December 2016 – Ask the Chimney Sweep

Lining a Wood Stove Question- Here is an interesting question about using a Wood Stove that came into Ask the Chimney Sweep With a fireplace insert, would it be practical to start by just dropping in a new metal flue liner, to TRY to stop the smoke from coming back into the room? (It’s an old home, therefore I am guessing the mortar MUST be getting weak by now, and it will be time for a fix.) It’s the only fireplace there is. Furnace in basement is turned off. Won’t be turning on at all…might this cause any problem? Previous owners had installed a heat pump, high on wall, in same room as fireplace insert. (There’s an attic space above the room that has the insert.) Cracking a window doesn’t seem to help. Therefore, I have to assume that the insert worked properly, at least at some point, it seems like the previous owners were there for many years, and had a big supply of wood. Any ideas what it should cost to have chimney person put in a metal liner (in WA State)? Answer - Greetings Mr. Frustrated, I’m going to try and save you a lot of grief. First, I would call a member of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild to find a chimney sweep in your area. In addition to this, it is very important that they do a “video inspection” with a closed circuit camera. Today prices may cost you apx $200 -$350 but most of all, after sweeping the chimney of all lose sweepable deposits, not gummy grazed or tarry creosote as this would be addressed as a separate issued video inspection needs to be completed the service person will be looking to document, scorched burn marks, missing mortar joints, and possible cracked or broken terra-cotta flue tiles. For instance, Power Sweeping, a fireplace with a spinning brush, mounted on extendable rods has proven to be the very best method to reach all of those difficult nocks in crannies that are hiding up in the smoke chamber. Lining a Wood Stove Keeping a close eye on the video monitor while using a close circuit camera. This serviceman is looking for signs of having a possible chimney fire, or construction defaults, such as missing mortar joints and combustible wood framing that does not belong in this fireplace system For instance, this is ( Stage 3 Creosote ) and is often associated as being tarry or somewhat gummy. Stage 3 is diffidently the hardest to remove from the chimney flue liner system Consequently, after a chimney fire, looking down this chimney flue you can easily see the flue tile damage. If you have experienced a chimney fire, it may be covered as a Sudden Occurrence Insurance claim. However, let’s now talk about the Stainless Steel (SS) chimney flue lining systems. There's wood-stove insert manufacture today that doesn't require a stainless chimney liner with UL tested insulation material. Therefore, these thermal blanket materials have two purposes. First, is to provide clearance to combustible that may be in the chimney system and a second is to keep the hot gasses drafting up the chimney flue pipe properly. All of the stove manufactures, that I’m aware of now require a SS liner to be same size in square inches, as the on the opening of the outlet on the stove. We only will take on a relining job if it is going to be installed all of the way to the top of the chimney flue system. As a result the estimated price for a SS liner will depend on the installation approach, degree of difficulty, size (6” or 8”) and the actual length of the SS a liner needed . Today the call for a 6” liner and may cost between $2,500 to $4,500. We have switched to this newer HomeSavers Pre-Insulated HomeSaver Ultra stainless steel pipe https://youtu.be/7GRZy8EZwX4 In conclusion, we hope you can find a reputable Chimney Sweep in your area by using this link: http://www.ncsg.org/search. In addition, be sure and go online so you can read their customer reviews from Google, BBB and AngiesList. I hope that this information helps! Burn Safe and Warm Clay ?