- Nov 27, 2012
- 0
Question:
We have an existing fireplace on the first floor of our ranch style home, that is not in use. The ash clean out is in the floor of the fireplace, and continues to the basement where a clean out door is located. During my remodel of the house, we no longer wanted the fireplace (masonry), so I closed over the opening with a false wall. I would like to open the wall now, and install a stainless steel 6" diameter pipe from the top of the chimney to the basement and install a wood burner in our basement. I was planning on bricking the opening closed on the main floor, and someone told be to insulate between the chimney and stainless pipe with a "insulation" to prevent condensation of the smoke?!? Can you help me with this end of the installation? What material are they talking about? Does it get poured in from the roof at the chimney opening? (By the way, the chimney is in excellent shape; we used it for five years, had it cleaned and inspected.) I assume I will have to remove the damper, since a 6" pipe will not pass thru; any ideas? Your response would be "greatly" appreciated.
Answer:
This type of installation is one that is not addressed in any of the code books or other literature I've seen. Be sure to have the installation done by a certified specialist and check the plans out with your local fire code official. There are many ways to insulate the stainless steel liner..including some that wrap around the pipe and others that pour (a cement and insulation slurry) that hardens. The installation could be safe if done correctly. Make certain that cleaning of the liner can be done easily. Yes, the damper will need to be removed...and a bit of the brick in the damper area can be removed to allow the 6 inch pipe to extend through.
We have an existing fireplace on the first floor of our ranch style home, that is not in use. The ash clean out is in the floor of the fireplace, and continues to the basement where a clean out door is located. During my remodel of the house, we no longer wanted the fireplace (masonry), so I closed over the opening with a false wall. I would like to open the wall now, and install a stainless steel 6" diameter pipe from the top of the chimney to the basement and install a wood burner in our basement. I was planning on bricking the opening closed on the main floor, and someone told be to insulate between the chimney and stainless pipe with a "insulation" to prevent condensation of the smoke?!? Can you help me with this end of the installation? What material are they talking about? Does it get poured in from the roof at the chimney opening? (By the way, the chimney is in excellent shape; we used it for five years, had it cleaned and inspected.) I assume I will have to remove the damper, since a 6" pipe will not pass thru; any ideas? Your response would be "greatly" appreciated.
Answer:
This type of installation is one that is not addressed in any of the code books or other literature I've seen. Be sure to have the installation done by a certified specialist and check the plans out with your local fire code official. There are many ways to insulate the stainless steel liner..including some that wrap around the pipe and others that pour (a cement and insulation slurry) that hardens. The installation could be safe if done correctly. Make certain that cleaning of the liner can be done easily. Yes, the damper will need to be removed...and a bit of the brick in the damper area can be removed to allow the 6 inch pipe to extend through.
