Wood Burning Insert? Yay or Nay?

[ddddddden]

Firemark, I think you have made a very smart decision. Tightening up the house will save on whatever fuel you decide to burn. If you do buy a stove, don't wait tooo long. Prices typically go down in the spring and back up in the fall. And now that the need for a stovepipe has been well established, maybe consider a freestanding stove.

 

[krex1010]

I think code in most of the US is a minimum of a "positive connection," a liner attached to the bottom flue tile in a masonry flue. I can't see bothering with this and not going another 10-15 ft, typically, to the top of the chimney. I believe the full liner code is Canadian. Ins co's can require anything. Some go with local code. Some have their own code and inspection.

In the USA a positive connection , is ok but only if the chimney is in perfect condition, and not many are. You would need a certified sweep to inspect the chimney, and from what I hear most don't want to sign off on saying the chimney is ok for the positive connection, most will recommend fully lining a chimney.