Flue liners worthless warranties

The_History_Man

Hi
In 2007 we bought the highest spec 904 liner for our stove. We sought advice from the seller - Fluestore - and had it fitted by a competent person, our regular builder. It seems that this was OK to do until 2010 since when all work has to be done by a HETAS fitter or other competent person, the work then having to be inspected by Building Control or their agent. The liner had a 20 year warranty. In January we found segments of liner in our sweepings and our builder found the liner had a corroded section at the top. We contacted the supplier who asked us how we used the fire - smokeless fuel, some dry logs and we keep the fire in overnight. It appears that no fire should be turned down overnight, allowed to 'slumber' or turned down during the day when the house is empty. Warranty claim refused.

It seems that wood burners and fuel stoves should be allowed to go out when not able to work at the ideal temperature range.

Not one website I have found says that 'slumbering' invalidates any attractive warranty and as such all warranties are invalid and should not be used as a selling point.

No one I know puts their fire out at the end of the evening to re light the following day - and if the fire is allowed to go out naturally this would equate to slumbering.

Therefore, it is almost impossible to make a warranty claim if a liner fails.

I hope this information prevents others from being misled.

rustyboy21

At the end of the day, a warranty can consist of anything a manufacturer states is required to fulfill your obligations to the Warranty. It is not a legal right.

They could put ridiculous criteria into a warranty, like you have to wear a pink hoola skirt on the third sunday of each month, unless you void your warranty. Warranties are more of a gimmick than a benefit really IMO and I sell fires with 5 years warranty on them.

The issue you have is more, YOU cannot prove that you have not burned something which would disintegrate the liner over a period of years and they cannot prove that you have. So they will be going for the easiest option to get out of it. There are a lot of things which can make a liner deteriorate over time, either burning the wrong fuel, burning unseasoned wood ( can you prove that you haven't?) Condensation in the liner from a cold chimney stack, leaking cowl letting in rain, mixing with soot and creating tar etc.

Has the sweep said it is now destroyed? It may only be the internal lining that has gone flaky, it may still be ok and sealed. Ask one to use a camera to check it out.

The_History_Man

Thanks for your comments - I have accepted that I have not met the warr. disintegrated just below the cowlI was hoping to inform others that such warranties are worthless and that really no liner can be expected to last more than 6 or 7 years. My in - laws had a liner installed for a mulit-fuel stove burning Homelite by a leading West Country stove selling company. It had a large cowl which covered the top of the chimney well, was insulated with vermiculite and was swept at least once a year by a local experienced sweep. It lasted 6 years. They burnt almost exclusively Homelite but allowed the fire to slumber over night. What came down in the sweepings was exactly what we found in ours except lots of vermiculite came down also.

I object to liner sellers using worthless warranties to promote their businesses - I certainly used the warranty claims when I chose liner and seller.

stator

Take them to small claims court. They'll probably offer a settlement

System

I have seen stove/flue manufacturers stating that you shouldn't burn your fire like that as it creates creosote build up - if you are not using it correctly it will be difficult to claim a warranty

rustyboy21

The_History_Man wrote: »

Thanks for your comments - I have accepted that I have not met the warr. disintegrated just below the cowlI was hoping to inform others that such warranties are worthless and that really no liner can be expected to last more than 6 or 7 years. My in - laws had a liner installed for a mulit-fuel stove burning Homelite by a leading West Country stove selling company. It had a large cowl which covered the top of the chimney well, was insulated with vermiculite and was swept at least once a year by a local experienced sweep. It lasted 6 years. They burnt almost exclusively Homelite but allowed the fire to slumber over night. What came down in the sweepings was exactly what we found in ours except lots of vermiculite came down also.

I object to liner sellers using worthless warranties to promote their businesses - I certainly used the warranty claims when I chose liner and seller.

But the same ca be said for any warranty on any appliance available to buy today, it is not restricted to flue liners.

Liners can and will last many, many years if used correctly.

Before the advent of wall mounted gas boilers, the traditional Baxi back boiler was a main stay in UK homes, over 3 million installed. There are still approx a million still working happily in peoples homes today. Most of these ( apart from very early models) were installed with a liner, of an inferior quality to the one you have installed. They are still in full working order 30 years after their installation.

I appreciate that you are unhappy with what has happened to you, but looking at the comment you made, something has made the liner deteriorate , which is not the fault of the liner. I know they cost a fortune, that is one of the reasons I do not sell SF stoves anymore, too much aggro with all the add ons you have to charge to punter. But a stove is an animal, it behaves differently in each home. what happens in one home, doesnt in another. If you burn a certain fuel on it in one home, it will react differently in another. In effect, it is just a glorified bonfire, with doors. You can burn what you like, but it is on your head. The get out clauses from stove manufacturers on what they will cover you for varies wildly and each supplier will have it's own way of an install, some want liners, some don't. If you don't fit it to their liking, then void warranty.

Thats why I wouldn't give one space in my house, too much messing, too much effort feeding them and too much mess. Give me Gas anyday, preferably remote control, lol