Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Chimney liner question

Hello everyone

All but one of my clay tile liners have come loose and dropped about two feet in my chimney. The top liner is intact and looks very securely attached to the crown. Once I remove the loose liners, I plan on installing a flexible stainless steel liner kit.

My question is, can I install the liner with the top tile in place, or should I remove it? I will be using a 6" dia. liner, and the openning in the tile liner is 7" by 6.75". The chimney is internal, and the liner will be about 22' long.

Thanks in advance

If the upper section of the flue liner is fixed rigidly to the chimney, I would try to leave it in place. It will provide stability to the remaining portion of your brick chimney.

I am not an expert on metal liners (I hope you are using a double wall stainless), but I assume there must be some sort of a transition to provide a seal between the top flue liner and the metal liner. You don't want water and critters to get down between the two. Also, make sure you have a cap on the top of the liner to prevent rain and snow from entering the metal liner.

Dick

Thanks for the reply Dick.

The top liner is solidly in place with no cracks in it or the surrounding mortar. I am glad I can keep it in there.

As far as the kits I am looking at, they include caps, adapters, flashing, etc..., so it will be water and varmint proof.

Now I just have to get the loose liners out of there.

Thanks again