Is my setup ok?

[Jdesigns2001]

I have a wood burning insert in a masonry chimney. The opening at the top of the insert is rectangular and about 4" x 14". the chimney has a damper above that. Next the exhaust goes up a 12" x 12" terra cotta lined masonry chimney. The chimney looked really clean when I slid the stove in there as if the fire place had barely been used. The insert seems to draw pretty well and when I open the doors no noticeable amount of smoke comes out. I guess what I am worried about is burning this appliance without a liner. I plan to have the chimney cleaned and inspected yearly, but don't want to risk building up creosote throughout the winters that could be dangerous or damage the chimney. Any opinions on all of this are welcomed and appreciated. I have attached pics.

 

[Fsappo]

"ok" is ambiguous, or can be. The best way is get a boot built to convert to 8" round and to drop an 8" insulated liner down the chimney. Not as good, but maybe better than what you have..a custom boot to an 8" liner shoved 5' up the chimney with a block off plate. (or however high you need to get to get to the tiled area.

Is what you have ok? I guess if it doesn't burn the house down it is. You got a creosote making machine for an insert. It would take very little abuse either in burn technique or type of wood burned to form creosote. A little neglect and then some poor luck will get you a chimney fire .

The fact that your going to check it a lot coupled with a chimney that "seems" to draw well helps..But I don't think anyone here will take the responsibility to bless a slammer installation.

Just be careful. There have been plenty of times I have begged people to burn oil instead of wood if they cant bring themselves to burn wood safely.

 

[mellow]

We will never say a slammer install is OK, it is dangerous for many reasons, but CO poisoning is one of the main reasons why slammers are no longer made. All new inserts come with a 6" or 8" round adapter for attaching a liner to it. The old rectangle exhaust has been long gone since the 80's.

If it was me I would look at something newer and if that is not possible get a rectangle to round insert boot like frank mentioned and hook up an 8" liner to it, you will be much safer in terms of chimney fires (if burned correctly) and CO poisoning and you will get better draft to boot.

If you are interested in possibly getting a newer insert you can start a new thread with the dimensions of your fireplace and your budget and we can see what what we can find you.

Rectangle to Round insert boot can be found here: (broken link removed to http://www.rockfordchimneysupply.com/rockford.php?item=RectangleRoundInsertAdapterBoot)

 

[bholler]

I should add you may have trouble finding someone to clean and inspect that setup many sweeps including myself will not work on them anymore due to the potential liability

 

[fossil]

Creosote factory and impossible to sweep/thoroughly clean the system without pulling the insert. Huge increase in flue cross-sectional area at the stove outlet, which means the flue gas stream slows way down, allowing it to cool significantly on its way out to daylight = creosote condensation/deposition all over the interior of the masonry. That thing needs to be properly installed with an adapter, a full-height liner, a proper top seal & cap, and a block-off plate. Rick

 

[Sprinter]

I guess what I am worried about is burning this appliance without a liner.

You're right to be concerned, for all the reasons above. Mellow is right, too, that you really should be looking into a proper new insert, properly installed. It'll eventually pay for itself in fuel costs as well as being safer and they don't have to be too expensive if cost is a concern. Slammers, especially older model inserts, are just a bad idea.

 

[Jdesigns2001]

I was afraid of that... Well I would like to have wood heat, but need to figure out a safe and cost effective way to do it. I spoke with a chimney sweep hos said in order to make my insert up to spec it would likely cost 800 in parts and 400 in labor to have a liner installed with all of the necessary converters. There is no way I can afford that now, especially not to hook up what I think is considered a fairly inefficient heater. I also own a Jotul 602 that I bought in 2003 I think. It is a bit small, but it does have the round outlet. i don't have any stove pipe, so I would need to buy some sort of converter to get through the damper, piping to get up the chimney, then a cap. Do y'all think my best bet is to sell what I have and start over or work with one of these stoves?

 

[Charles1981]

I really don't think you are going to be happy with that stove and setup and as everyone has pointed out... "slammer" installs are never professional installed anymore due to safety and liability purposes. Basically as close to "illegal" as you can get...there just isn't any law about it. If you can run a stainless steel liner down then at least we have an acceptable setup to discuss...

If you leave it installed as is:
1. will it work? probably.
2. is it safe? nope
3. can you do it anyway?...unfortunately yes.