex King Pro, HomeSaver chimney liners, Dura Flex, Z-Flex, M-Flex, Rock Flex, and Forever Flex.

Chimney Liner Comparison Chart

Chimney Liner Warranties

What is in a chimney liner and what should a consumer look for when shopping for a chimney liner? Well as you can see form the above chart, the majority of chimney liner brands have a “Chimney Sweep Install Only” warranty. Reading the fine print of these warranties reveals that these chimney liner companies advertise they have a lifetime warranty, but reality the only way the homeowner can benefit from that lifetime warranty is if a chimney sweep installs the liner for the homeowner. This can be very costly to the average homeowner, when installing a chimney liner can be a do it yourself project.

The only chimney liner brand that we found that has a lifetime warranty for the do it yourself homeowner was the Flex King brands. They offer a lifetime chimney liner warranty that covers all parts for the life of the liner, which is usually 5+ years. So whether a homeowner or a chimney sweep installs the chimney liner, the lifetime warranty covers you and it will be passed on to the next owner of the home as well.

What is 316Ti Mean and Why Should I Care About the Thickness of My Chimney Liner?

316Ti is the stainless steel quality of the alloy used for making the chimney liner and the “Ti” means titanium. As you can see from the graph, 316Ti is the standard alloy used to manufacture chimney and flue liners. Now what makes them different is the thickness of the liner.

As you can see the majority of the chimney liner manufacturers produce chimney flue liners ranging from 0.005-0.006 inches in thickness. The only chimney liner we found that gives you qualities of a rigid liner, but remains flexible was the Flex King Pro. When tested, the Flex King Pro chimney liner created 20% more draft and also had the only smooth wall interior. Having a smooth wall interior compared to rippled or corrugated interior means that there will be less creosote buildup and much easier cleaning. Also with the added thickness, Flex King Pro can with stand more heat over a longer period of time. Thus having a longer life span then the other chimney liners we tested.

Non-Smooth Wall Chimney Liner	Flex King Pro Smooth Wall Interior

What is the Chimney Liner Crush Point and Why is it Important?

The crush point shows the amount of weight a liner can withstand before it is crushed. In plain speak, it shows the flimsy or low quality liners from the quality made chimney liners. Out of the chimney liners we tested, there was one chimney flue liner that stood out from the others. It was the Flex King Pro with a crush point of 560 lbs. The second runner up was the Flex King with a crush point of 300 lbs. Both seem to be made the best by looking at the overall construction compared to the other liners we tested.

Cost to the Consumer

Most chimney liners and chimney kits are several hundred dollars. They can range from $300 to $1000+. We found if you are looking for an affordable high quality chimney liner that will not break the bank, the Flex King brands are he way to go. The most expensive being HomeSaver as per the above chart.

Chimney Liner Purchase Source

The final criteria that we looked at was the purchase source. The reason this is important to the consumer is that when buying from a distributor rather then direct from the factory, you are not getting the lowest price possible. Buying from distributors means there are usually extra costs that are being passed on to the consumer. As you can see from the chart, the Flex King brands are manufactured and sold direct from the factory. Looking more closely, the Flex King chimney liner brands have the lowest overall prices compared to the other chimney flue liners. Also by dealing direct with the factory all of your questions and concerns about the product can be answered by the source rather then a third party or distributor.

Overall Best Chimney Liner Brand- Flex King

By comparing these nine leading chimney liners, we have found that one chimney liner brand stands out from the pack; Flex King chimney liners. Flex King offers the best consumer lifetime warranty on the market today, unlike the other chimney liner manufacturers that depend on a chimney sweep to install the liner for the warranty to be effective. All the chimney liners tested use the same alloy, but the Flex King Pro offers a 0.014 thickness and a smooth wall interior which drastically reduces creosote buildup and extends the life of the chimney liner. Finally, the Flex King chimney liners are the most affordable out of test group which is directly related to the fact the consumer is buy direct from the factory rather then from distributors.

Flex King	Flex King Pro

So if you are looking to save money and get the best quality chimney liner for your home, we recommend having a look at the Flex King chimney liner brand. You can stop by their website at www.ChimneyLinerDepot.com or give them a call at 1-800-943-1515.