Install a DIY Chimney Liner Start to Finish
Hi, I am Robert from Northline Express. We are going to show you how to install the DIY Chimney liner. The first thing you will need to do for this install is remove all of your components from the box. This will include a tee or stove top adapter, top plate, cap and the chimney liner.
The liner comes in a coil so the first thing that has to happen is that it needs to be straightened out. Remove the protective plastic coating and lay the liner flat.
Before the install of your chimney liner you will need to perform the following tasks:
• Clear your chimney of any obstructions and debris.
• Hire a sweep to clean the chimney for you or clean it yourself.
• Inspect your chimney. Look for cracked, loose or missing bricks or stones.
• Measure your chimney.
The basic measurements you need before you select a chimney liner kit are the height of your chimney and the inside dimensions of your existing flue. From the top of your chimney measure to the top of the fireplace smoke chamber or the connection point for your wood stove or furnace. Now that you have cleaned and inspected your chimney and figured out which liner kit you need, you can begin the install of your liner.
Follow these simple guidelines to install your chimney liner system:
Chimney Liner: The installation of your Chimney Liner Kit has to be done from the top. You might be able to perform the installation alone, however since you will be working on the roof, it is safer to have someone help you. The flexible chimney liner will need to be lowered down the chimney shaft. Using a winch will make navigating the liner down through the chimney a little easier.
Lower the liner slowly to make sure you don’t damage it in any way and screw on the top plate at the bottom of the liner to keep it in place and to avoid any smoke from getting into the house from the chimney.
Stove Top Adapter: If your chimney lining kit came with a stove top adapter, the next step will be to slip the adapter over the end of the chimney liner that you have pulled down through the smoke stack into the fireplace opening. You will then tighten the pipe clamp. It is recommended that you use furnace cement before attaching the adapter so that you have an air tight seal and this will help to ensure an adequate draft.
You will now insert the stove top adapter into the vent on the appliance. Again you will want to use furnace cement when attaching the adapter to the appliance to ensure a snug fit. Slide your appliance into place and not you are ready to move on to the next step; back to the roof.
Tee: If your chimney lining kit came with a tee, the next step will be to remove a sufficient amount of brick and mortar to allow access for the installation of the tee’s snout at the base of the chimney where the heating appliance vent connector attaches the tee to the lining system. Next, separate the tee from its snout and attach the tee to the liner with the fasteners provided.
Drop or pull the liner with the attached tee, without the snout, through the chimney until the tee rests in the base of the chimney where the brick and mortar were previously removed. Next, attach the snout and place the end-cap on the bottom of the tee with the fasteners provided and attach the pipe connecting the heating appliance to the tees snout.
Seal the area around the tee where the brick and mortar were removed with a furnace cement product. Using a high temperature silicone product, seal the joints where the snout of the tee connects to the pipes from the heating appliance. Next, connect the heating appliance vent connector to the tee adapter as per local code and appliance manufacturer’s written instructions.
Top Plate: Slide the top plate over the liner and center it on the clay tile. The top plate seals the top of the chimney and supports the flexible liner. Next, you’ll want to mark the outline of the clay tile on the underside of the top plate. Remove the top plate and trim it to the sized marked.
Trim the liner so that 4″ of liner extends above the top of the clay tile. Apply a wide bead of high-temperature silicone around the top surface of the clay tile. Place the top plate over the liner and slide down the silicone. Hold the top plate in place and firmly press to create a good seal. Screw the four fasteners provided through the 2″ collar of the top plate and into the liner. Be sure not to fasten the screws too tight.
Cap: Apply a bead of high temperature silicone to the inside of the top section of the liner and to the lower section of the rain cap. Place the rain cap into the top section of the liner and push down until the bead of the rain cap meets the liner and remove the excess silicone.
The stainless steel rain cap acts as a protective covering or housing for the top of the chimney. The rain cap is intended to prevent birds, rain, snow and other foreign object from entering your chimney or entering your home from the chimney. The stainless steel cap also prevents downdrafts.
Now to finish off the installation, apply a small amount of silicone to the screws that have been used to secure the top plate and any holes or gaps that you may see. This helps close off any holes that could possible effect the draft of your chimney.
I hope you have found this information to be helpful. If you follow the steps that we have provided, you should be able to install your liner like a pro. Make sure that you check out our Chimney Liner Learning Center to find even more how to videos and articles on chimney liners.