How to build an insert for a chimney liner

[Iowa Average Joe]

I have a 1927 bungalow with a fireplace. There is a very simple insert consisting of hollow tubes which serve as the wood rack. There is a blower which circulates the hot air into the room. We've used the fireplace every winter for over 30 years. The chimney is now in disrepair and I would like to install a chimney liner but keep my current insert. I also plan to replace the chimney crown and repair the brick above the exterior roofline. The problem is that the simple blower insert does not have a top to connect to the chimney liner. What I'm thinking of doing is building a sheet metal liner inside the firebox with a top to accomodate a liner. Does anyone have experience with that? I'd like to know if it's feasible, what type of sheet metal to use, and how far back in the top I should make the hole for the chimney liner.

I plan to install a top damper and would like recommendations on that as well as the best kind of liner, 4, 5, 6 inch? Smooth wall, insulated?

Thank you for any insight.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

I think some pictures here would help people visualize what you have there. I’m not a pro, but it sounds like you’re describing some pretty funky equipment you have there currently. Maybe some pictures will make things more clear.

 

[Iowa Average Joe]

I think some pictures here would help people visualize what you have there. I’m not a pro, but it sounds like you’re describing some pretty funky equipment you have there currently. Maybe some pictures will make things more clear.

I've attached a front view of the insert/blower, a side view, and a couple shots of the flue. I'm trying to figure out how I can bring a 5-6" chimney liner into the firebox and have all the smoke go through the liner given that my insert has no top. My thought was to build a 3 sided steel structure to cover the walls and finish with a top attached to the new liner.

I'm now thinking that perhaps I could remove the damper (I'll have to do that regardless) fashion just a top and seal it to the brick walls.

 

[begreen]

This is a frieplace heat exchanger and not an insert in the conventional sense. It does not get connected to a liner because it does not contain the fire in it's own firebox.

 

[bholler]

I've attached a front view of the insert/blower, a side view, and a couple shots of the flue. I'm trying to figure out how I can bring a 5-6" chimney liner into the firebox and have all the smoke go through the liner given that my insert has no top. My thought was to build a 3 sided steel structure to cover the walls and finish with a top attached to the new liner.

I'm now thinking that perhaps I could remove the damper (I'll have to do that regardless) fashion just a top and seal it to the brick walls.

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To install a liner you need it to me sized properly for the fireplace. There needs to be a ratio of 10 to1 between the firebox operating and the flue. It will need at minimum 10"

 

[webby3650]

You would be money ahead to buy an actual insert and a liner system. Re-lining an open fireplace is very expensive. May as well spend the money on something that is efficient.