Quality Class A Chimney for Coal; Does It Exist?

 
Cool Customer
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Post by Cool Customer » Wed. May. 22, 2013 7:11 pm

I picked up a used Harman Mark I and want to install Class A chimney. Excel has been touted as a quality chimney, but the inner liner is 304SS, same as Lowes SuperVent I think.
For the price of Excel I could install SuperVent and replace it once when it corrodes.

What I'd really like is to find some 316Ti chimney, which I've heard exists and is best for coal; but try to find it! Ditto on 316L SS; try to find it for more than a rain cap. What's really frustrating is that 316SS liners are available, but not chimney.

Anyone know where to buy SS chimney that will last a long time with proper maintenance? I've tried lots of internet sellers but they all come back to 304SS as their top of the line.


 
crazy4coal
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Post by crazy4coal » Wed. May. 22, 2013 7:27 pm

Olympia chimney.com Scranton Pa

 
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Post by franco b » Wed. May. 22, 2013 8:05 pm

Things that will increase the life of SS chimneys:

316 inner lining

A chimney run through the house as opposed to through the wall to the outside. The inside chimney will stay warmer with less acid formation.

Don't burn wet coal.

Do burn some wood (cleanly) at the beginning and end of season to provide a protective layer of wood ash.

Brush down at end of season.

For a through the wall chimney I have seen recommended to replace the plug at bottom with a screen to allow better circulation when the stove is shut down for the summer.

Keeping it dry is the way to a long life. This means an inner stack temperature of 250 all the way to the top to avoid condensation. That is not always practical so perhaps only the top section will have to be replaced where temps are coolest.

 
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Berlin
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Post by Berlin » Wed. May. 22, 2013 11:16 pm

The only decent class A chimney with coal is masonry. It costs the same or less to put up a block/tile stack compared to stainless class a.

 
grumpy
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Post by grumpy » Thu. May. 23, 2013 1:26 am

Berlin wrote:The only decent class A chimney with coal is masonry. It costs the same or less to put up a block/tile stack compared to stainless class a.
Right, do it once or do it over and over again..

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Thu. May. 23, 2013 4:33 am

I agree. Many have spent hundreds even thousands on a steel chimney. Some last and some don't. From what I've seen, a masonry chimney can't rust lol. Coal ash mixes with moisture and creates sulfuric acid. Metals do not get along very well with it.

Definitely reconsider your options.

 
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dcrane
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Post by dcrane » Thu. May. 23, 2013 6:36 am

Berlin wrote:The only decent class A chimney with coal is masonry. It costs the same or less to put up a block/tile stack compared to stainless class a.
I cant agree with this more! Mind you..."they" wont tell you this at the dealer, building inspector or chimney sweep (Its like a big nation wide concpiracy :lol: ), but this is not even a close debate (its as clear as night vs. day)... You want Masonry Chimney with a Terra Cotta Liner (some call it Tile). As stated above its about the same price anyway (one will last you 2 lifetimes while the other will last you 5 to 15 years at best).

A more debatable question would be to cap or not to cap and what type of cap may be best (many factors may alter the decision) but I'm a HUGE advocate of a simple one piece slat/stone cap open on 4 sides and screened (I think that is the absolute pinnacle of design/function/lifetime quality (even though I don't have one yet :( ), others rather no cap while others might say a directional cap


 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Thu. May. 23, 2013 7:57 am

I have a 6" metalbestos chimney that is on the inside it was put in in 92 or 93 and its just now needing replaced. Its not had any special care just soot brushed out 2-3 times a year, bituminous is lovely stuff.

 
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buffalo bob
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Post by buffalo bob » Thu. May. 23, 2013 8:40 am

Berlin wrote:The only decent class A chimney with coal is masonry. It costs the same or less to put up a block/tile stack compared to stainless class a.
right on

 
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Post by franco b » Thu. May. 23, 2013 10:18 am

buffalo bob wrote:
Berlin wrote:The only decent class A chimney with coal is masonry. It costs the same or less to put up a block/tile stack compared to stainless class a.
right on
This is only true if you ignore labor costs. The disparity of cost is even greater for an inside chimney on the first or upper floor.

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Thu. May. 23, 2013 10:53 am

Up here, if you can find a guy that still does masonry chimneys, your looking at upwards of $3k ... and that's for an external plain-jane getup. In these parts the only option is DIY.

 
Cool Customer
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Post by Cool Customer » Thu. May. 23, 2013 1:02 pm

franco b wrote:
buffalo bob wrote: right on
This is only true if you ignore labor costs. The disparity of cost is even greater for an inside chimney on the first or upper floor.
Thanks for replies all. Yes, I am on an upper floor and a masonry chimney would need to be 26' from the ground up. I've found a dealer for Ventis and am considering going with their 316L SS inner liner chimney. It won't last forever, but neither will I! ;)

 
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Poconoeagle
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Post by Poconoeagle » Thu. May. 23, 2013 1:43 pm

Getting Gretel Going...Green Jotul507

masonary is forever. sometimes the situation or application doesnt permit its use tho. compromise is needed sometimes.

here was my choice. commercial plumbing supply house...

 
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Berlin
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Post by Berlin » Thu. May. 23, 2013 5:44 pm

Not ignoring labor costs. If you're having someone else do it, a good 316ti class a stainless vs. masonry chimney block (not brick) the total cost is basically the same. 8" flue often much cheaper. 26' should be 1500 - 3K depending for masonry.

 
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Post by Wiz » Thu. May. 23, 2013 6:21 pm

2012 I paid $750 for a 24 ft masonry chimney less then SS by along shot. I'm a betting man that you'll out last the SS chimney.


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