Chimney options?

[MDM]

I'm wanting to install a wood burner in my basement. It would be a 150,000 btu Brunco or 120,000 btu Woodchuck furnace. I can take my pick as either furnace is going to be given to me. The Woodchuck is only 2 years old, so I would probably go that route. Anyways, I have to get a chimey installed.

Which would be better, masonry type laid up outside the house, or a triple walled stainless put up through the house? Is anyone more safe? What would the cost differences be? The total length of the chimney if I go the indoor route would be around 15-18'. It would start in the basement, pass thru the main floor, then through the 4/12 pitch roof.

If I go the masonry route, I could go with brick or cinder block type. It would probably need to be around 21' high. Anyone know about how much a brick chimney of this hieght would run me? I know the triple walled stuff is rather expensive, but I would think it would be cheaper to go that route. I'm just worried about safety.

 

[Highbeam]

I removed a masonry chimney and installed a simpson Class A stainless steel chimney system in my home this last year. Replacing the masonry chimney is many times more expensive. Adding a new masonry chimney is even more expensive due to the foundation requirements.

The SS pipe is rated to a very high temperature and supposedly three chimney fires. The interior location of the SS pipe in your case is superior since it will be warmed by the home and draft better sooner. I think the outdoor masonry stack running up a wall is ugly unless you really pour the money into it to make it a work of art. The pipe will be installed in one day compared to many days or weeks for the masonry.

I vote interior SS pipe for the sake of cost, function, and aesthetics.

 

[dmccarty]

What Highbeam said.

We have a double wall stainless steel chimney. Its cheaper and a masonary only chimney seems like it will be work down the road if it is not lined with stainless steel.

If we had too, we could replace our chimney with a days worth of labor.

Later,
Dan

 

[grnspot110]

I don't know if the 'old' style open-end triple wall is still available, if it is, I would stay away from it. It releyed on air circulation between the walls for cooling. Works fine as long as the lower end doesn't plug, but this can happen, causing the pipe to overheat. I would go with the insulated SS pipe if I were replacing. ~~ grnspot110

 

[MDM]

Highbeam, about how long was your chimney run and what did it cost you appx.?

 

[elad]

What ever you decide on kind of chimney; be sure you make provisions
to clean it. Creasote is not your friend in a chimney. elad

 

[wrangler6831]

If you go with the triple wall you will have to get a thimble where it goes from the basement to the 1st floor then another one where it goes through the ceiling and maybe another where it finally goes through the roof, and these are usually the most expensive peices. If you can go through the basement wall this would be the cheapest way to go with the triple wall. You would need a thimble, wall support and a few brackets the hold it to the house. Later on you could box it in and make it match the exterior of the house. If you search google images for trple wall chimney there are some picture of these type or you can look at duravent.com. I think mine for a 22' run and the thimbles was around $1500.00



Rich

 

[randy41]

i've got a double wall stainless and it works real good and is easy to shove a brush down and clean. all the crap falls into the stove and I vacuum it out.
i thought of masonry but it would be way more expensive and disruptive to install.

 

[Highbeam]

Highbeam, about how long was your chimney run and what did it cost you appx.?

My chimney system is mounted to a freestanding soapstone stove in the living room. From the top of the stove I have a single adjustable length of Simpson double wall pipe (extended to 6') to the ceiling support box. (130$ for this connector pipe) Then once in the attic I use two 4' sections of class A Stainless steel solid packed Simpson pipe which extend just about 4' above the roof penetration providing both the minimum total chimney length as well as the proper roof clearances for best draft. At 5' of height I would have needed a roof brace so needed to stay below 5'. This 14' system has no bends and I can brush any creosote right into the stove with no dissassembly. The single joint in the attic is twist-locked as well as screwed for safety. It drafts well and predictably.

The total install was right about 1200$ which included labor, roof flashing, ceiling support box, chimney cap, and whatever other widgets he needed. It was spendy but this is a safety thing for me and I used the best Simpson product they make. The SImpson site has lots of good pictures to help you price out and even build a system.

There is cheaper class A pipe out there that is rated for the same temps. I don't think that they even make triple wall anymore except for specific ZC fireplaces.

You only use one ceiling support box which supports all the class A pipe above the stove. Then each floor that the chimney passes through will utilize a fireblock type thing but not a support system.

 

[Youare]

I have two SS insulated chimneys and one masonary chimney, I used to have two masonary chimneys. The masonary chimney was 25 years old and it needed to be relined. The relining cost was quite high due to the fact that the mason suggested some disassembly. I relined it with a stainless steel lined made for this purpose.

The two SS insulated chimneys I have are much nicer and in my estimation safer. They are not cheap to purchase, but I sleep better at night. Follow the manufacturers instructions. My chimneys are loacted on outside walls so I went with a throught the wal penetration then up the recommended height. I figure there is less chance of roof leaks this way. I have installed a through the roof chimney for a friend 12 years ago and there have been no leaks to date.

The SS insulated chimneys stay cleaner than the masonary chimney does and that one goes up through the center of the house and the metal ones are on the outside. When it comes to cleaning use the recommended brush.

Randy