A chimney liner T connector is one of several types of connectors used to properly connect the vent from a fuel burning appliance to the chimney liner. There are many kinds of prefabricated connectors designed to make installation of a chimney liner or other vent pipe easier and cheaper than it would be if a skilled pipe fitter had to construct the joints on site and custom fit them to the job.
Any time you install a new fuel burning appliance in your home, be sure that you provide proper venting for the combustion gases so that your house stays safe and you burn your fuel as efficiently as possible. A well designed chimney liner and vent connecting system will help to accomplish these important objectives.
Besides T connectors, there are various elbow connectors intended for routing vent pipes and chimney liners around corners and offsets inside chimney flues. Rigid metal liners using straight joints of pipe and the appropriate connectors can be fabricated on site to fit inside flues that are not straight from top to bottom. Flexible metal chimney liners are often an economical alternative to these types of rigid liners, since the flexible liner can be installed as one continuous piece that conforms to odd angles and requires much less labor for installation.
Other prefabricated chimney liner hardware includes liner hangers, collars, appliance connectors, fireplace damper connections, rain caps and more. An experienced chimney specialist will have the right tools and knowledge to properly assemble a rigid liner to fit the unique requirements of any job.
A T connector can be used when a horizontal vent is being attached at a ninety degree angle to a vertical chimney liner or stove pipe. The T connector can be fitted with a cleanout cap below the connector if it is the bottom connection on the stovepipe or chimney liner. The cap can be removed for easy access to the chimney liner for cleaning ash and other debris from the flue. T connectors can also be used to connect additional vents from other fuel burning appliances into a common vent pipe or chimney liner.
A rigid chimney liner is often the cheapest choice in cases where the flue is straight and relatively short. Using a chimney liner T connector or other adjustable elbow connectors to run the liner around corners will make fabrication of the liner easier. The materials required for rigid chimney liners are relatively inexpensive, but the labor required for proper fitting of all of the joints so that they do not leak and allow unobstructed flow of combustion gases can make rigid liners more expensive than flexible liners, which cost more for materials but are easier to install.
Consult with a chimney professional to determine the best chimney liner design for your particular situation. Your woodstove or other appliance manufacturer will give you specifications for venting requirements, including liner size and material requirements. Your local building and fire safety codes will also specify the correct configuration of your fuel burning system. As you design your system, be sure to include a chimney liner T connector and other connecting hardware as necessary to keep your installation as simple and economical as possible.