Hello all, I haven't posted in a while, been pretty busy with back to back newborn sons. I'm about to get the stove going this year and had a question about liner insulation after a discussion with a volunteer assistant fire chief scared the heck out of me. I have a 110+ year old home, 3 floors, with a partial interior (for 2 of the floors) masonry chimney. It runs in between my sons' bedrooms. The integrity of the chimney interior is questionable according to the inspector. Last year I put in a new liner. A 304L Champion Heavy Flex Chimney Liner Kit - 6". It cost a fortune, especially since I don't feel comfortable going 40 feet in the air to install it myself. The installer did not recommend insulated liner at the time. I thought the liner itself would be enough at the time. Because I didn't know any better. Now, I don't feel comfortable burning the stove without insulation due to fire hazard. So it looks like buying the blanket wrap insulation from Woodland Direct is going to cost be $600 to buy, not to mention the cost of pulling the liner, wrapping it, then reinstalling. My question is, should the blanket wrap be the preferred and safest method? What about the pour in insulation sold by Woodland direct for $60 per bag? Is that a vermiculite type insulation and how good is the vermiculite? What about the Thermix Chimney Liner pour in? I've read it is difficult to get the liner centered enough to guarantee the minimum 1 inch insulation for safety with the pour ins. I don't have a block off plate yet, so I'd have to build one. I also read I should put a plate at the throat of the chimney with pour-ins, not just at the opening of the firebox. So what is the bigger hassle, pulling and reinstalling the liner, or building the block-off plates? All opinions welcome. Thanks in advance.
I think you are fine with what you have. Insulating it would be an added bonus, but I'm not sure it's worth all that work. Proper use of the stove and properly seasoned wood should cut back on any buildup. Have you had issues with buildup? Also, what was the inside diameter of the chimney before the liner? If it is too tight in there insulation won't fit anyway.
I cant tell you comfortably what to do but I can offer this. Sounds like you need 40 ft of insulation not sure how many places sell that or if you could get away with 35ft. If you can do 35ft then this Chimney Liner Flue Pipe Blanket Wrap Insulation Kits - Pour-Down Insulation | Rockford Chimney Supply would save you some dollars. I got my liner and insulation from them and it is nice.
I'm not really worried about creosote. My real concerns are the heat working its way through the old chimney into the combustibles behind it and catching fire. I figure I'd to buy two 25 foot blanket liners. $600 total.
I cant imagine the wrap insulation is that expensive.... Look around.... Ebay maybe, I think it can be bought for a lot less...
I would go with the vermiculite. It would fill in the air space and if by chance the liner failed, there wouldn't be any void for smoke to get into.
