II have a 1982 insert and I'd like the possible option of going back to an open fireplace. So I don't want to rip out my damper frame, which is only 5 inches deep, and I need an 8" liner. I can drop an 8" round liner from the top, and feed 8" oval up from the bottom, but I have not yet figured out a way to connect the two. Oval won't fit down from above, and round won't fit up from below. I couldn't figure out how we'd get the oval-to-round adapter in there. The cold weather came before I figured it out, and I started burning anyway. Two sweeps and an HVAC guy said to not worry about the liner... So I felt comfortable burning... for a little while anyway.
I have been burning for almost two weeks this year, and even see my 1982 stove manual recommends an 8" liner and checking for creosote twice a month. That's just a few days from now. I have learned the issues of having a 13"x13" clay liner... slow start to a hot fast burn. I'm guessing that my terracotta has gunk all over it already, and have reasonable fear of a chimney fire with my setup. (Add to that, friends of my wife just had a chimney fire.)
My question is...
If I get 8" round down to the top of the damper (or just a little above it for smoother air flow), would it be smart/feasible/safe to just to make a block-off plate that would terminate the bottom end of the 8"round in a ~16" x ~16" flue just above the old damper? That would leave me with the option of feeding 8" oval up into the same section of the 16x16 flue (or just doing a slammer install letting the insert exhaust in the firebox). Is this a bad idea to not have a constant connection to the stove? More brick to heat before getting to the stainless? Difficult cleaning?
I've done my fair share of sheet metal work. So assume I could create a tight fit for the block-off plate (although it might be an awkward place to work). I'm just curious about the expansion / contraction of the smoke. All the corners could be difficult to clean.
But are there any better ideas?
I have been burning for almost two weeks this year, and even see my 1982 stove manual recommends an 8" liner and checking for creosote twice a month. That's just a few days from now. I have learned the issues of having a 13"x13" clay liner... slow start to a hot fast burn. I'm guessing that my terracotta has gunk all over it already, and have reasonable fear of a chimney fire with my setup. (Add to that, friends of my wife just had a chimney fire.)
My question is...
If I get 8" round down to the top of the damper (or just a little above it for smoother air flow), would it be smart/feasible/safe to just to make a block-off plate that would terminate the bottom end of the 8"round in a ~16" x ~16" flue just above the old damper? That would leave me with the option of feeding 8" oval up into the same section of the 16x16 flue (or just doing a slammer install letting the insert exhaust in the firebox). Is this a bad idea to not have a constant connection to the stove? More brick to heat before getting to the stainless? Difficult cleaning?
I've done my fair share of sheet metal work. So assume I could create a tight fit for the block-off plate (although it might be an awkward place to work). I'm just curious about the expansion / contraction of the smoke. All the corners could be difficult to clean.
But are there any better ideas?
