Remove damper "housing" or ovalize liner?

[chimneylinerjames]

How do you clean an ovalized liner properly?

Search for sooteater, they will work great for a liner that is oval.

 

[a316co2000]

I googled sooteater and that thing looks pretty awesome. Is there some reason they clean from the bottom up? I think for me it would be a lot easier to get on the roof and clean from the top down.

 

[chimneylinerjames]

They clean it from the bottom just because then you don't have to go on the roof. Obviously either one will work, if anything going on the roof will ensure a better job is done.

 

[begreen]

It makes me sick to my stomach to think of breaking out 25 feet of virgin clay tiles that never saw even a puff of smoke. What should that cost to break out?

Ovalizing is tempting but I am also concerned about the bend in the smoke chamber.

Thanks for all the tips - this ain't an easy decision.

Another option is a pre-insulated liner like DuraLiner. That will have a smaller OD and may help you avoid breaking tiles. They have ovalized flex sections that lock onto round sections for a complete install.

 

[fire_man]

The Duraliner product is confusing. First they say: "DuraLiner is double-wall constructed and factory insulated so there is no need to insulate the liner as with other chimney liners."

Then they say;

• Factory insulated with a 0.5" insulation blanket
• Use through damper and smoke shelf area
• Use with DuraLiner Two-Ply Insulation Sleeve, where flex extends into clay liner or for zero-clearance applications

They seem to contradict themselves. First they say no need to insulate, then they say use with two ply insulation sleeve.