New member, need some help please.

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Crowbar

New Member
Jun 16, 2008
15
Nova Scotia -- Canada
Hi Guys, new member. Going to install a wood burning fireplace insert, with the price of oil these days I'm looking for something to offset that cost, plus I love wood heat. :) I looked around and didn't find an answer.

Chimney is brand new as it was rebuilt a few years ago, it's a 6X10 clay liner measured inside. I have a 6 inch stainless liner to run through.

Is it going to possible to run it through? Based on the size it's going to very hard I would expect eh?

Could I ovalize it like in this youtube video to make it work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNOMHS3Ssc&feature=related

I got a good deal on the insert and liner, about 60% less than local dealers sell it for. I'm fairly handy and have relatives who work in the heating/air conditioning industry to help with the install. I would like to make the 6 inch work if possible.

Thanks for any advise. Great forum, looking forward to learning more about wood and getting my insert working how I want it.

C
 
Crowbar said:
Hi Guys, new member. Going to install a wood burning fireplace insert, with the price of oil these days I'm looking for something to offset that cost, plus I love wood heat. :) I looked around and didn't find an answer.

Chimney is brand new as it was rebuilt a few years ago, it's a 6X10 clay liner measured inside. I have a 6 inch stainless liner to run through.

Is it going to possible to run it through? Based on the size it's going to very hard I would expect eh?

Could I ovalize it like in this youtube video to make it work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNOMHS3Ssc&feature=related

I got a good deal on the insert and liner, about 60% less than local dealers sell it for. I'm fairly handy and have relatives who work in the heating/air conditioning industry to help with the install. I would like to make the 6 inch work if possible.

Thanks for any advise. Great forum, looking forward to learning more about wood and getting my insert working how I want it.

C
Click to expand...

If the clay liner is really 6" x 10", YOu are not going to get a 6" S.S. liner through it.
You prolly will have to consider a 5-1/2" or most likely a 5" liner. Keep in mind if the mortar at the clay joints is protruding, &/or the liner is not almost perfectly straight, then even a 5" is going to be a tough run.
You may have to opt for a direct connect, which is a small section of liner running just up into the 1st lower clay liner. Not the optimum set up, but doable, and might be your only route. Have the existing cleaned & inspected first before you do anything.

And, yes they make an ovalized liner, that may also be another option. From what you describe, prolly the best option, if you can get it down that clay liner.
 
Welcome crowbar. If the chimney was properly rebuilt and on the interior of the house, a direct connect may be worth considering. But you'll need to be sure that code and safety issues were honored in the rebuild.
 
Thanks for the replies.

It's on the outside of my house, a storey high plus the amount it goes above the roof.

I'm going up to take a peek at the size to make sure of the liner and to take a look down for anything to snag the liner on.

I really hope it can be "ovalized" so i can use it.
 
Shane said:
Copperfield sells some square liners. Out of curiosity are the tiles cracked or something?
Click to expand...

They look fine, I've been told a stainless liner is required in my area here so I don't think I can use just the clay liner.

I was up on the roof just now and as someone suggested above there is some mortar or something at some of the seams where the liners meet. Going to be hard I think to get a 6inch down. :(

Most install companies in this area use 5 inch, I guess I know why now.

It's for sure 6 X 10 squarish liner inside inside the chimney.

chim.jpg


Is it worth the effort ovalizing my current 6 inch, possibly struggling to get it down the chimney then to spread it back to 6 inch round to fit on the insert or should I take it back and try and pick up a 5 inch to make it easier.
 
Simpson makes DuraLiner in oval 6" pipe. Its OD is 7 3/4" x 4 3/4" and comes in 4 ft lengths. Do you have a straight shot down to the stove? They also make the transition to get you back to 6" round.

http://www.duravent.com/pdf/catalogs/duraliner.pdf
 
crowbar,
The mortar over-runs I see could probably be popped off with a tile shear or wedge (iron pipe sections witha steel wedge) Use a pilot section to prove the size. You are better off keeping a round liner if possible. Switching to oval is alittle more expensive and textbook requires up-sizing if you do that. I would not ever downsize a liner venting a solid fuel appliance to a crosssection smaller than the oulet of the appliance. Even when a manufacturer says you can. There are plenty of other considerations that can turn a marginal install into a smoker. downsizing is #1.

blackgooseJT
 
blackgooseJT said:
crowbar,
The mortar over-runs I see could probably be popped off with a tile shear or wedge (iron pipe sections witha steel wedge) Use a pilot section to prove the size. You are better off keeping a round liner if possible. Switching to oval is alittle more expensive and textbook requires up-sizing if you do that. I would not ever downsize a liner venting a solid fuel appliance to a crosssection smaller than the oulet of the appliance. Even when a manufacturer says you can. There are plenty of other considerations that can turn a marginal install into a smoker. downsizing is #1.

blackgooseJT
Click to expand...

What I was thinking would be to make an ovalizer as in the youtube video above, take one of those clay liners and set it so my 6 inch will fit through ok and attempt to run it through the chimney after cleaning up as many of those bumps as possible.

The outlet is 6 inch on the insert and the information on the stove doesn't recommend anything smaller.

Would ovalizing my current 6 inch be better to use than getting a 5 inch and a reducer off the insert? More air flow through the 6 inch oval or 5 inch round?

Thanks for all the help guys!

:)
 
What is the height of the chimney?
 
It's possible to ovalize as little as say 1/2 inch from round and have only a small negative effect on flow. In fact the relative roughness of a corrugated thin wall liner can have as much bad effect on vent flow as minor ovalizing. What you want to avoid is adding additional roughness and friction. Up-sizing to an oval liner will provide a larger cross section, from most manufacturers an 8" equivalent to compensate for the reduced flow in a pipe which is not round(more friction-less flow)Do watch for tight spots. It is relatively easy to seperate a thin-wall liner. A section used to prove the fit is always helpful.I've done a couple thousand of these and each one is different and a unique fit.Wish I could be of more help.

blackgooseJT
 
I just have one thing to say. DuraLiner oval rigid liner. Works like a dream.
 
If you elect to go oval, I concur with jtp10101 on Duraliners' quality. Their pre-insulated stuff is easy to work with and has a good service life. I just recently removed a "smoke dragon" where we had relined a flue using Duraliner. That install was about 15 or 16 years ago and the liner is still A-OK. We pulled the stove and left the liner in just in case the owner comes back to their senses and decides to install a VENTED product instead of "logs". A short proving section will resolve any doubts about clearing those mortar over-runs.Might save you some time and hassle.

blackgooseJT
 
Just to give everyone an update.

I had the fireplace installed by a pro. He said for the distance of the chimney a 5 inch liner would be too small and he wouldn't install it. He used my 6 inch and just smashed out the clay liner to make it fit. Liner came out easy, was surprised.

So it cost a bit more to have it installed but I didn't have to spend hours/days struggling with it, he did it in 4 hours. Just need to have some cold weather now to use it!

Thanks everyone for the advise.
 
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