Re-visiting chimney liner insulation thoughts

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JA600L

JA600L

Minister of Fire
Nov 30, 2013
1,288
Lancaster Pennsylvania
Hi all,
I've previously checked all of my options to insulate my liner in my exterior flue. We have discussed this on here before. The tile can not be busted out.

The way I see it I have 2 options.

1. vermiculite pour in.
2. Ovalized liner with insulation. I am not willing to do this.

So that leaves me with the pour in option. How many people on here have done this? Is it worth it? What happens if the liner needs to be removed later? It seems like this is the least popular option. Can anybody share a positive experience with this product? With my hybrid stove I would like to get the most from my chimney. Thanks for any responses.
 
begreen said:
Previous thread:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/chimney-liner-upgrades.148159/
What killed the busting out option for $175?
Click to expand...

They said that busting out the tiles was not an option with my chimney. I wish I could.

My gut tells me to just shove a bunch of Roxul around the liner, but I know it is not an appoved chimney liner insulation.
The good news is I have a good air gap between the pipe and the terra cota on the house side. So I feel like I am fairly safe either way. Is the pour in stuff that bad that nobody wants to deal with it?
 
I have used the poured insulation a dozen or so times in the last 25 years. Certainly wrapping with foil faced ceramic wool is easier than hauling many buckets of mud up ladders. Performance wise, I'd be interested to see the specs, it's hard to imagine 1" of vermiclcrete is equal to 1/2" ceramic wool, but if the manufacturer and UL say it is, so be it. We've typically done poured when there is no other option. Pulling out a liner with poured insulation would be difficult indeed, thankfully never done that. One nice thing, the brush feels good going down a liner with poured insulation. Really solid.
 
willoweep said:
I have used the poured insulation a dozen or so times in the last 25 years. Certainly wrapping with foil faced ceramic wool is easier than hauling many buckets of mud up ladders. Performance wise, I'd be interested to see the specs, it's hard to imagine 1" of vermiclcrete is equal to 1/2" ceramic wool, but if the manufacturer and UL say it is, so be it. We've typically done poured when there is no other option. Pulling out a liner with poured insulation would be difficult indeed, thankfully never done that. One nice thing, the brush feels good going down a liner with poured insulation. Really solid.
Click to expand...

It sounds like a messy labor driven process. I can understand why professionals would use it as a worse case scenario. Also, it sounds like a nightmare if you would ever need to pull the liner out and replace it.

However, for me I don't see myself living at this house anymore than 10 years. I will pay it off and move on. If I can get 10 good years of burning with the liner and pour in then I'll be happy. To me spending thousands to bust up and redo 1of 3 flues would not pay me back well.

I've already determined that when I sell this house I will bust up the hearth and remove the Woodstove. It is just a layer of tile on a concrete floor and wall. I'd rather sell it without a Woodburning appliance to avoid nit picking (unless Amish buy it). The house has a strong running heat pump.
 
What about putting in a pre-insulated liner?
 
JA600L said:
Hi all,
I've previously checked all of my options to insulate my liner in my exterior flue. We have discussed this on here before. The tile can not be busted out.

The way I see it I have 2 options.

1. vermiculite pour in.
2. Ovalized liner with insulation. I am not willing to do this.

So that leaves me with the pour in option. How many people on here have done this? Is it worth it? What happens if the liner needs to be removed later? It seems like this is the least popular option. Can anybody share a positive experience with this product? With my hybrid stove I would like to get the most from my chimney. Thanks for any responses.
Click to expand...
Okay...I had my Hampton HI300 installed last year and the dealer was pushing for the pour in insulation around the liner. I had read many posts here basically advising against it. I then found this article on chimneys.com
www.chimneys.com/.../listed-chimney-liner-insulation-that-does-not-work
This article was the tipping point against the pour insulation. I ended up paying a little more for an 6" ovalized Olympia pre-insulated liner. I know this article is not the positive you wanted to hear...but you should all the information before you buy. When I sent this article to my dealer telling him we wanted to switch to the pre-insulated ovalized liner he basically scoffed stating his crews knew how to pour it in correctly and it would be fine...but I insisted on the pre-insulated liner because of the risks posed in the article. I you can't access via the link just google the title and you'll find the article. Let me know your thoughts?
 
JA600L said:
How does that help? Can you explain?
Click to expand...
I am trying to guess why you are not putting in a regular blanket insulated liner. Space constraints? A pre-insulated liner has a smaller OD and has the liner layer between and inner and outer jacket that protects the insulation a bit better. For example, DuraLiner is 6 5/8" OD.

Have you gotten a second and maybe third opinion from a CSIA sweep on all the options?
 
begreen said:
I am trying to guess why you are not putting in a regular blanket insulated liner. Space constraints? A pre-insulated liner has a smaller OD and has the liner layer between and inner and outer jacket that protects the insulation a bit better. For example, DuraLiner is 6 5/8" OD.

Have you gotten a second and maybe third opinion from a CSIA sweep on all the options?
Click to expand...


The liner barely fit as it is. Maybe a pre insulated liner would fit. I sort of doubt it.
I did speak with a certified sweep this morning and he wants to come take a look at it.
 
We do pour in pretty regularly but only when there is enough clearance to get that 1" of insulation or for furnaces where the 1" is not required. I would get other opinions about breakout or ovalizing
 
bholler said:
We do pour in pretty regularly but only when there is enough clearance to get that 1" of insulation or for furnaces where the 1" is not required. I would get other opinions about breakout or ovalizing
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, do you ever get into the Lancaster area? I'm sure it's a bit of a drive. Know anybody in my area that you know personally and recommend?
 
JA600L said:
Just out of curiosity, do you ever get into the Lancaster area? I'm sure it's a bit of a drive. Know anybody in my area that you know personally and recommend?
Click to expand...
No we dont go that far. Look at the pa guild of professional sweeps site. You can also pm me for more specifics.
 
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