Do I need a liner for my wood stove?

[mpmcswain]

I have a house built in the late 80's in western NC. The chimney is constructed of wood on the outside with a straight pipe liner. I'm not sure if it's aluminium or steel. The pipe is 8" diameter so there is room for a 6" liner, but is it necessary? How would I tell? There is an old heatilator insert in there right now with some type of stone liner about 3/4 inches thick in a sheet metal box. I'm trying to figure out if I will be able to put a small wood stove insert into this heatilator and if I will need a liner or not. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[bholler]

I have a house built in the late 80's in western NC. The chimney is constructed of wood on the outside with a straight pipe liner. I'm not sure if it's aluminium or steel. The pipe is 8" diameter so there is room for a 6" liner, but is it necessary? How would I tell? There is an old heatilator insert in there right now with some type of stone liner about 3/4 inches thick in a sheet metal box. I'm trying to figure out if I will be able to put a small wood stove insert into this heatilator and if I will need a liner or not. Any help would be much appreciated.

To know if the fireplace will accept an insert you need to figure out the make and model of your fireplace. Most do not allow for the installation of an insert

 

[mpmcswain]

To know if the fireplace will accept an insert you need to figure out the make and model of your fireplace. Most do not allow for the installation of an insert

So if that were the case I guess then I'd be looking at ripping the current insert out and building some kind of a liner for a new wood stove insert? Which would be way above my skill level and probably my budget as well

 

[bholler]

So if that were the case I guess then I'd be looking at ripping the current insert out and building some kind of a liner for a new wood stove insert? Which would be way above my skill level and probably my budget as well

No an insert needs to be put inside a fireplace. If you tear it out you would be looking at prefab fireplaces as a replacement. With a new chimney as well.

 

[Flame Monger]

So you want to remove the old insert and put a new one in? I have a buck model 74 and it's got about a 4-in chimney stack. I don't see the problem with running something smaller in that 8-in stack. Tlhere are businesses you can go to that will do the work professionally. I think I paid a total of $3,700 give or take for the complete install. That's new stove with blower and all the stainless steel insert pipe to go with it. I did have to pay extra but I know the job is done right and I didn't have to lift a finger.

 

[mpmcswain]

So you want to remove the old insert and put a new one in? I have a buck model 74 and it's got about a 4-in chimney stack. I don't see the problem with running something smaller in that 8-in stack. Tlhere are businesses you can go to that will do the work professionally. I think I paid a total of $3,700 give or take for the complete install. That's new stove with blower and all the stainless steel insert pipe to go with it. I did have to pay extra but I know the job is done right and I didn't have to lift a finger.

Yea, I think paying someone is the best rout. I have been using a small Jotul rip off piped into the existing chimney for a while and the whole reason I'm debating a change is that I'm feeling less confident in the safety of my diy setup. DIY 2.0 is probably not the best solution!

 

[bholler]

So you want to remove the old insert and put a new one in? I have a buck model 74 and it's got about a 4-in chimney stack. I don't see the problem with running something smaller in that 8-in stack. Tlhere are businesses you can go to that will do the work professionally. I think I paid a total of $3,700 give or take for the complete install. That's new stove with blower and all the stainless steel insert pipe to go with it. I did have to pay extra but I know the job is done right and I didn't have to lift a finger.

The buck 74 has a 6" vent and can only go into prefab fireplaces which allow inserts to be installed in them. And it absolutely cannot just be placed in the opening left after removing the old fireplace. Unless it is the model 74zc which is a standalone prefab fireplace which would require a new chimney.

 

[bholler]

Yea, I think paying someone is the best rout. I have been using a small Jotul rip off piped into the existing chimney for a while and the whole reason I'm debating a change is that I'm feeling less confident in the safety of my diy setup. DIY 2.0 is probably not the best solution!

Your existing chimney is not designed and tested for the temperatures required for a wood stove.