Chimney Liner

Muhammad · Aug 9, 2001

I have an chimney for a oil furnace, about 20 years old, with a few cracked tiles. The top two tiles are cracked and one down by the furnace has a hairline crack. If it were just the top two I could have them replaced probably, but the one down by the bottom can't be removed or replaced. So although I don't think the situation poses a fire hazard (I suspect the tiles have been cracked for a long time), I'm looking at getting it relined with a stainless steel liner. Anyone have any experience with this or other relining options?

One quote for a new one came in at $1500... chimney is 6" and I'd say about 25' or something in that range. Had heard from someone else that a liner might be $500-$600 in parts. This same company quoting said $600 or so when first mentioned, but after coming to the house quoted $1500. I don't doubt the company since they are an honest outfit and fair in their pricing. Have had lots of work done by them.

Thanks in advance for any help or thoughts...

AndyR · Aug 9, 2001

Sounds a bit steep if they are not doing any touch up to the top. I paid about $1200 for SS liner (close to 30 feet) and a good bit of repointing of the brick up top. I suspect the going rate will be dependent on the area as well.

Andy in NH

Hillbilly · Aug 9, 2001

Muhamaad,
I had 2 chimneys relined with stainless about 8 years ago,one was a 6" and the other an 8",both about 25' to 30' high,the Chimney Sweep also wrapped it with insulation,he done a real professional/neat installation for a little over $3000,although he a had a fare amount of labor,I had a tile that had cracked in one flue and had fell over blocking the draft in the chimney and the other flue had a crack.I could not believe how brittle the clay tile had become(the house was only about 6 years old)I thought it was money well spent after I seen how good of a job the Chimney Sweep had done. I was thinking I seen a web page for Chimney Sweeps you might get some advice,but if you know and trust who you are dealing with I would not think $1500 would be that bad installed. Just my opinion, either way let us know how it turns out.

Mike H · Aug 9, 2001

When I converted from oil to propane 2 yrs ago I needed a liner. I installed a 25', 5" aluminum liner myself without any difficulty. I just looked up what I paid: $111.86. Aluminum may not be an option with the temperature of your exhaust gases but from the sounds of the cost difference, it might be worth a question.

StanInCalif · Aug 10, 2001

Muhammad-
Something seems wrong here- if I read you correctly- $1500 for a new chimney and the same price for a liner. I think this bears looking into the quality of materials and workmanship involved. It is impossible to give a definitive answer without actually looking at your situation, but I can offer the following general comments: An oil-fired furnace is less demanding on a chimney than a wood stove in terms of heat and deposits, which, of course can come back to haunt you and put some real stress on the chimney. Small cracks in the tiles may or may not be a problem- it depends on the construction and condition of the rest of the chimney and its proximity to combustibles. But, again generally speaking, a stainless steel liner, properly installed, is a good thing, and might just be the best money you ever spent. Structure fires usually originate at one of the heat sources in the house, and this is a major one. -And then there is the matter of peace of mind. -Stan

Gomez · Aug 10, 2001

Muhammad,

I installed a fireplace insert last year. While I could have got by with the existing clay liner, I installed a 29' SS liner. Pretty simple although it is definately a two person task. My cost for the liner and cap was around $675. The stove shop I bought the liner from estimated it would be about $500-600 to install.

Good Luck!

gws · Aug 10, 2001

Why have the chimney lined, why not just run a new pipe down the stack? When we put in a new furnace I had to have a new pipe due to cracks in the existing tile. Cost about $300 for a new ~25ft pipe installed.
The same distance lined would have been $2000.

Gary.

cowboydoc · Aug 10, 2001

When I put my new woodstove insert in last year I put a new pipe in as well just to be safe. The stuff I put in was the fire resistant insulated liner type that you are talking about. My cost was about $20 a foot for the top of the line material. I put in 25' and it was about $450 just for the pipe as I did it myself.