AboutJames Ball Expertise I am a chimney sweep with over 22 years of experience, CSIA certified and member of the NCSG, I can answer questions about smoky fire places, wood stoves, and heating units (boiler and furnace chimneys) do you need a relining? A cap? And much more
Experience over 22 years
Organizations Chimney Safety Institute of America, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Education/Credentials CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified
Question I am looking into purchasing a wood stove insert (Napoleon EPI-1401) to place in an existing Wood burning fireplace. In doing some research I see that a chimney liner is often used with these set-ups. My question: For a family on a tight budget, is this something that we absolutely need to have? And what are the benefits. - Thank You :-)
Answer Hello Tim, when you stick an insert into a fireplace with out lining to at least the fire flue tile (that is code) we call it "slammer".
"What would be the benefits"? First, any woodstove or insert will keep lets say 80% of the heat the fire produces in the home (that’s great) but now only 20% of the heat is left to carry away and vent the creosote out of the chimney, creosote is flammable and will case chimney fires and blockages. Now a “Slammer” install will dump that cool smoke out into the fire box, then it goes up into the smoke chamber (past the damper) and then into the flue and then out the top of the chimney and if this is an exterior chimney that several tons of masonry will be as cold as it is out side speeding up the cooling of the smoke and creosote.
By lining all the way to the top and insulating the liner (either a blanket wrap or poured) the “20%” smoke stays hot longer and gets more of the creosote out of the chimney. This is the safest install and the most efficient.
My advice would be to contact a Chimney Safety Institute of America chimney sweep http://www.csia.org and right on the main page you can do a search by Zip code with in 50 radius, there you will be able to find a local Certified Chimney Sweep in your area, they will be able to come out and look at the whole chimney system. I do not know what each chimney sweep would charge but you can ask them what an inspection costs. They will be able to tell you if the chimney is lined, dirty, working properly, and if it is safe and if not how to fix it, before you install the insert.
Now depending on how handy you are you can buy the liner and install it your self, and if you need more advise please feel free to contact me again if some thing here is not clear.
Hope this helped and good luck
James Ball
