Stove with 5-1/2" Pipe?

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Sean Fawcett

New Member
Dec 1, 2012
2
Hi:

Due to a cracked ceramic liner, we need to have our fireplace chimney relined with a stainless steel liner. The Chimney expert does not think a 6 inch pipe will fit but he can get a 5-1/2 inch flexible liner installed. He also says that many newer stoves (more efficient) that have 6 inch breaches can be used with a 5-1/2 inch flue.

Does anyone know if it would be OK to use a 5-1/2" stainless steel liner with a Vermont Castings Wood Stove, model 0041 Resolute Acclaim?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
I have one 21' 5.5" SS liner and one 34' stainless steel liner and they both work great with my six inch flue collar stoves. They aren't cat stoves but both liners draft vacuum cleaners.
 
Should work ok. How tall is the chimney?
 
Should work ok. How tall is the chimney?

Not sure, probably about 30 feet from the top of the existing fireplace opening.

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like this is an OK thing to do... A new stove will cost about $4,000 I think but I can get the refurbished Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim for $1,200. I'd love to save the money but I don't want the flue installer telling me "Oh, we can't use a 5-1/2" liner with that stove"

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Are certain stoves with 6" flue collars not appropriate?

The stove will be in an existing fireplace opening on a brick hearth so there is nothing anywhere near combustable close by.
 
There are no stoves that have a 5.5" collar, the liner will have a stove connector that is 6" on one side and accepts the 5.5" liner on the other side. So all 6" stoves can use a 5.5" liner.
 
If it's 30' it should draft fine. I'm using a 5.5 liner that's about 27' with around 3' of double wall off the stove. Sometimes the draft was too much for my non cat stove, for the BK it's fine most the time. Warmer weather I have to watch the reloads or I'll occasionally let a wisp of smoke out.(low flue temps on the BK)
 
Not sure, probably about 30 feet from the top of the existing fireplace opening.

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like this is an OK thing to do... A new stove will cost about $4,000 I think but I can get the refurbished Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim for $1,200. I'd love to save the money but I don't want the flue installer telling me "Oh, we can't use a 5-1/2" liner with that stove"

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Are certain stoves with 6" flue collars not appropriate?

The stove will be in an existing fireplace opening on a brick hearth so there is nothing anywhere near combustable close by.
Congrats and welcome to the forum! Personally I would avoid VC stoves due to poor customer support and expensive upkeep. What is the stove you're considering?

Ray
 
If it is an 8x8 tile that is cracked the inside size should be around 6" making it difficult to reline with a 6" pipe. What I would do is remove the tile sections to make room for a 6" liner. Also most manufacturers of chimney liners will require it to be insulated when burning wood. So I suggest insulating. This will give you the best performance out of your wood stove and it will make your chimney system a lot safer.
 
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If it is an 8x8 tile that is cracked the inside size should be around 6" making it difficult to reline with a 6" pipe. What I would do is remove the tile sections to make room for a 6" liner. Also most manufacturers of chimney liners will require it to be insulated when burning wood. So I suggest insulating. This will give you the best performance out of your wood stove and it will make your chimney system a lot safer.

I agree, that is the best thing you can do. Remove all the tiles making room for the insulation also.
 
x3..do it right the first time on this makeover.
 
I don't know if it is required but I had a sweep use a tile breaker and install a 6" insulated liner.

Ray
 
I would run the 5.5" liner & adapt it to your stove with the proper increaser & leave the tile alone... Removing 30 feet of terra cotta is an expensive job & is probably not needed. Buy yourself a liner from a reputable distributor & you'll be fine. 30' will draft fine - maybe too well.. If you seem to be getting a creosote build up in the uppermost areas, you can always add some Thermix as an insulator later on.
 
I'm with Daksy. Why spend a bunch of money solving a problem you don' t have.
 
Well I'm thinking a 5.5 flue would draw even harder then a 6...I could be wrong.
And 30' is up there pretty good.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought a bigger opening drew less then a smaller one.
Prolly would be fine either way though.
Of course a bigger opening would allow more volume to escape with a cooler run...but colder.
I doubt all that much diff though between 5.5 and 6.
 
If you decide not to use insulation around the liner, make sure the liner is still UL listed with no insulation for a wood stove. As far as I know, the manufactures require insulation to maintain the UL listing for solid burning appliances, such as wood and coal.
 
I would run the 5.5" liner & adapt it to your stove with the proper increaser & leave the tile alone... Removing 30 feet of terra cotta is an expensive job & is probably not needed. Buy yourself a liner from a reputable distributor & you'll be fine. 30' will draft fine - maybe too well.. If you seem to be getting a creosote build up in the uppermost areas, you can always add some Thermix as an insulator later on.
I wanted mine removed because a chimney fire created vertical cracks so I know the creosote was on the outside of the chimney tile.. This also allowed me to install a 6" insulated liner. The creosote did go through the other side of tiles due to the cracks..

Ray
 
When stoves have a six inch flue outlet that means they have been put through their testings using a 6" liner. If you go to a 5.5 you are violating the manufacturers guidelines. Since your stove was probably never tested or listed to use a 5.5" liner. It wouldn't hurt to contact the stove manufacturer and get approval before you use a 5.5" Price is not an option when it comes to safety and performance. I would go 6".
 
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Interesting comment, & I'll admit I haven't had anybody bring that fact up. Some research into the matter does indicate that it IS a violation of NFPA-211 to connect a solid fuel appliance to a flue with a smaller cross-sectional area than the flue collar of the stove. I'd hate to venture a guess as to how many units have been "professionally installed" in this manner.
 
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