Chimney flue

I just bought one.
Traveled 240 miles one way to get it.
The Pocono model with the 12" vent.
$2300 plus tax or a little over $2500.
I plan on putting it in the basement into an existing flue.
The flue has been used by the oil burner and is 8x12".
It's inside a stone chimney about 25' high above the thimble.
The stone chimney is 3/4 inside the house and 1/4 out however the attic is unheated.
I am going to assume the general advice is to reline the chimney.
However it seems that there is some dispute here about this.
In particular Berlin seems quite adamant that relining a chimney flue in good shape is a waste of money - including ones as large as 8x12.

Does the company have any opinion on this?
Also I know the power vent is another option.
But there are also some other products on the market which claim to assist draft which appear simpler.
Here is one.
http://www.northlineexpress.com/detail. ... w=5SA-1238


I really don't want to line this chimney unless I have to since in the future someone may wish to convert back to oil.

This is my pea-brain explanation for a SS liner: draft. By putting a 6 or 8 inch liner in your chimney, drafting is increased dramatically. As far as the by-products of the coal burn affecting your masonry chimney, I'm not sure what the answer is. Maybe someone else has that answer.

I would go ahead and install the coal burner into the existing chimney. Beg, borrow or steal a draft gauge and check the draft you are getting. If this chimney has been working fine with an oilburner, I'm reasonably sure that you're going to have plenty of draft.

What you don't want is a reversing draft. This is when, because of warm outside temperatures, variable winds, and low heat in the chimney flue, the draft is weak, and the combustion gasses and fumes from the coalstove will find it easier to go into the room instead of up the chimney.

If you haven't had smoke and smell issues with the oilburner, I doubt that you will with the coal burner. However install plenty of CO detectors!! Also, don't use other items in the house that use a chimney during warm low draft days. Like another insert in another part of the house. The other items may create a strong draft in their chimney, and pull a slight vacuum on the house if it is a tight house. This will reverse a weak draft in another chimney.

Sort of like the person [ a relative]who didn't check to see that the draft damper was closed on the firplace, then turned on the big house exhaust fan that vents into the attic, which should have windows open to operate correctly, right?? Well the only source of outside air was that fireplace chimney, and she sucked a chimney-full of soot into her living room before she realized what was happening. It wasn't a good day.

Hope this helps, Greg L

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there really is no need to reline, should you decide to, well, it's your money, the benefits, if any will be minimal especially if you don't insulate the liner. stainless liners, even 316ti stainless under regular use with coal can only be expected to last 10-20 years, sometimes less; clay liners can, and have lasted over 100 years.