Hi all,
I'm back here at this great forum after many years, still trying to make the dream happen (more on that later). The short version of this post are the following two questions:
1) Will a pre-insulated (half-inch insulation) 6 inch liner fit (with relative ease) down a 9 inch x 9 inch flue in a 35 foot, basically straight, unlined, 100 year old brick chimney? (Recently had it inspected and was told this was what I have and that it should work, but want some second opinions here).
2) Should I get a 304, 316, 316ti or 316 liner - or something else? What else should I know about a liner to go into my existing unlined, brick chimney. I'm connecting to a Jotul F100 nordic wood stove.
Feel free to stop reading with the above questions, but here's the longer version of this post if you're interested! Five years ago I was on this forum a bunch and got a lot of great advice, but due to a somewhat challenging install (and limited finances), I never got it done. I'm back and this time want to get this stove (which has been sitting on my mantel for five years) installed! I have a very high chimney, and am going to hire someone to install the liner. I can make a block off plate and heat shields myself, but not ready to drop the liner on my own at that height. Doing things up to code and getting an inspection is both important to me for my family's safety (first and foremost) and what I have to do for my insurance company not to drop me! I recently got a good price (at least for this area and in comparison to many other outrageous prices) for installing the liner ($750 if I bought the liner from the company that would install it plus their uninsulated 304 liner for $600). However, that company didn't seem to want to use an insulated liner (claiming I didn't need it), just wanted to come the install day without even looking at my chimney first, and has been a bit flakey about responding to me in regards to setting up a time and getting me the documents I need to pull the permit (though they said they would get me these documents). I then called another installer who seemed very thorough and said I should definitely put in an insulated liner (citing code and functionality) and he wouldn't give me a price until coming to check out my house. He came, said I had a 9x9 flue and that I should be able to get a 6 inch pre-insulated liner in it, however, due to the height of the job, my need to pull a permit, his insurance costs, etc., the job would be very expensive - he gave me a crazy price apologetically and told me I could probably find someone else to do it cheaper. In the meantime, the first company finally called me back, and I said that I wanted to do the insulated liner (which they said was $1200 for the full kit). I said I would get back to them in a few days. Now, my head is spinning, but I'm ready to go to the first company pay the $750 plus $1200 for the liner, but before insisting on pre-insulated liner, I want to make sure that it will make it through 9x9 flue that the chimney guy who inspected said I had. I'd have to pay for the liner in advance, so I don't want to shell out the $1200 plus tax only to find it doesn't work. Incidentally, while I could downsize to a 5.5 liner, I'm not sure it makes much of a size difference, and one thing my insurance company asks is that I only use 6 inch liner. Man, is this a challenge! Thanks a million in advance for any advice! By the way, I'm in Boston, if anyone has recommendations for this particular area.
I'm back here at this great forum after many years, still trying to make the dream happen (more on that later). The short version of this post are the following two questions:
1) Will a pre-insulated (half-inch insulation) 6 inch liner fit (with relative ease) down a 9 inch x 9 inch flue in a 35 foot, basically straight, unlined, 100 year old brick chimney? (Recently had it inspected and was told this was what I have and that it should work, but want some second opinions here).
2) Should I get a 304, 316, 316ti or 316 liner - or something else? What else should I know about a liner to go into my existing unlined, brick chimney. I'm connecting to a Jotul F100 nordic wood stove.
Feel free to stop reading with the above questions, but here's the longer version of this post if you're interested! Five years ago I was on this forum a bunch and got a lot of great advice, but due to a somewhat challenging install (and limited finances), I never got it done. I'm back and this time want to get this stove (which has been sitting on my mantel for five years) installed! I have a very high chimney, and am going to hire someone to install the liner. I can make a block off plate and heat shields myself, but not ready to drop the liner on my own at that height. Doing things up to code and getting an inspection is both important to me for my family's safety (first and foremost) and what I have to do for my insurance company not to drop me! I recently got a good price (at least for this area and in comparison to many other outrageous prices) for installing the liner ($750 if I bought the liner from the company that would install it plus their uninsulated 304 liner for $600). However, that company didn't seem to want to use an insulated liner (claiming I didn't need it), just wanted to come the install day without even looking at my chimney first, and has been a bit flakey about responding to me in regards to setting up a time and getting me the documents I need to pull the permit (though they said they would get me these documents). I then called another installer who seemed very thorough and said I should definitely put in an insulated liner (citing code and functionality) and he wouldn't give me a price until coming to check out my house. He came, said I had a 9x9 flue and that I should be able to get a 6 inch pre-insulated liner in it, however, due to the height of the job, my need to pull a permit, his insurance costs, etc., the job would be very expensive - he gave me a crazy price apologetically and told me I could probably find someone else to do it cheaper. In the meantime, the first company finally called me back, and I said that I wanted to do the insulated liner (which they said was $1200 for the full kit). I said I would get back to them in a few days. Now, my head is spinning, but I'm ready to go to the first company pay the $750 plus $1200 for the liner, but before insisting on pre-insulated liner, I want to make sure that it will make it through 9x9 flue that the chimney guy who inspected said I had. I'd have to pay for the liner in advance, so I don't want to shell out the $1200 plus tax only to find it doesn't work. Incidentally, while I could downsize to a 5.5 liner, I'm not sure it makes much of a size difference, and one thing my insurance company asks is that I only use 6 inch liner. Man, is this a challenge! Thanks a million in advance for any advice! By the way, I'm in Boston, if anyone has recommendations for this particular area.
