Breaking Out Flue

[lawn717]

I’d like to break out the flue liner going to my basement and install a 6” insulated liner for a wood stove.

Renting a tile breaker from Rockford seems expensive, are there other routes/suggestions?

Clay flue is 8x13 and a straight shot to my basement. The chimney is a little over 20 feet. Home built in late 1940s.

 

[bigealta]

Shouldn't a 6" liner fit down that without breaking it out?

 

[lawn717]

Shouldn't a 6" liner fit down that without breaking it out?

Good question. 8x13 is OD. The ID is just a hair over 7”. Once the 6” pipe is insulated, that’ll leave little if any wiggle room.

 

[bholler]

Shouldn't a 6" liner fit down that without breaking it out?

Nope not a chance with insulation

 

[bholler]

Good question. 8x13 is OD. The ID is just a hair over 7”. Once the 6” pipe is insulated, that’ll leave little if any wiggle room.

You can just use an oval liner

 

[lawn717]

You can just use an oval liner

Right, I did that for the other flue I have going to the Drolet insert in my living room. I ruled that out an oval liner, but don't see any reason not to if it saves me from breaking out the clay flue?

 

[bholler]

Right, I did that for the other flue I have going to the Drolet insert in my living room. I ruled that out an oval liner, but don't see any reason not to if it saves me from breaking out the clay flue?

The only reason would be if the existing flue is extremely dirty and it would be easier to just break out than to clean

 

[lawn717]

The only reason would be if the existing flue is extremely dirty and it would be easier to just break out than to clean

In that case I definitely don’t have a reason. It’s dirty but cleaning it IMO would be much easier than breaking it out.

 

[spudman99]

I did exactly this 6 years ago. Sketchy af but i succeeded. Here is my thread with photos on my liner break-out

Post in thread 'Starting my Liner Install'

Oct 28, 2019

Latest update. Broke out the complete liner on Saturday. Took about 5 hours as my homemade breaker tool broke 2 times. Once the welded cap came off, 2nd time the chain broke. Quick trip to HD to get a 1/2" chain (instead of 3/8 in) and a 1.25 plug and 1.25" cap. Screwed them together, my son welded the chains to the square tube and back in business.



Today went up to the 35' top of chimney and built a rough form. Mixed up 35 lbs of sand concrete and made a new crown. While not the best setup, its 35'+ from the ground and barely visible. I tried to make the top less...

• spudman99

I would highly recommend more safety equipment and protocols, but I survived.

 

[lawn717]

I did exactly this 6 years ago. Sketchy af but i succeeded. Here is my thread with photos on my liner break-out

Post in thread 'Starting my Liner Install'

Oct 28, 2019

Latest update. Broke out the complete liner on Saturday. Took about 5 hours as my homemade breaker tool broke 2 times. Once the welded cap came off, 2nd time the chain broke. Quick trip to HD to get a 1/2" chain (instead of 3/8 in) and a 1.25 plug and 1.25" cap. Screwed them together, my son welded the chains to the square tube and back in business.



Today went up to the 35' top of chimney and built a rough form. Mixed up 35 lbs of sand concrete and made a new crown. While not the best setup, its 35'+ from the ground and barely visible. I tried to make the top less...

• spudman99

I would highly recommend more safety equipment and protocols, but I survived.

Dang very nice job! I think bholler talked me into an oval liner at the present, but if I ever run a new flue to the insert in my living room I think I will knock that one out...

 

[lawn717]

Stopped by my local dealer to see if they would 1.) sell me an oval liner and 2.) give me a quote. They were quite helpful and came out to roughly $1600... my hope was to keep it under $2k.

@bholler they showed me this "Home Saver Pro" liner, seemed thick and rigid to me.

Guess my one worry is the oval liner still being a tight fit once it's wrapped in insulation with a 7" ID on my clay flue.

 

[bholler]

Homesaver pro is good lightweight liner