Question about a Direct Connect

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Shortstack28

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Nov 4, 2015
3
PA
Need advice:
- Background: Two story house - 17' to the insert
- Last year I bought a Boston 1700, had it installed. Installer claimed "6 inch liner won't fit down the chimney and recommended a Direct Connect... that it would do the job and I'd get the same result." My chimney is 8"x13" - 34yrs old (misaligned).

Problems so far:
1. Boston came with great reviews and everything on this site says it's awesome... should create a lot more heat than a Regency 12400 - which my parents have. It doesn't.
2. Have been told creosote buildup is 3x what it would be with a full liner. Hot gets super cold at the middle of the chimney.
3. Cost to clean is almost 3x the normal cost due to un-installation/re-installation of insert. $350 / year

I've been told by my parent's installer that the direct connect is the problem and that they can install a 5.5" liner with insulation wrap to fix all ills.

I sorely welcome your advice and comments.

Thanks!
 
Ask the stove manufacturer if you can use a 5.5". But even at that if the tiles are misaligned you may not get and insulated 5.5 in i would break out those old liners and put in an insulated 6"
 
Excuse my ignorance, but what does the term "direct connect" mean? Thx
 
Chuck the Canuck said:
Excuse my ignorance, but what does the term "direct connect" mean? Thx
Click to expand...
A direct connect is when you hook up a stove or insert by taking a short peice of pipe and shoving it up through the damper and into the clay liners of a fireplace. To do it correctly one would need to seal that pipe to the clay liners. Doing that is next to impossible to do so there are virtually no dirct connected stoves that are installed right. It still does meet code if done correctly and it is better than a slammer but still not very good.
 
bholler said:
A direct connect is when you hook up a stove or insert by taking a short peice of pipe and shoving it up through the damper and into the clay liners of a fireplace. To do it correctly one would need to seal that pipe to the clay liners. Doing that is next to impossible to do so there are virtually no dirct connected stoves that are installed right. It still does meet code if done correctly and it is better than a slammer but still not very good.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
bholler said:
Ask the stove manufacturer if you can use a 5.5". But even at that if the tiles are misaligned you may not get and insulated 5.5 in i would break out those old liners and put in an insulated 6"
Click to expand...

Already done. Can't get in touch with Enviro directly. Dealers have mixed reviews. Most recommend a 6" as it's the instruction for the unit, but will say that if it's only running ~15' there likely won't be an issue. A few made the claim that it would burn hotter with the 5.5" insulated (does that make any sense)?

Already had 3 chimney guys evaluate chipping the liner tiles down. All said that they'd rebuild my chimney - $6-8000. I could buy a pellet insert, sell my wood insert, and install for half that. Didn't make any sense to me.
 
Shortstack you've listed all the reasons why not to direct connect. Plus the 28 sq in flue connection is dumping into 104 sq in of cold chimney throat. That isn't going to work. This is not the stove, it's the flue. If a 5.5" will get down there, do it so that you can enjoy your nice stove.
 
You can also stick an oval in there as well
 
Shortstack28 said:
Need advice:
- Background: Two story house - 17' to the insert
- Last year I bought a Boston 1700, had it installed. Installer claimed "6 inch liner won't fit down the chimney and recommended a Direct Connect... that it would do the job and I'd get the same result." My chimney is 8"x13" - 34yrs old (misaligned).

Problems so far:
1. Boston came with great reviews and everything on this site says it's awesome... should create a lot more heat than a Regency 12400 - which my parents have. It doesn't.
2. Have been told creosote buildup is 3x what it would be with a full liner. Hot gets super cold at the middle of the chimney.
3. Cost to clean is almost 3x the normal cost due to un-installation/re-installation of insert. $350 / year

I've been told by my parent's installer that the direct connect is the problem and that they can install a 5.5" liner with insulation wrap to fix all ills.

I sorely welcome your advice and comments.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This is an exterior chimney, not central to the structure?
 
branchburner said:
A 5.5 with wrap will fit, but a 6" w/o wrap won't? Aren't they roughly the same?
Click to expand...
A wrapped 5.5 will be bigger than a bare 6. I dont think a wrapped 5.5 will go in either if the tiles are misaligned. I am also curious why they would need to tear the chimney down to get the tiles out. That may be true but it is pretty uncommon
 
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