Re-lining chimney... how is the clay pipe removed?

Delta_1984

Hi All,

From research I beleive I'll have to re-line my chimney to install a woodburning stove. House is late 60's and would have had a back boiler; long since removed and bricked up. I've just opened it up to the builders opening and found a concrete lintel supporting a 5'' clay pipe lining. As I'll need to have 6'' liner I will have to remove the clay liner. I'm off to the stove shop next week to discuss, but until then, I really want to know how the clay pipe is removed; there's not much on the internet about it that I can find though but I'm sure some of you DIYers know!

I'm braced for a high quote and too difficult a job to tackle myself :S

BuildingFife

Hey,

Their wouldn't normally just be 1 clay liner, the whole chimney is normally clay liner on top of clay liner from top to bottom.

If the stove requires a 6" liner you are definitely going to have problems & a double insulated flue system sounds like what you may require due to your chimney restricting you, or changing stove to one which will work of a 5" liner (their is a few).

Delta_1984

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I realised that the clay pipes are stacked to the roof which makes it seem unlikely I'll be able to remove them myself. I hadn't appreciated that there were stoves compatible with 5'' flues so that is a glimmer of hope - I guess it depends on what condition the clay liner is in as to whether it needs replacing or not!

BuildingFife

Lining a chimney is not actually removing and/or changing these clay liners. I think you may have been falsely informed a little. When you line a chimney you are in actual fact putting a stainless steel liner inside these clay liners connected directly onto an adaptor then your enamel pipe that goes into the spigot of your stove. This stainless steal liner goes right to the top of your chimney and into your chimney pot where it is then secured appropriately.

The big issue you have is that the clay liners are 5" so you won't even get a 5" stainless steal liner down. Has it been confirmed their is a breach in your chimney with a smoke test, as this will confirm whether the chimney requires relining.

Delta_1984

So I went to the stove shop today who recommended a steel liner, having read about it online, I'm thinking it's the best option. So the problem is that a 5'' stainless liner wont fit in the 5'' internal diameter clay pots so they need to go. The shop said that generally the builder will just put a steel bar up there and smash them, causing them to fall down and removed - keep smashing until there's nothing left up there?! He also said that they wont be tied into the chinmey brickwork? Any thoughts?

(Also, if I do this I will be able to put a 6'' liner which will allow different burners)

BuildingFife

I personally wouldn't agree with this, It certainly wouldn't be something I'd advise to do, is their any reason your having to take these out, it's very rare that clay liners leak smoke, and if they aren't why aren't you just tieing into these with a stove that will allow a 5" flue?

The stove shop will always advise for a liner as well their going to make a pretty penny of the liner.

Ectophile

I've got a late 60's house, with a clay lined chimney. When I had the stove installed, I was told by the installer that there was no need for a stainless steel liner as well. It's given me no problems so far.

muckybutt

You wont need a flexible liner if the clay liner is ok !

Get a sweep who can do a pressurised smoke test, this will indicate if the liner is breached, if the smoke test proves there is no breach then tell the stove company to do one !

There is no way that a metal bar will get rid of the clay liner, when fitted these are or should be back filled with cement thus encapsulating the clay liner completely.

I fear this stove company is stringing you a pack of lies as they want to fit a liner for £xxx's ? I often get asked by customers that are having stoves fitted if they need a liner, if I see a clay liner then I go the no you don't route unless it's breached, if on the other hand it is a normal brick chimney then I would normally recommend you go the liner route.

( I am a sweep by the way )

There are quite a few stoves that only require a 5" flue, have a shop around and see what you can get, then all you'll need is a flue pipe from the stove into the clay liner and an adapter (might even be possible to do it with stove rope) to seal the flue pipe and the liner. Make sure though that you can still get access to the chimney for sweeping by either going through the stove or putting a sweep access in the stove flue.

Delta_1984

Thanks for the great advice guys - I'll contact a local sweep

Fingers crossed that the liner is tip-top.

Muckybutt - I assumed that for sweeping, it would be possible to disconnect the burner, move it out of the way and hey presto access straight up from the register plate/lintel?

muckybutt

Delta_1984 wrote: »

Muckybutt - I assumed that for sweeping, it would be possible to disconnect the burner, move it out of the way and hey presto access straight up from the register plate/lintel?

BIG NO NO !

Not many sweeps would even touch a stove installation like that - myself included.

The problem is that as soon as you disturb the stove fitting you will then need to have it resealed and signed back off again for building control. You can self install stoves but you should always get them signed off as safe by either a hetas fitter or the local council building control. Some sweeps are hetas registered and might do it and reissue the certification but it would be far easier and less inconvenience if you had a flue with an access hole in it.

mymedi

Hi,
As for putting a steel bar up into the chimney and smashing up the clay liners - I have to smile. If your chimney is longer than 3 meters (which it almost certainly is) and if it has any bends in it at all (likely), this obviously will not work...
As others have said - get it tested properly first before deciding anything.