Hey all,
Back in June I had my old masonry chimney relined with a stainless steel liner. The local chimney sweep said this was the best route, and so I hired him to do the install. Now, a few months later I finally pull off the cover over the thimble and discover a couple of things about the install that makes me a little nervous. I should have checked this out when the chimney sweep was working on it, but didn't. Live and learn.
Anyway, I'd like to know if what he did is actually safe. First off, he stuffed fiberglass insulation around the thimble, so that there's a 2" layer of insulation between it and the drywall. I've read that putting anything between the thimble and combustibles is not recommended.
Also, because of the angle going from the thimble to chimney, he seems to have left a gap between where the horizontal piece enters the flue. This gap, too, has been stuffed with fiberglass insulation. Now, I can reason that the draft will pull all gases through the stainless steel and that maybe the fiberglass will melt but is backed by masonry anyway so there's little danger in this, but that's largely just me trying to convince myself it will work.
I'd like to know from folks more experienced in this realm if this sort of thing is standard practice, or if I hired an incompetent chimney sweep?
I'll try to post pictures as soon as I can find my digital camera. That might help clarify the situation a little better.
thanks!
~wildeyes
Back in June I had my old masonry chimney relined with a stainless steel liner. The local chimney sweep said this was the best route, and so I hired him to do the install. Now, a few months later I finally pull off the cover over the thimble and discover a couple of things about the install that makes me a little nervous. I should have checked this out when the chimney sweep was working on it, but didn't. Live and learn.
Anyway, I'd like to know if what he did is actually safe. First off, he stuffed fiberglass insulation around the thimble, so that there's a 2" layer of insulation between it and the drywall. I've read that putting anything between the thimble and combustibles is not recommended.
Also, because of the angle going from the thimble to chimney, he seems to have left a gap between where the horizontal piece enters the flue. This gap, too, has been stuffed with fiberglass insulation. Now, I can reason that the draft will pull all gases through the stainless steel and that maybe the fiberglass will melt but is backed by masonry anyway so there's little danger in this, but that's largely just me trying to convince myself it will work.
I'd like to know from folks more experienced in this realm if this sort of thing is standard practice, or if I hired an incompetent chimney sweep?
I'll try to post pictures as soon as I can find my digital camera. That might help clarify the situation a little better.
thanks!
~wildeyes