8" vs 6" insulated liner

[Basketcase]

Hey all. I'm currently running a VC Vigilant stove in a house we bought last year. I has an 8" non-insulated, stainless liner run through an interior brick chimney (from1775 and about 25-30' tall) The liner should really be replaced, and I expect to replace the stove in another year or 2.

My question is whether I should replace the liner now, or wait until I get a new stove. I see most of the new stoves use a 6" pipe. The Vigilant wants an 8. You see my dilemma. Are there new stoves that use an 8? Will my Vigilant work with a 6"? I'd prefer to run a 6" insulated liner since I'm sure itll be easier to fit than the 8.

I appreciate any input you may have on this.

 

[begreen]

Did you use the Vigilant for 24/7 heating or just an occasional fire this last winter? How well is the Vigilant working?

I'd lean strongly towards installing a 6" insulated liner. Yes, there are some stoves that take an 8" flue, but the majority are 6". Of the 8" flue stoves, are any of them a realistic choice for this location if considering the stove size, looks, etc.? Use this time to research the replacement stove to narrow down the choices to just a few stoves. See what their requirements are. Regardless of choice be sure the chimney is completely clean before installing the new liner and that you have a good 2+ yr. supply of fully seasoned wood.

 

[Basketcase]

The vigilant is working great it seems. Sometimes a bit tough to regulate, but I hear that's the nature of this beast. I replaced all the gaskets and it heated quite well. I burned about 2 cord with it this winter.

I'll will certainly be spending some time researching stoves before I pull the trigger. Ideally, wood will be our main source of heat. We have 21 acres and a lot of free wood. I'll be needing a stove that will be easy to use and can heat this old colonial.

Will the vigilant run ok on a 6" liner? With having the masonry work done (needed some brick work) and having a custom stainless cap made, the budget will allow for a liner (that I would install) or a new stove, but not both.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Tech Guru]

The Vigilant will work fine on that 6" chimney. The only drawback is that it would not work as an open fireplace in that set up (draft is insufficient to confidently run it with the doors open), which if using it for heat, isn't really a drawback at all.

 

[begreen]

The Vigilant is designed to work on an 8" flue. Will it work on a 6" flue? Yes, if draft is sufficient. The newer Encore version allows 6" as long as the stove is not used as a fireplace, that is with a screen and the doors open.

How tall is the liner?

 

[Tech Guru]

The Vigilant is designed to work on an 8" flue. Will it work on a 6" flue? Yes, if draft is sufficient. The newer Encore version allows 6" as long as the stove is not used as a fireplace, that is with a screen and the doors open.

How tall is the liner?

Hey begreen;

He answered that in his post, Chimney is 25-30' tall, and interior. I answered based on that description. He should have plenty of draft in that scenario.

 

[begreen]

Agreed, I missed that. Thx.

 

[Basketcase]

Its an old colonial and the stove is on the ground level. Two 8' stories, plus about 10' or so of attic, and maybe 2 feet above that...ish. Subtract about 3' for the height off the floor where the liner starts. I think 25' is a good estimate. That's good to hear that I can run off a 6 until I upgrade. Don't know if it makes any difference but I have a fantastic draft right now. Even with a dead cold stove, if I mix up the ash, it runs right up. When its running, cracking a door creates a pretty good whistle. It moves some air. I have had a couple occasions where it was "back puffing" when I tried to slow it down too much (internal damper closed, primary air set low), but a few seconds of running in updraft mode with the griddle open reestablished the draft and it was fine. Don't know if a 6" insulated liner would improve or worsen that condition.

 

[begreen]

Backpuffing can occur when the air is turned down too soon or bypass closed too early, before the wood is fully aflame. Damp wood can exacerbate the condition. The liner change will not improve this.

The little side secondary air intake port should be left open.

 

[Basketcase]

I pretty much always leave the secondary open. I did have a bit of questionable fuel. Perhaps that was it, along with turning it down too soon. This is all great info. Thanks!

 

[begreen]

I pretty much always leave the secondary open. I did have a bit of questionable fuel. Perhaps that was it, along with turning it down too soon. This is all great info. Thanks!

If you don't have the manual, it's here in 3 parts: https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/vermont-castings-older-stove-models/

There is a sub-forum for old VC stoves in the Classics section here.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/forums/vermont-castings-cdw-dutchwest-older-models.36/