Bad install?

[NewGuy132]

Had a VC Intrepid Flexburn installed yesterday. Today I was taking a closer look at it and how everything works before we use it and it gets dirty. I opened the bypass and saw light around the stove pipe. Should I assume that this is not normal? I would imagine that this will leak a lot of smoke.

 

[bholler]

Had a VC Intrepid Flexburn installed yesterday. Today I was taking a closer look at it and how everything works before we use it and it gets dirty. I opened the bypass and saw light around the stove pipe. Should I assume that this is not normal? I would imagine that this will leak a lot of smoke.

View attachment 283037

Smoke won't leak out but air will leak in. Lots of it, that is pretty bad

 

[MongoMongoson]

So many people would not have even looked.... Good on you for checking before you fired it up.

 

[begreen]

That gap is large enough to need some gasket material filler. Don't let them sell you on a bit of furnace cement. That will crack and flake off pretty quickly.

 

[NewGuy132]

Smoke won't leak out but air will leak in. Lots of it, that is pretty bad

Thanks! Now I don’t feel bad about bugging the stove store about it.

 

[NewGuy132]

So many people would not have even looked.... Good on you for checking before you fired it up.

I like to know how stuff works so I look at everything so I understand it before I fire anything up. This is the cleanest it will ever be so I wanted to get a good look.

 

[NewGuy132]

That gap is large enough to need some gasket material filler. Don't let them sell you on a bit of furnace cement. That will crack and flake off pretty quickly.

Got it. I think that I have bigger problems. Someone else installed the liner (same company)and when the guys came yesterday they were complaining about how they liner was short. The t in the back of the stove is cocked to the side and leaning forward. I think the leaning forward part is causing the gap. Bad picture but it isn’t even close to level.

 

[clancey]

Good for you to check on that situation and yes I believe it was a bad install just by seeing that picture and the crooked job of installing it--looks terrible...I am not a expert here just an observer and never used my new wood stove yet (new burner) but I say good for you and so glad you checked and some of these experts here will help you to set things straight and feel safe with your stove..old mrs clancey...

 

[begreen]

Got it. I think that I have bigger problems. Someone else installed the liner (same company)and when the guys came yesterday they were complaining about how they liner was short. The t in the back of the stove is cocked to the side and leaning forward. I think the leaning forward part is causing the gap. Bad picture but it isn’t even close to level.

View attachment 283038

Yes, that looks like someone cut the liner a bit short. Was a block-off plate installed?

 

[NewGuy132]

Yes, that looks like someone cut the liner a bit short. Was a block-off plate installed?

Negative. Found this gem when I went to look to see if one was installed.

 

[begreen]

Ah, looks like they cut it a lot short or tried to use a precut length.

 

[NewGuy132]

Ah, looks like they cut it a lot short or tried to use a precut length.

Yep. Also that picture shows a dime size hole in by the clamp.

 

[begreen]

Sorry to see this, but it's good that you are checking this out now. The dealer needs to come out. Hope the shortcuts didn't continue up top.

 

[NewGuy132]

Sorry to see this, but it's good that you are checking this out now. The dealer needs to come out. Hope the shortcuts didn't continue up top.

Really glad that I looked at it. The stove store subs out the work so I sent them emails with the pictures. I should probably cancel that inspection by the building inspector until it is fixed.

 

[Diabel]

Good on you to look! There is a good spot for a probe thermometer i see……

 

[Solarguy3500]

Negative. Found this gem when I went to look to see if one was installed.

View attachment 283040

It also appears they stuffed pink fiberglass insulation right up against the liner. That needs to be rock wool not fiberglass, and as mentioned, there should be a block off plate.

 

[bholler]

Really glad that I looked at it. The stove store subs out the work so I sent them emails with the pictures. I should probably cancel that inspection by the building inspector until it is fixed.

Yes cancel the inspection. Sadly it would probably pass inspection but you don't want it to have passed while you are trying to get them to fix it.

 

[bholler]

Is the liner insulated?

 

[NewGuy132]

Is the liner insulated?

Probably not. I wasn’t here when they ran the liner down.

 

[NewGuy132]

The funny thing is I picked this store because the other store had a bunch of bad reviews for doing installs.

 

[Corey]

Whew! That is really something!

My main thought is - given how crappy everything you 'can' see is, I sure as heck wouldn't trust what you can't see. To me, I'd want the whole thing opened up and visually inspected. Did they punch a similar hole(s) in the liner half way up inside the chimney? Does the top cap, or any other joints have similar gaps as what was in the stove? Did they stuff even more pink insulation around the top? Heck, maybe the liner is a few feet short on the top, too and just 'sorta' points in the general direction of the top cap. I believe we might have seen that one once or twice on here before!

Good luck!

 

[begreen]

It's an amateur install at best. If it is safe to check up top, you might want to do that too.

 

[NewGuy132]

It's an amateur install at best. If it is safe to check up top, you might want to do that too.

Unfortunately I have a pretty steep roof and I don’t do heights and it is a 2 story house. I’m far too fat and old. The ladder would be shaking worse than Michael J Fox if I were up there that high.

 

[begreen]

Wise decision. Got a friend with a drone?

 

[NewGuy132]

I just might actually. Well actually a friends father that has a drone. He does pictures for real estate so he uses it for that. Luckily he lives just down the road. If I can convince him what should I have him do video/pictures of?

My lats(3rd) email to the guy at the stove store I almost said that I would have done a better job but I left that out and just told him that it was unacceptable. I do get a good feeling about the store and I’d be shocked if they don’t make it right. It isn’t like I just ordered this last minute. I ordered this back in March.