Getting Ready for Hampton HI300 Insert...Have a liner Question

[jscs.moore]

Hey guys...I've been webbing inserts & wood burning info for months now. Recently moved into a 2 story Center Hall Colonial. I had the local Regency dealer out yesterday to check everything for a Hampton HI 300 installation. When we were discussing the liner I asked him if the liner needed to be insulated...as everything I had read on-line basically seems to say they should be. He said that due to the configuaration of my chimney it wasn't necessary. The only thing I know about my Chimney is that it is masonary and has a teracatta lining upt to the chimney cap? (I'm a newbie to all of this). Anyway, he said that they could blow the insulation down the chimney to insulate the liner, but the problem with that is if it gets "wet" somehow, the liner will cool down, and the insert won't perform properly??? Then he went into a lot of technical stull that was lost on me. So I'm just looking for feedback on this as the technician does seem very knowledgable and says he's been doing this work for 20yrs. But again...from what I read on-line, I thought it was critical for peak heating performance with a wood burning insert...to have an insulated liner?? Help!

 

[cableman]

Is the chimney on exterior wall? I have a thread going right now on my hi300 install. I just removed all my clay liners cause i couldnt fit an insulated liner. Insulating it is the only way I'd go!

 

[Wisneaky]

Is the terracotta lining staying in place or being removed?

 

[jscs.moore]

The chimney is on an exterior wall. I assume the terracotta lining would stay in place because the technician didn't say anything about removing them?

 

[Wisneaky]

The chimney is on an exterior wall. I assume the terracotta lining would stay in place because the technician didn't say anything about removing them?

If they are staying that is probably why he isn't using insulation.

 

[begreen]

Give the dealer a call and ask what size the tile liner is. Most fireplaces have a throat that is large enough to accommodate an insulated liner.
If it is large enough then I would go ahead and have the blanket wrapped liner put in and I would insist on an insulated block-off plate at the damper level. This will cost more so let the dealer know that you want this called out as an add-on. Many dealers will tell you that this is unnecessary but we here have seen dramatic heating improvement from exterior chimney insert installations when this simple plate is put in. The dealer will not see the benefit but you will. There is no point in using part of your precious wood supply to heat outdoors.

 

[bholler]

He said that due to the configuaration of my chimney it wasn't necessary.

Did he even check to see if you had the required clearances to combustibles? I would bet you don't and if not it absolutely needs insulated to meet code and manufacturers requirements. It will also perform much better insulated. His idea about the insulation getting wet is a load of crap if he does his job right it wont get wet.

 

[jscs.moore]

Thanks for the feedback...I guess I'm on a steep learing curve here. So one of the above posts says if the terracatta is staying "that is probably why he isn't using insulation."? Is there some configuartion with terracatta that makes insulating difficult? Also, is it a problem to keep the terracatta?? Sorry, but I know nothing about this stuff Regarding the question from Minister of Fire...he did check the required clearance for combustibles around the fireplace opening (i.e. facing & mantel, etc.)...but in terms of looking at the chimney he only looked up the flu from the fireplace opening and took some pictures with his I-phone. To be fair...he was only there to let me know if the Hampton HI300 would fit my fireplace and I haven't pulled the trigger with any formal payment to start the process. The technician did say it looked dirty and is recommending a level 2 chimney cert because he did notice something that looked wrong the chimney flu. This is all a bit confusing and I appreciate the feedback...if I move forward I definitely want to get this installed correctly the first time. By the way, what is an insulated "block off plate"??

 

[Wisneaky]

Thanks for the feedback...I guess I'm on a steep learing curve here. So one of the above posts says if the terracatta is staying "that is probably why he isn't using insulation."? Is there some configuartion with terracatta that makes insulating difficult? Also, is it a problem to keep the terracatta?? Sorry, but I know nothing about this stuff Regarding the question from Minister of Fire...he did check the required clearance for combustibles around the fireplace opening (i.e. facing & mantel, etc.)...but in terms of looking at the chimney he only looked up the flu from the fireplace opening and took some pictures with his I-phone. To be fair...he was only there to let me know if the Hampton HI300 would fit my fireplace and I haven't pulled the trigger with any formal payment to start the process. The technician did say it looked dirty and is recommending a level 2 chimney cert because he did notice something that looked wrong the chimney flu. This is all a bit confusing and I appreciate the feedback...if I move forward I definitely want to get this installed correctly the first time. By the way, what is an insulated "block off plate"??

I wasn't implying that it was the right way to do it. But I'm sure easier for the installer so that probably why.

 

[bholler]

Is there some configuartion with terracatta that makes insulating difficult?

If the existing liner is to small there is not enough room for the pipe with proper insulation.

Regarding the question from Minister of Fire...he did check the required clearance for combustibles around the fireplace opening (i.e. facing & mantel, etc.)...but in terms of looking at the chimney he only looked up the flu from the fireplace opening and took some pictures with his I-phone. To be fair...he was only there to let me know if the Hampton HI300 would fit my fireplace and I haven't pulled the trigger with any formal payment to start the process. The technician did say it looked dirty and is recommending a level 2 chimney cert because he did notice something that looked wrong the chimney flu. This is all a bit confusing and I appreciate the feedback...if I move forward I definitely want to get this installed correctly the first time.

el if he is giving you a quote he needs to know if the liner needs insulated or not. And for your chimney unless there is 1" of clearance from the outside of the masonry to any combustible materials the liner needs insulated in order to meet code for a wood burning appliance. So if he didn't check that there is no way whatsoever that he could know if it needs insulated or not. All that being said even with proper clearances we still insulate every liner we install for performance reasons.