NC-30 Temporary Use on Clay Chimney

[mopar440_6]

I'm currently in the process of upgrading my stove and chimney. Right now we have a non-EPA wood/coal stove vented into a 6.5in x 11in x 30ft clay lined chimney which drafts ok if the ambient temperatures are low but chews through wood like crazy and doesn't put out much heat. I will be upgrading to an NC-30 and a good, insulated 6" SS liner in the near future. However, I am still waiting on the last company to quote the reline and they said at least a week to get the quote and once I have all the quotes it will be 3-4 weeks before any of the companies can order the liner parts and install it. My furnace is currently acting up and we're into actual cold weather so it would be really nice to have some additional heat. So, my question is, would I do any harm to purchase and install the NC-30 now and use it with the current (oversized) clay lined chimney in the interim? I would guess that any EPA stove will be better and safer (less emissions to make creosote in the chimney) than this old smoke dragon but I wanted to get the opinions of the experts on here just to make sure that there are no issues that I'm missing.

 

[bholler]

Have you had the clay chimney inspected? If it is in good shape go ahead and try it it might work ok for now. But i would not completely remove that old stove in case the englander doesn't work right on that chimney just move it to the side

 

[hman]

I would clean and inspect chimney,if looks good, get the 30 installed and use it.And if it works good maybe you can wait on the reline for warmer weather.

 

[begreen]

Just be sure to have the chimney cleaned again before installing the liner.

 

[mopar440_6]

Have you had the clay chimney inspected? If it is in good shape go ahead and try it it might work ok for now. But i would not completely remove that old stove in case the englander doesn't work right on that chimney just move it to the side

I had the chimney cleaned and inspected at the beginning of Dec. 2014 right after we moved in. They recommended a reline due to one hairline surface fracture of the bottom clay tile (directly across from where the stove pipe enters the chimney below the crock) and the severe oversize from what is needed but said that it would be fine to use the chimney as long as I keep an eye on the crack and monitor any creosote buildup. I have been checking the crack weekly (I've only had to run the stove 4-5 times in the past month) and the crack is not getting any larger or collecting buildup. The top of the chimney looked fairly clean, only a little soot I could brush away with my hand, when I was up on the roof last week but I have also been burning this old smoke dragon hot to keep the flue temps up (usually running about 700-750*F flue gas temp about 18" above the stove).

I would clean and inspect chimney,if looks good, get the 30 installed and use it.And if it works good maybe you can wait on the reline for warmer weather.

Due to the crack and the fact that I'm paranoid about burning my brand new house down, I'll probably have the reline done as soon as they are available but it will take some stress off my back if I can at least heat this place in the mean time.

Just be sure to have the chimney cleaned again before installing the liner.

They'll be breaking out the existing liner to do the reline so cleaning the chimney itself probably won't be necessary. I'd clean the stove pipe myself after the reline is done unless the installers do it as part of connecting the new liner.

 

[bholler]

The 30 may not run well at all with it being that over sized but there is only one way to find out. And if that was the only crack i would use it temporarily.