DIY Stainless Flue
A flue is the chimney duct that takes smoke and gases away from the fireplace and delivers them outdoors. Flues are made from heat-resistant materials, such as stainless steel, because the escaping gases and smoke can be very hot. Flexible stainless steel flue liners are readily available. They can be purchased and installed to prevent damage to brick, stone or concrete chimneys. You can install the stainless flue liner yourself and save on the costs associated with professional installation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Flexible stainless steel flue liner kit
- Ladder
- Measuring tape
- Work gloves
- Tin snips
- Screwdriver
- Insulation
- Foil tape
- Retractable wire mesh
- Stainless steel hose clamps
- Silicone caulk
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Instructions
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Rest a ladder on the edge of the roof. Go to the top of the roof where the chimney is located. Insert a measuring tape into the chimney. Ask someone to catch the measuring tape in the opening of the fireplace. The person should bring the measuring tape all the way to the bottom of the fireplace. Add 18 inches and then record your measurement.
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Select a flexible stainless steel flue liner that is at least 1/10 diameter of the area of the opening of the fireplace for proper ventilation. To find the correct diameter, measure the length and width of the opening of your fireplace. Multiply length times width to get the area. Divide the number by 10. Enter this number into a simple online area calculator to determine the diameter of the liner.
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Purchase a flexible stainless steel flue liner that will accommodate the length of the chimney. Choose a diameter close to the diameter that you previously determined. The kits are easiest to use because they come with all the hardware, such as the termination connector, that you will need for installation.
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Put your work gloves on and roll out the liner on a flat surface. Measure the liner and cut it with tin snips. Install the termination connector. Attach the hose clamp over the termination connector and tighten it with a screwdriver.
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Cut enough insulation to cover the liner. To do this, find the circumference of the liner. Multiply the diameter by pi (3.14159). Add 1 inch to this number so that the insulation overlaps the liner.
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Lay the insulation foil side down on a flat surface. Place the liner in the middle of the insulation. Wrap the insulation around the liner. Secure with foil tape.
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Attach retractable wire mesh to the insulated liner. Secure the wire mesh with stainless steel hose clamps.
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Center the liner in the top of the chimney. Feed the liner down through the chimney. When the bottom of the liner is at the correct position, cut it so that it's four inches above the crown of the chimney. Connect the bottom of the liner to the fireplace insert.
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Apply caulk to the chimney crown. Press the top plate into the caulk. Install the hose clamp and cap over the top plate.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have Internet access when you're measuring the opening of the fireplace, you can find the diameter by taking the area of the fireplace, dividing it by 10, then dividing it by pi (3.14159). Next, find the square root of the answer, then multiply it by 2. The result is the diameter of the stainless steel liner.
Clean and repair chimney damage prior to installing the flexible stainless steel flue liner.
References
- Old House Online: Making Sense of Your Chimney Liner
- Rockford Chimney Supply: Installation and Maintenance Instructions for Rock-Flex Stainless Steel Chimney Lining System
- Rockford Chimney Supply: How to Install a Stainless Steel Chimney Liner
- Everyday Christianity: How to Install a Flexible Stainless Steel Chimney Liner
- Northwest Stoves: Model "SF" Liner Installation Guide
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
