help chimney liner

[gregbesia]

Hi. I need help with ss liner size. I have a small 1200 sq ft ranch with fireplace in center of the house . Just bought a new englander 13nci insert from Lowes. To my horror I discovered that my chimney is only 6 by 10.5 inches ID . Englander recommends a 6 inch liner, but because old tiles are not evenly lined in the chimney, I think 5 inches dia. would be more realistic size for ss liner. Chimney is approx 16 ft tall . Has anyone seen the same problem ? What should I do at this point ? Is ovalizing the liner an option, but then how about the draft , connection to stove , cleaning ??? Please , can someone help before my wife kills me for spending all that money for an insert that sits in the garage. Thanks

 

[BrotherBart]

It is possible that you could get by with a 5.5" inch liner but check with England Stove Works customer support. I use a 5.5" with success with their 30-NC but I have a 21 foot liner. Measure the hole in the top of the stove body at the base of the flue collar. On the 30-NC that hole is exactly 5.5" diameter even though the collar welded over it is six inch.

Footnote: In the worst case Lowe's takes returns no questions asked in my experience.

 

[gregbesia]

thanks BrotherBart. Yes , that hole is 5.5 inches diameter but how do You connect the liner to the stove. Do I need some kind of adapter ?

 

[BrotherBart]

You tell the folks when you order the liner kit that you need a appliance adapter to fit it to a 6" flue collar. But be sure and talk to ESW first. I don't know how well a 5.5" flex liner is going to draft with a 16" flue.

 

[gregbesia]

Already called ESW this morning. After puting me on hold for 2 minutes, a really nice tech told me that after speaking to their engeneer , in his opinion I should be fine. I would be willing to try 5.5 inch liner , but Im really worried that it will not fit in my chimney.What is the OD on 5.5 liner? About 5.75 inches? When I look down my chimney I can see when the tiles end , right before smoke shelf , there is another obstuction? , almost like a small ledge, further making the opening smaller , maybe by another .5 inch . I took a long pipe and tried to break that of , but so far , no luck. Any ideas? Thank You

 

[bluefrier]

Take a look at my signature. I think your 13 will draft fine with a 5.5" liner, getting it to fit down your chimney is
another story.

 

[Bone1099]

Im still a newbie but wouldnt an oval liner be a possibility.

 

[esh21167]

If the 5.5 is a tight fit, first ask ESW about ovalizing a 5.5, then ask the liner manufacturer about the price for ovalizing. It might not be that bad. I though about having my 6" ovalized the last 6' and the manufacturer said it would cost $20, so if your whole liner is only 20'...

 

[oconnor]

Would it not be simpler to break out the clay tile liner and place a 6" stainless in it's place? That is what the stainless liner is intended to do - replace the clay units. You don't have to put it in clay tiles, and if the tiles are going to cause a problem, then have them broken out. If an acceptable liner will fit down them, then save the work, but if the stainless liner won't fit, the clay doesn't need to stay.

 

[gregbesia]

Thanks oconnor for Your idea. Now a silly question , how do I break the clay liner ?

 

[oconnor]

I've never done it, but I envision a weighted wedge shaped mass on a rope. Someone out there has done it I'm sure - I'm sure they will fill us in.

 

[BrotherBart]

The guys that break out flue tiles use a device that spins and breaks them up. A job strictly for pros. And that liner will have to be insulated for sure after you do that. Get something like a can around 5.25" round and see if it will go through there.