Expert: James Ball - 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.  I a 6 inch liner in a 6 1/2 in flue too tight?

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.


Answer
Hello Doug, 1st check with your local building department, do not down size the pipe, they make a nose cone to help guide/pull the liner (any off set of tile might stop it) I use SS ridged pipe to "extend" into the room. I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep www.csia.org, (there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have and they should video scan the flue, they should be able to help.
Hope this helps
James