Switching from wood to pellet insert can I re-use my liner?

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Justin M

Justin M

Feeling the Heat
Dec 22, 2008
284
Southbury, CT
We are 95% sure that we are going to switch from our Regency I2100 wood insert to a pellet insert. The top of my list for a pellet insert is a Harman Accentra. I got a quote for $3959 + $450 for installation if a new liner is not needed. Will it be okay to re-use the 6" liner that I have now with a reducer? We have a single story ranch so it's probably no more than an 18' run. The dealer called the Harman rep and he though it would be okay. I just want to check with you guys to make sure that I won't have any draft issues or anything. Also would the 6" liner make it harder for cleaning(i.e. still be able to do leaf blower trick)? Also what about an OAK? The house was built in '76 so it's not super tight. The dealer said it wasn't needed, but wanted to double check because I would probably get one of the ones that uses a double walled vent pipe when it all get's installed if it was needed.
 
I reused the 6" liner in my flue when I switched to a pellet stove and have had no problems. I took the 4" flex liner that comes out of the back of my stove and pushed it about 2' up into the 6" liner.
 
In my case I had a 6" liner put in originally in case I went to a wood stove later on. The chimney guy says the reason my T on the back of the stove soots up to 1/2 way each year is because of the draft. I don't believe it. I have a 2 story colonial with a 26-28' chimney. The draft is huge. Got to be alot more draft in a 6" tube than a 4? If I walk over to the stove right now and unplug it the flame burns almost as good as if the fan is running. It dies out and no smoke anywhere not even out the cleaner bar hole in the front.

My exhaust comes out of the t and goes to where the old damper was in the fireplace then transitions to 6"

The problem with the 6" liner is that it cannot be cleaned from the bottom. I have to pay the chimney guy to clean the chimney in the spring from the top down while the stove guy is here.
 
Why are you replacing your 2100?
 
My pellet stove is vented into a 7" metalbestos chimney and works like a charm.
 
Regency139 said:
Why are you replacing your 2100?
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with the I2100, we just weighed the pros and cons of pellet vs wood. Some of the main things are as follows:
A lot less labor: I don't have to cut down a tree, buck it, lift it in my truck, haul it home, unload it, split it, stack it, bring it in the house, etc.(my back will thank me for this)
Less mess in the house: No bugs, dirt, and bark in the house, and less dust from cleaning out the ashes twice a week.
Constant heat: No temp. swings - I don't have to get it up to 78 at night only to start over at 62 in the morning, just set it and forget it more or less
Less time and work loading stove: This will be most helpful for my wife when I am at work(I work 24's). All she/we will have to do is dump in a bag of pellets once a day, instead loading up the stove multiple times a day, and having to wait 1/2 hr for it to get up to temp. to close down the air control.
 
Makes sense. I would consider the same switch if I didn't have 5 or 6 cord in the yard seasoning. I work the same shift schedule as you and when i'm at work my wife uses the furnace because she isn't comfortable using the stove by herself. Therefore the pellet stove option is tempting. Good luck!
 
I think this is what I plan to do as well with my harman accentra. It will be cheaper and easier than running a pipe out the back of the chimney. So long as it works. Cleaning will be the issue thou as it will be done with a zero clearance cabinit.


Edit, I dont think inspector will let me do this actually as manual required 4" liner. So I either do a 4" liner or go out the back as planned.
 
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