Triple Wall Chimney, Can I use it or not for wood stove?

[oldsaws]

So after dozens of hours of researching and reading I still don't have a clear answer on whether or not you can vent a wood stove through triple wall chimney. I know there are different types of triple wall, this chimney may be too old to be HT 103 Class A. Many say that they have been doing it for years with out a problem and other sources say that if you do it you will most definitely burn your house down unless it is HT103 rated.

I know that there must be a work around that would allow us to do this in a safe way. Does it mean lining it, does it mean more frequent inspections and cleanings, having chimney fire contingencies in place? The type of stove or the amount of use.... etc.

Here's the scenario. My dad's house needs supplementary heat. He has a rarely used fire place downstairs that is a prefab with a prefab triple wall chimney (approx 15 years old) that runs outside the house in a chase up the side of the house.

I can't access the chimney to determine what class rating it has. I can access the top but I don't know what I am looking for to be able to tell if it is HT103 Class A. We are planning on having a chimney inspector come out and look at it, and he'll likely say that it is an air cooled chimney.

If we assume that it is an air cooled triple wall, what would he have to do in order to be able to use it?

Thank you in advance.

Ian

 

[mtngun]

Depends on your local codes and on your insurance company.

If I wanted to, I could build a chimney out of mud and sticks because there is no building code and no insurance.

Where I come from, triple wall stainless is considered the good stuff. I can't imagine what would be better ? The only difficulty I foresee is tying into it in a clean way.

Let us know what your inspector recommends, for our general edification.

Edit: I forgot to ask the size. Generally, fireplace chimneys are a larger diameter than stove chimneys. However, if it is too big, perhaps you could drop a liner down it ? Just a thought.

 

[oldsaws]

Depends on your local codes and on your insurance company.

If I wanted to, I could build a chimney out of mud and sticks because there is no building code and no insurance.

Where I come from, triple wall stainless is considered the good stuff. I can't imagine what would be better ? The only difficulty I foresee is tying into it in a clean way.

Let us know what your inspector recommends, for our general edification.

Edit: I forgot to ask the size. Generally, fireplace chimneys are a larger diameter than stove chimneys. However, if it is too big, perhaps you could drop a liner down it ? Just a thought.

Thanks for the input.
1 we'll look into local codes and dad's insurance.
2 re: triple wall stainless, What could be better? What I've researched says there are 3 types of triple wall. Air cooled, air insulated and HT103 rated Class A. What I've read says that "air cooled" Triple wall is fire hazard because the air cooling creates creosote build up and the air cooled triple wall chimney is not rated for the heat of chimney fire. Is this not the case?
3 If the chimney is 8", you're saying that I might be able to put a 6" insulated flex liner it?

Thanks.
Ian
4

 

[Cerran]

I put a 6" insulated flex liner down my 9" triple wall chimney connected to a mid-70's prefab fireplace and it works great. The trick is insulating the liner to meet the UL1777 code.

 

[wkpoor]

A pre fab fireplace chimney will not have a class A chimney pipe. I've got the same thing on my fireplace on the first floor. Its probably double wall pipe with air space. I would line it it to be safe. At that point it might be better than class A chimney. Mine is 10" so lining should be easy. *' will make it a little tight but doable I'm sure.