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Hi! Tom!
Just wanted to let you know how great the wood stove is working after installing the flex liner kit. My son and I installed it . Because of the
heatilator , we had to cut out some of the metal in the center to make enough clearance for the 6" flex liner, but all went smoothly.
Thanks again for your prompt service.
Edwin A Emerson Jr
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Q: Hello,
I need your help. I think I got some bad advice from my local dealer. I did my own install of a Hearthstone Homestead stove, and my local dealer
advised me to go with 5 inch solid pipe with insulating wrap because the recommended 6 inch pipe with insulation would not fit into the flue tiles
lining my chimney. They assured me the difference between a 5 inch and 6 inch pipe was insignificant. The chimney is not too tall; only about 13
feet from smoke shelf to top, and I lined the whole flue and installed a cap. The stove works fine, but it is almost impossible to open the door to add
more wood without some smoke wafting into the house. Would I have been better off with a solid 6 inch non-insulated pipe? Can I improve things
by extending the length of pipe sticking out of the chimney (lengthening the chimney)? Would a VacuStack help? I would appreciate your opinion.
Thanks,
Vince Roscigno
The minimum vent size for a given woodstove model is not arrived at arbitrarily: it is determined during meticulous laboratory testing. This
is why Hearthstone states in their brochure, on their website and in the Homestead owners/installation manual that 6" connector pipe and chimney
is the smallest size that may be used.
A 6" round liner has a cross-sectional area of 28.28 sq.inches. Your 5" liner has a cross-sectional area of only 19.64 sq. inches, which is a flue size
reduction of 30 percent! Further, 13 feet is the absolute minimum chimney height specified in the manual. Minimum means all other factors must be
nearly perfect to ensure adequate updraft in a 13 ft. chimney. The combination of flue undersizing and barely-adequate chimney height reads like a
recipe for inefficient burn and smokeback into the house.
You can't extend your flue height with liner pipe: lined masonry or insulated manufactured chimney pipe is required above the existing structure, to
prevent the tremendous loss of updraft and excessive creosote formation that results when wood exhaust cools in the flue. You could add courses of
brick to the chimney to allow extension of your 5" insulated liner within, but in our experience, it would likely require an extreme height addition to
compensate for a 30% reduction in liner size.
The
Vacu-Stack draft cap works on Bernoulli's principle, and will only function when wind is blowing directly onto it. The rest of the time, it has no
effect on chimney draft. The only way we'd recommend a Vacu-Stack to improve your situation is if it is windy all the time where you live.
Had you consulted us prior to your Homestead purchase, we'd have recommended 6" liner with a tight-sealing top plate to provide dead air
insulation, and would have advised you that even then, you might have to extend your chimney height to ensure adequate draft, especially during
times when flue gas temperatures and/or atmospheric conditions aren't ideal.
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I would like to thank you guys very much!!! The insert liner kit worked out perfectly. Easy to install and fit perfectly into the opening on top of my
insert.
Saved 2700 dollars by purchasing the stove as well as the liner kit online and doing it myself!!!
Excellent web site lots of great information and insight.
Thanks again.
Arnie Appleby
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I appreciate you responding to me so quickly. You shipped my liner quicker then I was expecting, and have answered all my questions in a timely
fashion. If I come across any homeowners who need to reline their chimneys, I will recommend your company hands up.
Thanks again for a job well done.
Damien M. Bricka
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Q: How do I determine flue length to see how much liner I need? Thanks... I love the info you provide
Kate Pavelle
We discuss several techniques to determine flue height in our Sweep's Library. To open that page in a new window,
click here.
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I am so glad I purchased my Forever Flex Liner Kit from you folks! After going to my local home repair store and seeing the kit they sell, made in
China, poorly constructed ducting and one-size-fits-all parts that have to be forced together and then riveted or screwed, at a HIGHER PRICE
than you charged me for the far superior Forever Flex kit. I try to buy products made in the USA, not only to support our economy and American
Workers but because I believe we can make a quality product in America.
When I came home today, my wife Joanne said "The hand of God left your box from The Chimney Sweep" I had to laugh, but realized it wasn't
even 48 hours since we ordered. Impressive! (Great Job by FedEx also) When I inspected the contents for damage, I found none and a very neatly
organized kit. All welded parts, adjustable clamps fitting together perfectly without any real effort to a primary snug fit, then secondary holding
with a clamp. Your insight on the large size of my chimney was very helpful to get the right top plate for the kit also.
Thanks to all the folks at The Chimney Sweep who work so hard to be The Best!
I will email again when the warranty runs out....next life?
J Sawyer
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Thank you so much for the fast response and all the help. The product was very well built and I was very pleased with the shipping and packaging.
This is the best on-line transaction I have had.
Thank you again,
Kevin Hall
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Got the kit and insulation first thing Tuesday morning (after only ordering it late the previous Friday afternoon) and installed it that day. Had a fire
going Wednesday morning and it all worked GREAT. Thank you for Superb service on the phone and Superb delivery time. Instructions were easy
to follow (especially after watching the video). A really nice experience from start to finish with The Chimney Sweep.
Thanks again.
Richard Hampton
Ferrisburgh, Vt.
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