I apologize up front for a long post- I'm installing my new Oslo into a 20 ft stone chimney with three tile lined races. Called my insurance company, they said I could either have it installed professionally or do it myself and have the local fire dept. look at it (no paperwork required). The local volunteer fire folks weren't willing because of liability etc. So I called the chimneysweep who cleans our fireplace and asked him to do it. He came out but was required by his rules to do a video scan of the liner. It has a number of vertical cracks. So he won't install without a liner. 2000.00 will get me a heavy duty insulated liner, and he has to break out the liner- part of which is exposed in the smoke shelf in the fireplace- so he's concerned about damaging other stuff and won't take responsibility. He talked around other solutions (which he might do for himself but not for his business). This included a flex liner.
I called a local stove dealer they will install a flex liner (which I don't believe is insulated?) for 1400.00 and finish the install of my stove- giving me a receipt that says the whole thing was professionally installed. I'm being told by others that liners almost always crack, and they certainly offer no insulation. There is roughly 6" (guess) of mortared stone around the flues where it passes through the roof (Much more elsewhere). The sweep said if it was 12" it wouldn't even need a liner. He didn't look at the fireplace liner might be similar and has been used 20+ years. So my choices are:
1. Hook up the stove and find a fireman, or not since they didn't want paperwork, and clean chimney often.
2. Have the flex installed. the price is not insulated.
3. Have the sweep do the rigid and take my chances on it blowing up into alot more money.
4. Install a flex liner myself.
I'm working 14 hrs 7days though mid November so want to get this done. The risk seems to be a chimney fire and heat radiating out to combustibles- I'm not sure how a tile cracked or perfect makes much difference wrapped in stone- I also know it doesn't take much to fracture red clay...
So thanks beforehand, I appreciate any input.
Oh, It's an interior chimney- the tile is 8x8 od.
I called a local stove dealer they will install a flex liner (which I don't believe is insulated?) for 1400.00 and finish the install of my stove- giving me a receipt that says the whole thing was professionally installed. I'm being told by others that liners almost always crack, and they certainly offer no insulation. There is roughly 6" (guess) of mortared stone around the flues where it passes through the roof (Much more elsewhere). The sweep said if it was 12" it wouldn't even need a liner. He didn't look at the fireplace liner might be similar and has been used 20+ years. So my choices are:
1. Hook up the stove and find a fireman, or not since they didn't want paperwork, and clean chimney often.
2. Have the flex installed. the price is not insulated.
3. Have the sweep do the rigid and take my chances on it blowing up into alot more money.
4. Install a flex liner myself.
I'm working 14 hrs 7days though mid November so want to get this done. The risk seems to be a chimney fire and heat radiating out to combustibles- I'm not sure how a tile cracked or perfect makes much difference wrapped in stone- I also know it doesn't take much to fracture red clay...
So thanks beforehand, I appreciate any input.
Oh, It's an interior chimney- the tile is 8x8 od.
