Almost every time I discuss installation with a customer the question comes up whether or not a chimney liner is really necessary.

I never try to sell anyone something they don’t need but a sound masonry lined chimney is not always adequate for a modern stove installation. Here are a few reasons why;

1. If the chimney is servicing a masonry fireplace, it is highly likely that the flue is much larger than the size of flue the stove or insert was engineered to use. As we all know, heat powers the chimney and today’s high-efficiency wood stoves are exhausting less heat than ever. This means that there is less heat to power the chimney which makes proper sizing a critical part of the venting equation. Dumping relatively cool flue gasses into a big cold chimney may cause the gasses to cool too quickly which will hider draft. A stove may work somewhat normally with large fires but may suffer early or late in the combustion process when the firebox is cooler. Sizing down the flue to manufacturer specifications help the gasses to escape before cooling ensuring a better draft.
2. Safety & added security of a chimney liner is like buying cheap insurance for your home. Masonry Chimneys don’t handle abuse very well. A chimney fire burns in excess of 2,000 degrees and cause a great deal of expansion on the masonry materials. In a chimney fire situation the extreme temperatures can easily cause cracks in the masonry system. If this occurs,  the fix is… you guessed it, a chimney liner. It is much safer to just go ahead and install the liner when you install your new stove or insert and avoid the risk and damage altogether. Like I always tell my customers, “the choice is yours, but if you install the liner, that perfect masonry chimney will remain as perfect as it is now. The stainless/titanium alloy liner system we use can take the punishment and carries a lifetime warranty even after a chimney fire”. Masonry chimneys have NO WARRANTY.
3. When you compare the cost to fully line the chimney to doing a minimum direct-connect installation, the perceived advantages of not lining quickly diminish. The parts needed to perform a basic direct-connect installation are just under $200. With our manufacturer-direct buying power, we can offer a complete system to fully line a 20 foot chimney for just $450. This includes the appliance connector, top sealing plate & chimney cap! If we do the installation, we add upper and lower insulation.
4. Chimney cleaning is a snap with a fully lined chimney. An insert installed without a liner must be completely removed and reinstalled during annual chimney maintenance. If it isn’t being removed, your chimney isn’t being properly cleaned. This added work might double the annual cost of chimney cleaning! With a liner connected to the insert, the chimney is cleaned and the debris is deposited into the firebox for easy, clean removal.