Tough spot in flex king pro liner

[phatdonkey]

Hi guys,

Just came down off the roof and im a bit worried. This is the second time i have swept the liner since I installed it in January. I dwept it 2 weeks after install due to break in burns at low temps. May have just been paranoid. Just swpet it again today with my meeco devil poly 6 inch brush, and met some resistance on the way back up. Didnt think i felt it on the way down, but on the way up it kinda got hung up on something. It didnt fully stop the brush, but there was resistance. Im now worried that the liner may have buckled or something in the middle. I dont think i have over fired the stove or the liner and nothing to my knowledge has been in the chimney. I think im gonna need to drop a camera fown there to see whats up with it. Any suggestions on what could cause it?

The chimney is an existing 13x13 tile flue, lined with the flex king pro and wrapped with their insulation kit.

The spot was 2 rods down from the top of the liner. I would say about 8 feet.

 

[claydogg84]

Is your chimney a straight shot, or does it have a bend? It's possible it's just a bend causing the resistance. Are you actually getting any creosote or ash when cleaning?

 

[phatdonkey]

Its about 21 feet from the top to the tee. There is a slight jog at the smoke shelf and thats it but thats further down then the tough spot. I got about 1.5 cups out.

 

[begreen]

A camera inspection is the best step for assuring peace of mind and/or finding if there is an issue at that jog.

 

[brenndatomu]

I have the same issue on my FKP. Do a search for flex king pro https://www.hearth.com/talk/posts/1639748/ seems there are a few of us around that regret wasting the extra money on FKP. I'm just gonna keep using mine unless it seems to actually come apart or some other form of "imminent catastrophe" happens

 

[claydogg84]

I also have a Flex King Pro but haven't done a clean out yet. When I do, it will be with a soot eater though, so I won't be able to detect tight spots.

 

[bholler]

That is the very reason i will never install that type of liner again I have seen way to many issues with them. I would always recommend the stuff like the flex king hd it is smooth wall as well and much more durable. The only way to know what is going on now is to have it scanned.

 

[claydogg84]

I mispoke - I have the Flex King HD.

 

[bholler]

I mispoke - I have the Flex King HD.

It is really hard to hurt that stuff

 

[brenndatomu]

I mispoke - I have the Flex King HD.

Wish I did, that is what I wanted, HD single ply, couldn't find one at the time though. The HD came out right after I put mine in...typical!

 

[webby3650]

If it's only 8 feet down you could see it with a bright light. I really doubt you have an issue, it wouldn't just develop all on its own.
We install a few dozen light wall liners every year and have never had any issues. I also go back for cleanings on most of them. I'm betting you are just fine.

 

[bholler]

We install a few dozen light wall liners every year and have never had any issues. I also go back for cleanings on most of them. I'm betting you are just fine.

this is the smooth light wall not regular light wall it could have gotten a small kink when it was installed and then the brush snagged it i have seen it a few times. The regular light wall is fine i don't like to use it for wood and we don't install them for wood but they can work just fine. But i think the smooth light wall stuff is simply not worth putting in i have seen way to many problems

 

[mellow]

Can't get this image out of my head thinking about these smooth wall liners.

 

[phatdonkey]

yeah. i figured the smooth wall would be a good buy. im going to order a borescope on amazon and attach it to my cleaning rods to get some video and still shots of whats going on. the camera with prime is 23.99. its worth a shot to see what happening in there.