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Chimney & Fireplaces/Complications in installing a chimney liner

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Expert: - 9/25/2010


Question
Thank you for volunteering to answer my question.  
The terra cotta flue tiles in my chimney are cracked, and I'm considering installing a flexible stainless steel liner.  There are two problems: From the top down, it is straight for about 15 ft, then makes a bend of about 5 inch in the length of a tile (25 inch).  The flexible liner I saw at the shop did not bend very easily, and I'm concerned it won't make the bend.  Will I be able to push the flexible liner around this corner?  With the Tee fitting on the end?  There is no access to the bottom of the flues, but I could likely rig a rope to pull it down via the cleanout door.  The flue tiles are 6 1/2 inch inside.  The woodstove collar and stovepipe are 6 inch.  I'd like to install 6 inch liner, but the shop is trying to talk me into 5 inch.  Is a 6 inch liner in a 6 1/2 in flue too tight?  Will I be able to get it down the chimney?

Second problem is that the horizontal run is about 31 inches inside the masonry chimney.  The pro's at the shop said it can't be done because the two part tee would be too far to reach to attach the screws (for the tee specs, see http://www.icc-rsf.com/main.php?t=chem_produits&i=41&l=e&d=2&).  Is there any reason this can't be done, albeit with difficulty (anything is better than tearing the whole thing down)?  I've chipped out this section to 8 inch or more, so there is some extra room for alignment.
I've done some reading and watched videos of liner installation, and none of them really address the problem.  At the shop, all I got was that it can't be done because of the long horizontal reach.
Thanks for helping.
Doug

Answer
Doug,

The first concern is that you are not being told that the liner, all flexible liners require a blanket insulation or a poured insulation that requires two inches of mix. The pro's at the shop should have told you removal of the cracked terra coda tiles may be necessary for the required insulation.

The second question is tougher. Had the flue not had the offset you described, there are solutions. the way you described it, there is a considerable reach and little room to pull this off. The shop may be right on this one. Hope this helps and best of luck to you.

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Volunteer

Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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