chiney liner questions?

Question

I have a few questions regarding chimney liners

1) I will need 2 liners about 20 and 30 feet long. I have gotten estimates ranging from $1500-$5000. That is obviously a wide margin. What is a reasonable price for the liners installed with insulation

2) Half the contractors/shops I spoke with said insulation around the liner is necessary, while the other half said it wasn't necessary. Is the insualation necessary?
--we have an outside brick chimney. The flue 'is cracked in a few areas', this is why we need a new liner

3) Another contractor I spoke to said it may be necessary to take out the old clay tiles before putting the new liner in. would this be necessary if I'm getting a new stainless steel liner put in? considering nobody else mentioned removing the current tiles.

Any advice to save me a little money would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

It is for two freestanding wood stoves

Answer 1

are you using this for a fireplace or just for furnace and hot water tank?

if its just for the furnace and hwt, dont pay what they re quoting you.i can get an aluminum 6"30 footer including cap and collar for 85 bucks. thats wholesale, but it sure inst a grand.

Answer 2

Okay first a little education. If you put in a stainless steel liner you do not need any insulation. The old flue was made to be outside and made to get hot, it IS made out of bricks after all.

A new liner is necessary because the clay liner is damaged. If it where possible you could take out the damaged clay liner and install a new one and you would be as good as new. Since this is not feasible you are simply lining the liner that is already there. That is ALL you need to do

Whomever told you they must remove the old ones is either lieing to you or does not know what they are doing themselves. You never ever have to do that.

Also the price you have been quoted are absurdly high. If you happen to live in or near Saint Louis I will be glad to give you an estimate. I can be reached at jamesboyer_1958@ Yahoo.com.

I am a heating and cooling professional with over 30 years of experience. I am also a full time Instructor and I teach heating and cooling here in Saint Louis.

Answer 3

First, you don't need to insulate the liners. Second, you don't need to take out the clay tiles. The liner goes inside it. Third, that price range sounds absolutely ridiculous. A air price would be about $1000. Depending on the situation, you can also use one liner instead of two.

Answer 4

just install a new liner, [that will fit inside of the old one] stainless is great,
more work means more $ for them,