I have an old Buck insert clone that came to me free, and has family history. This stove is to be installed in an existing open masonry fireplace. Now here is where it gets interesting. Prior to purchasing home, chimney was inspected and found to be unsafe. Had to be lined with a brand-new SS liner. This was done 1.5 years ago. Later, we asked the same sweep who installed the liner to quote us on installing our Buck clone, and he told us the liner was too large and would need to be replaced for use with a stove. Said it was a big shame because the liner was so new, and quoted $2400 for a new liner and installation.
Fast forward through the summer, and I have come to doing my own measurements. From the top of the 26' chimney, I measure a 10 1/2 by 7 1/2 oval stainless steel liner. Let's call it 8 x 11. The stove flue is 4 x 18. This seems to be almost perfect-- 88 sq. in. of chimney flue and 72 sq. in. of stove flue. This would be well within the tolerances, would it not? I am confused about why the sweep would recommend replacing the almost-new, perfectly good liner. Now, I do understand that a circle is more ideal than an oval; however, this would seem to me well within safe tolerances.
The next wrinkle is my desire to do a direct connect. I have looked around and can't find anyone who has asked this question before. How about doing a direct connect (I can do the whole installation from inside my house) to an existing liner? I won't be "connecting" the liners, but seeing as they will be of similar cross-section, and the chimney is professionally lined to the top, I expect to have good draft and not much trouble with glazing. Why a direct connect, you ask? Because I've waited long enough to have wood heat back in my life, after heating with wood exclusively for five years prior to moving last year, and I'm ready to make this happen. With having a nice liner in there now, and also the possibility of upgrading to a nice refurbished Treemont unit in a few years, I want a safe install that won't break the bank. Thanks for comments, can't wait to join you all by the fire this winter.
Fast forward through the summer, and I have come to doing my own measurements. From the top of the 26' chimney, I measure a 10 1/2 by 7 1/2 oval stainless steel liner. Let's call it 8 x 11. The stove flue is 4 x 18. This seems to be almost perfect-- 88 sq. in. of chimney flue and 72 sq. in. of stove flue. This would be well within the tolerances, would it not? I am confused about why the sweep would recommend replacing the almost-new, perfectly good liner. Now, I do understand that a circle is more ideal than an oval; however, this would seem to me well within safe tolerances.
The next wrinkle is my desire to do a direct connect. I have looked around and can't find anyone who has asked this question before. How about doing a direct connect (I can do the whole installation from inside my house) to an existing liner? I won't be "connecting" the liners, but seeing as they will be of similar cross-section, and the chimney is professionally lined to the top, I expect to have good draft and not much trouble with glazing. Why a direct connect, you ask? Because I've waited long enough to have wood heat back in my life, after heating with wood exclusively for five years prior to moving last year, and I'm ready to make this happen. With having a nice liner in there now, and also the possibility of upgrading to a nice refurbished Treemont unit in a few years, I want a safe install that won't break the bank. Thanks for comments, can't wait to join you all by the fire this winter.
