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What changes the price of a chimney liner?
A chimney liner price in Cheshire depends on the fuel, the condition of the flue, and whether an appliance is being fitted at the same time. This guide does not print a figure, and it says which register to check and what the quote should name.
Last reviewed:A liner follows the fuel
A chimney liner is a lining inside a flue. People ask about one when a stove or a gas fire is being fitted, or when an old flue is suspect. HETAS says there is no regulation requiring every existing chimney to be lined [S1]. The installer must satisfy themselves that the chimney is free from defects and suitable for its intended use [S1]. If work on the chimney, including a new liner, is done together with installation of a heating appliance, HETAS says that work is a controlled service and must be undertaken by a competent person or approved by the local authority building control [S1].
That is the frame for a quote. This guide does not print an installation price, and it does not tell you which product to buy. HETAS says rebuilding or relining needs specialist advice [S1].
Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach are where this guide starts. Anyone in the UK can post.
Why the fuel is the first line on the paper
HETAS says new chimneys may require relining to suit the fuel being used, and that a gas flue liner may not be suitable for other fuels [S1]. It says chimney systems that predate 1965 will often require a modern lining solution [S1]. It gives three reasons an existing chimney may need to be relined: it is unsound on an appropriate test by a skilled engineer; the cross-sectional area of the flue is too large or too small for the appliance; or the existing lining is unsuitable for the proposed appliance [S1].
When an appliance is replaced, HETAS quotes Approved Document J: if a chimney has been relined using a metal lining system and the appliance is being replaced, the metal liner should also be replaced unless it can be proved recently installed and can be seen to be in good condition [S1]. Your quote should say whether the existing liner stays, and on what evidence.
Do not drop a liner down a flue yourself. Do not rod the flue as a trial. The test HETAS refers to is for a skilled engineer [S1].
Gas is a different register from solid fuel
HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer, competent in that area of gas work, and that the competencies are on the card [S2]. Check the engineer on the register. QuoteZila does not do that check.
Gas Safe Register. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
HETAS describes itself as the route for solid fuel, wood and biomass installation, which is subject to building regulations, with most of that work notifiable [S3]. A HETAS registered installer registered for that category can self-certify rather than the customer applying to the local authority [S3]. A gas job is not converted into a solid-fuel job by using the other register. Ask which fuel the liner is for, and which register the person is on for that fuel.
The outside of the flue, and work at height
The Planning Portal says fitting, altering or replacing an external flue, chimney, or soil and vent pipe is normally permitted development if the conditions are met [S4]. Flues on the rear or side elevation are allowed to a maximum of one metre above the highest part of the roof [S4]. In a designated area the flue should not be fitted on the principal or side elevation that fronts a highway [S4]. If the building is listed or in a designated area, check with the local planning authority before a flue is fitted [S4]. These allowances apply to houses, not flats [S4].
If you wish to install a flue, the Planning Portal says building regulations apply, and that installation should be carried out by a suitably qualified installer, taking account of ventilation and general safety [S5]. It points readers to HSE advice on getting work done safely at height [S5].
GOV.UK: find your local council for building control. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
HSE's roof page says roof work must be done by trained competent people, and that fragile surfaces include the risk of falling through [S6]. A liner dropped from the pot is still work at the top of a stack. This page does not describe a method.
Comparing quotes without a published price
Citizens Advice says some traders charge for quotes, so ask first, and to get written quotes from at least 3 traders [S7]. A quote is a fixed price and an estimate is a rough guess [S7]. Do not agree a deposit above 25% if one cannot be avoided [S7]. A business registers for VAT when taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or is expected to in the next 30 days [S8].
| Line | What you are matching |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Gas, wood, or another solid fuel, named |
| Appliance | New, replaced, or flue only |
| Existing liner | Stays only if they record why [S1] |
| Register | Gas Safe for gas [S2], or HETAS category for solid fuel [S3] |
| Terminal | Whether the external flue changes, and the one-metre point [S4] |
| Pot and flaunching | In the roof price or excluded |
| Access | Who works at the stack, and how [S6] |
| VAT | Included or not [S8] |
Pots, alarms, and what the quote must not blur
The pot and the flaunching are the parts you might see from the street. The liner is the part you cannot see. A quote that says "sort the chimney" can mean either. Split them. If the pot is cracked, that is masonry and roof access. If the flue is the wrong size for the stove, that is the cross-section point HETAS makes [S1]. Both can be true, and they should still be separate lines so you can drop one.
Carbon monoxide alarms are often discussed in the same breath as a stove. This guide does not set an alarm price or a position, because the pages used here do not give one to print. Ask the installer what they will leave you with, in writing, including the manufacturer's instructions for the appliance. Do not treat an alarm as a substitute for a sound flue.
Shared stacks in terraces are common. Your flue may not be the only one in the stack. Say if the house is in a terrace and if you know which pot is yours. If you do not know, say that. The installer has to be satisfied the chimney is suitable [S1]. Guessing the pot from the bedroom is not that test.
A liner for a fire you have removed, with no new appliance, is a different instruction from a liner installed with a stove. HETAS ties the controlled-service point to work done in conjunction with a heating appliance [S1]. Describe which of those you want. Do not ask for "a liner just in case" and expect the registers to be irrelevant.
If the breast is also being taken out, that is structural work and not this guide. Keep the posts separate so a heating engineer is not asked to design a beam, and a builder is not asked to sign off a gas connection.
Write down the appliance you have today and the one you want, including whether the fire is gas or solid fuel, even if you are unsure of the model. A photograph of the plate on the appliance is enough. If there is no plate, say so. The installer should not be asked to guess the fuel from a pot on the roof. If the house has more than one flue, label the photo. A liner in the wrong flue is a wasted visit and a dangerous one, which is why the suitability test sits with the installer and not with a householder leaning into the fireplace [S1]. Do not light a fire to "see if it draws" while you wait for the quote.
Access to the fireplace matters as much as access to the pot. A liner is often handled from both ends. If the breast is behind a fitted cupboard, say so. If the room is a bedroom you need the same night, say the work has to finish in a way that leaves the room usable, or that you can clear the room. The installer should tell you whether the appliance can be used before they have finished their checks. Until they say it can, leave it alone.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- Wood stove to replace an open fire. Ask for a liner quote that states the fuel and that a gas liner will not be used for it [S1]. Ask which register they are on.
- Gas fire, existing flue, you do not know if it is lined. Ask for a Gas Safe engineer to say whether a liner is required. Do not ask a general builder to alter the gas connection.
- External flue on a rear wall of a house, not listed. Ask whether the terminal stays within one metre above the highest part of the roof [S4].
Anyone in the UK can post or register. QuoteZila is a new, early-stage project, so replies depend on who has joined near you [QZ5]. Up to five matched local businesses can quote [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Check a gas engineer on the Gas Safe Register. Flue approval is part of GOV.UK building regulations approval. Work at the pot is covered by HSE roof work.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Heating engineers are the trade page for appliances. Roofers may be involved at the stack. Builders if the breast itself is changing. The plumber cost and roof repair cost guides are related reading, not liner prices. All services.
Questions about chimney liners
How much does a chimney liner cost to install?
This page does not print a figure. A liner for a gas appliance and a liner for a solid-fuel stove are different jobs, and HETAS says a gas flue liner may not be suitable for other fuels. Compare quotes that name the fuel, the appliance and who is registered for that work.
Does every old chimney have to be lined?
HETAS says there is no regulation requiring every existing chimney to be lined. The installer must satisfy themselves that the chimney is free from defects and suitable for its intended use. If lining is done with a heating appliance, HETAS says that work is a controlled service and must be done by a competent person or approved by building control.
Who can work on a gas appliance?
HSE says anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. Competencies are marked on the engineer's card. Check the register yourself. This page does not tell you to fit a liner or to alter a gas connection.
What about the flue on the outside of the house?
The Planning Portal says fitting, altering or replacing an external flue is normally permitted development if conditions are met, including flues on the rear or side elevation up to a maximum of one metre above the highest part of the roof. Listed buildings and designated areas are called out separately. Installing a flue is also building regulations work.
Does QuoteZila check installers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
Cost guides
Related pages
- Combi Boiler Cost: What Changes the Price. What goes into a combi boiler quote in Cheshire, from swaps and conversions to flues, controls and paperwork, and how to compare engineers' prices fairly.
- Cost to Move a Boiler: What Changes the Price. What moves the price of relocating a boiler: distance, the flue, gas and condensate pipes, making good and certification. This guide prints no price.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila pricing line.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ.
- QZ5: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home callout.
- S1: HETAS and wood burning stove regulations FAQs, HETAS. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hetas.co.uk/consumer/faqs/
- S2: Domestic gas: frequently asked questions, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqs.htm
- S3: Building regulations guidance, HETAS. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hetas.co.uk/regulations/
- S4: Planning permission: flue, chimney or soil and vent pipe, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/flue-chimney-or-soil-and-vent-pipe/planning-permission
- S5: Building regulations: flue, chimney or soil and vent pipe, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/flue-chimney-or-soil-and-vent-pipe/building-regulations
- S6: Roof work, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm
- S7: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S8: When to register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat