Poured liner: need a stainless steel liner for insert install?

[Cinnaman]

I have an open Rumford style fireplace with a poured liner. The liner was poured around an inflated tube and formed at the base for a smooth transition into the fireplace. I don't have a smoke shelf or damper at the base, just a straight shot up and out with a chimney top damper controlled by a wire. The chimney is on an exterior wall.

If I get an insert installed, would I have to get a stainless steel liner installed inside the poured liner?

Thanks for your help.

 

[BrotherBart]

What is the inside diameter of the poured in place liner?

 

[Cinnaman]

About 9".

 

[Cinnaman]

Has anyone installed an insert without relining a poured in place liner with steel?

 

[mellow]

You would want to keep the liner the same size as the exhaust on the insert, so if it has a 6" exhaust you would want to run a 6" liner for the best draft, if you dump it into 9" your draft will suffer.

 

[branchburner]

On the other hand, if you got an insert with an 8" exhaust, I would think the existing flue would work, but I'm not sure how the stove/flue connection would be best made.

Buck makes a few 8" inserts:

(broken link removed to http://www.buckstove.com/model-80.html#.UsrVLdJDs1I)

(broken link removed to http://www.buckstove.com/model-91.html#.UsrVRdJDs1I)

 

[mellow]

I'm not sure how the stove/flue connection would be best made.

That is a whole nother ball of wax, best bet would be to run a full liner and keep the same exhaust size even for an 8".

 

[Cinnaman]

Thanks for the suggestions. I thought I might be able to save a few $$ by not installing a liner, but it doesn't appear to be as simple as I thought. A free standing stove is not an option, and an insert sounds like it is going to be expensive to install with a new liner and probably some firebox modifications to fit even a small insert. My Rumford fireplace has very sharp angled side walls leading to a 12.5" back wall.

 

[mellow]

Yea, that was why I didn't even bother bringing up 8" liners, those boxes do not allow a big insert to fit. Good news is you might not need to insulate the liner since you have the pour in place.

My thought would be to install a rear venting freestanding wood stove backed up to the fireplace, but it won't be cheap and you would still need the liner but it would heat a lot better.

How much sq feet are you looking to heat?

 

[Cinnaman]

The freestanding stove isn't an option due to a combustible clearance issue. I can't take up more floor space with an extend hearth or pad. My goal is to stop losing heat up the chimney and wasting so much wood in my open fireplace.

 

[mellow]

Check the Jotul c 450, with it sitting on the hearth more it might fit.

 

[branchburner]

My Rumford fireplace has very sharp angled side walls leading to a 12.5" back wall.

Does that back wall go straight up, or angle out towards the front? If your firebox is 24" deep all the way up, you seem to have room to stuff a free-standing top-vented Jotul 602 all the way in.