DIY Wood Insert installation

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crawfish

Member
Mar 16, 2009
43
central pa
Ok. So I was all set to have a Napoleon 1402 Wood Insert installed by a local chimney sweep and then this. A friend of mine is a mason and I talked to him about my decision and he said he knew the chimney sweep from having to go and fix many a crown issues they created from shotty installs. So now I'm leary of having them do the install. Right now I have an unlined 9 x 16 brick chimney, just brick shell, that had an older wood insert in it I had been burning for several years. I had been getting chimney cleaned by a sweep who said it wasn't a problem that I had no liner whatsoever. But he wasn't a certified sweep, so that's why I got a second opinion from this certified sweep and he said that while there wasn't much creosote build up I should get a reline. Said he would reline with ss homesaver ultral pro and help me put stove in for $1995. But my local hardware store has a Copperfield catalog (has stove and liner supplies) and says I could order a homesaver liner and the Napoleon 1402 through him at his cost. Money is tight for me right now and I could save about $1000 by going this route and having my friend help me install the liner since he has the scafolding to get at my 30 ft. chimney. My question is how hard is it really to put a ss liner in? We are both pretty skilled DIY'ers but have never put a liner in. I feel more confident having him do my crown work, being a mason and all, and I have done my homework about liners and would wrap 1/2" insulation around it as the chimney is on the exterior of my house. I broke off part of my damper frame and have about 7" through it and he has the tools to help me open it a little more if need be. Is it neccesary to run the insulation the whole way through the damper frame to the insert or could I stop it just above the frame if need be? One last question, since neither of us have any experience with liners would it be wise to consider a homesaver pro liner instead of ultra pro since it sounds like they are a little more heavy duty and could withstand any possible snags we might encounter better? I hope some of you can help me with my dilema.
Thanks, Tim
 
Installing a chimney liner is a pretty straight forward DIY task Tim. I have installed three in this house by myself. Having another person to help would have been a Godsend. Look at this video for what you will be doing. Only difference will be that you will be installing an appliance adapter for the insert instead of a tee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRauuzjI-H4

And lots of us here that have done it will be here to answer questions. And yes, I would use the Homesaver Pro. Not out of fear of hurting the liner during the install, just because it is a better liner.
 
BrotherBart,

I've actually seen the clip on you tube you mention as well as one from Rockford also on you tube. Installing the liner looks like a fairly straight forward process, but I just want reassurance that this is so. And like you you say, I won't be alone with all of the knowledge everyone has on here. Just thought of another question, is that wire mesh they sell necessary in most cases? I can look up my chimney and see the whole way to the top and it looks very clean, probably because I burnt my old beast very hot, might be why the chimney sweep said I had a chimney fire that I was unaware of. But at least he didn't seem to think it hurt anything. A little more reassurance and I think I just might do this and save some $. Oh yea, if any Napoleon 1402 owners are reading this are there any special adapters or anything needed to hook the liner to the stove. Chimney sweep said something about an adapter boot or something that would be needed?
 
Use the mesh. You don't want that insulation moving around on you either during or after the installation. This is a job you want to do one time and have it last for years and not be wondering about it after you are done. Also, before somebody else chimes in, install a damper block-off plate to keep the heat from migrating up the chimney instead of staying in your house. Use an eight buck piece of galvanized from the duct work department at Lowe's. Instructions on how to make it and install it are available here on hearth.com.

When you order the liner kit tell them to get the one with an appliance adapter, not a tee. The appliance adapter connects the liner to your insert.
 
Thanks BrotherBart! I have found a couple of things interesting since talking to you and my chimney sweep. He said that he doesn't usually use the wire mesh but I thought that sounded kind of odd seeing as it would hold everything together especially since my chimney is only 9 in. wide on two sides. And he didn't seem like a block-off plate was needed, but everyone here seems to recommend it. He said something about condensation possibly forming and causing problems if one were used? I'm now wondering if it's not condensation but lack of proper sealing at top allowing water in after talking to my mason friend who said he's fixed tops of chimneys they've done. Just a thought.
 
Crawfish,

I installed my SS liner with help. You can do it! One guy at the bottom pulling the rope and me at the top feeding it down. It wouldnt go down all the way so I pulled it out and oblonged it a little with a 2 x 4 so that it would fit thru the tight spot.

Wear leather gloves do it before summer when it get to hot.

Jim
 
I installed a SS liner by myself. I didn't use any insulation because I already had a clay liner, it is an interior chimney, and also because insulation would never have fit because the clay liner was a hair under 7" x 7". I was very worried about installing the liner by myself, but it was very easy. In your case, with plenty of room in the chimney and a helper, it should be no problem.
 
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