A stainless steel chimney liner costs $400 to $1000 and more depending on the length and width of the chimney. Liners being sold and installed by a chimney professional average $1500 to $2500, this price can go up depending on the height, quality, accessories, and difficulty of installation.
What is the cost to install a stainless steel chimney liner?
As an experienced installer, chimney sweep, and inspector, I’m happy to give you a personalized in-depth understanding of the average cost of a stainless steel chimney liner installation so you can make the proper decision when buying yours, so continue reading and take advantage of all the useful information in this post about the cost of a stainless steel chimney liner and having it installed.
FireFlex Flexible Chimney Liner
This flexible chimney liner kit comes with a Tee kit and Rain, cap the liner is 6 inches round x 25 feet long
The average cost to install a stainless steel chimney liner
A stainless steel chimney liner is used specifically with wood-burning appliances like wood-burning stoves, wood-burning inserts, fireplaces, furnaces, etc., and is designed to be installed inside an existing masonry chimney.
The average price including installation from a professional is from $1500 to $2500 for a single-story home and this could go up to $5000 or more depending on the height of your home, the brand you choose, the quality of liner that is installed, and the difficulty to install it.
The average cost to install a stainless steel chimney liner is $1500 to $2500 for a single-story home and up to $5000 depending on the height.
Jonathan A.
These are the average costs to install a stainless steel chimney liner for most chimney sweeps but these costs are not set in stone, everyone manages their own price range because they understand their individual expenses to do a job, and these prices can vary depending on where you live among other things that will be mentioned later on in this post, but with that said this guide will give you a very good idea of what to expect.
Wind Directional Chimney Cap
This rain cap is 6″ round so it will fit any stainless steel liner, it is made to be windproof which eliminates downdrafts by turning in the direction the wind blows, and of course, it is made in the USA
Generally, these costs are averaged by cost per foot taking into consideration all factors of the installation and the time needed to complete the work, just to break it down a fair average cost would be between $55 to $100 plus per foot including liner and installation. We will also talk about important price factors like how liner accessories can raise the price of installation if needed.
Installation factors
The average cost to install a stainless steel chimney liner can change depending on the factors mentioned below:
- The height of a chimney
- The bends in a chimney
- The diameter of a chimney
- Clay tile deterioration
- The stainless steel chimney liner accessories needed
- Flex liner or ridged liner can change the price
Continue reading below to see why each one of these things makes a difference in the liner cost.
Height of a chimney
Height is an important factor because the average stainless steel chimney liner installation in a bungalow is around 20 to 25 feet more or less, so every foot costs a little more and the liner materials and labor prices go up because there is more involved to complete the installation
Bends in a chimney
Bends in a chimney can make the difference in cost also because the installer will probably need a helper to guide the liner down the chimney, this is done with a rope or cable to navigate through any corners or bends if that’s the case for your chimney this is a two-man job leading to more labor costs.
Diameter of a chimney
Chimney diameters make a difference when working with a stainless steel liner because your clay tiles could be 8” or 12” rectangle for example, and your stainless steel chimney liner could be 9” round so the liner won’t fit without making it an oval, this press takes more time but most installers and chimney sweeps have the tools to do the job.
Clay tile deterioration
Clay tile deterioration, clay tile deterioration can be a costly factor in a liner installation because if the clay tiles are cracked, broken, or too small to fit a new liner, in some cases, you will need to break them out to install a new liner, this press takes time and it is definitely a two-man job, in this presses the clay tiles are broken out with a drill connected to a special set of rods and block on the end to break them out.
Something else that is important is that the top of your chimney is in good shape and there are no bricks cracked or falling away, if there are at the time of installation ask the chimney sweep or installer about the cost of repairing it right then and there because they are already working on the chimney and you could save a lot of money in the long run if there is only minor work to be done in the repair.
Stainless steel chimney liner accessories
Stainless steel chimney liner accessories can raise the price and there are instances when you will need them, for example in some instances wood-burning inserts installed into a fireplace may need a liner offset box costing around $100 this is used to connect to the liner if there is a jog at the bottom where the wood-burning insert meets the liner, this is because the liner can’t flex enough to connect directly into the appliance, this installation can be time-consuming and difficult.
Another accessory that can be very important is an insulated wall thimble and possibly a thimble extension, this can cost anywhere from $200 to $300 depending on the brand of the liner, the thimble is used to go through an interior wall with combustibles like wood, drywall, etc. for this part to be installed you may be looking at some extra cutting into the wall for installation.
Remember, most installers will charge more for any extra time spent installing these parts. I can tell you from experience that these two parts can be very tedious and time-consuming to install.
Stainless Steel Flexible Chimney Liner
This Rockford Chimney Supply stainless steel flex liner kit is 6 Inches x 15 Feet with a blanket insulation kit that wraps around it to keep it warm.
This chimney liner is constructed of 316 stainless steel that exceeds all the chimney industry standards
Flex liner vs ridged liner?
That’s a good question, well flex liner is a bit cheaper and can navigate bends in the flue it isn’t quite as strong as a ridged liner, now ridged liner comes in 3-foot lengths from most companies but this could vary.
also, the installation process is a bit different because it can be screwed or riveted together, personally, I prefer rivets, the downside to the ridged liner is that you can’t navigate bends but if your flue is straight then ridged liner is a much better option because it is stronger and will last longer then flex liner.
At the time of assessment by a professional, you can ask about your options in using ridged liners.
One of the best brands I highly recommend for the ridged liner is “Excellent” made by ICC Chimney it’s solid and durable, so it can be a great option to ask about when you find an installer.
How long will a stainless steel chimney liner last?
How long will a stainless steel chimney liner last? Well, this can be compared to when you buy a car, most of us before buying will read some consumer reports about the pros and cons of the car we want to buy and we know that some car makers a better than others and are well-known for their quality.
Part of buying something new is that we want the best quality that our money can buy and part of that is knowing how long something might last, especially if it’s a home improvement.
A Chimney liner will last 25 to 30 years
Jonathan A.
Stainless steel chimney liners will last 25 to 30 years depending on the brand and can last much longer if taken care of, take a look below at some factors that will make your liner last as long as possible.
Stainless steel chimney liners have an average life span like everything we buy but definitely can last longer and this depends on three key factors, let’s take a look at them.
Chimney liner brand
The brand of the stainless steel chimney liner is important because there are small differences in thickness and quality, “type 304 stainless steel” is the standard of a high-quality liner and they come generally in the thickness of 5″, 5.5″, 6″, 7″ & 8″ diameters, 6” is the most commonly used in modern stoves and these come in flex liner or ridged, they can also be ordered from some companies in larger sizes.
Most liners will come in a kit complete with accessories like a chimney rain cap and a bottom tee
Annual cleanings
Annual chimney cleaning, most chimney sweeps recommend annual cleanings as a minimum but if you use your appliance a lot you may need 2 cleanings a year, these cleanings help the liner work properly helping it last longer, just like a car as we mentioned before will last us longer if we do regular maintenance, always think of the chimney as the motor of your wood-burning system and if it’s taken care of it will last you a long time and run without letting you down.
Chimney usage
Amount of usage your chimney gets, How often do you use yours? If you say every day you are probably in the 25 to 30-year life span, so like anything the more you use it the faster it will wear out, if you said it’s just used on weekends of a couple of days a week then it’s probably going to last longer for sure.
Is a stainless steel chimney liner necessary?
Well, you may be thinking that the price is high for something you can’t see, If you feel this way it’s understandable, that’s why it’s important to talk about why liners are important.
To have a better understanding of how they function, why they are needed, and better understand the cost. A stainless steel chimney liner is used in conjunction with wood-burning appliances connecting to a masonry chimney, the stainless steel chimney liner maintains proper airflow from your open fireplace, wood stove, wood insert, furnace, pellet stove, etc.
Liners are very important in maintaining proper airflow that improves your appliance efficiency and will draw better, allowing it to function properly and to burn less fuel producing a more efficient burn, it even makes your fire easier to start, the liner also doesn’t allow smoke out, or outside air in, becoming one solid piece of pipe from top to bottom inside your masonry chimney and for safety reasons that’s exactly what you want.
The chimney is the motor in all wood burning systems
Jonathan A.
In the wood-burning appliance industry, we say as mentioned above that the chimney is the motor of the system, that is said because a liner that is properly sized or proportioned to your appliance will make it work much better.
Let me give you an example if you have a wood stove that requires a 6” liner which most modern stoves do, then the liner you connect to it should be 6” this makes the complete system with equal proportions from top to bottom.
Why is this important? well, the airflow will be perfectly proportioned for the stove, and because of that, the whole system will work more efficiently.
Now if that same stove has an 8” liner connected to it and the stove is proportioned with a 6″ opening the airflow will slow considerably, it will be less efficient and you will have more creosote buildup because not the smoke is traveling slower, allowing for more accumulation of creosote.
Always try to put the same size liner on the same size opening on your stove, most modern stoves have a 6″ opening, see your user’s manual for more information.
So we can see how the clay chimney liner or stainless steel chimney liner inside your chimney, in this case, is the motor of your appliance, just like the motor in a car it needs to be sized properly otherwise it will lack power or have too much, not being optimal for that vehicle.
How do I know If I need a stainless steel chimney liner?
This is the million-dollar question “how do I know if I need a stainless steel chimney liner?” To answer this question there are a few visual things you can do first as a homeowner to make a possible assessment before calling an expert.
Clay tile deterioration
The first reason you might need a liner is if you have decay in your clay chimney liner inside your chimney, clay tile deterioration is common if your chimney doesn’t have a rain cap to give it the proper protection, so over time, clay tile can deteriorate and become brittle especially if they have had water entering and freezing and thawing, causing it to decay and crack.
Sometimes a homeowner can detect this problem without a professional chimney sweep, one way is if you look up inside the damper of your fireplace and see shards of broken clay tile on the smoke shelf or you see clay till shards are inside your fireplace from time to time if this is the case then you need to call a professional chimney sweep to asses it before it gets worse.
Clay tile cracks
Another possible way to tell is if you go outside and see hairline cracks in the clay tile or broken pieces these would be good indications that you may need a new liner and that you need to call a professional for an assessment.
Also if you have a wood stove connected to a brick chimney you can pull the black pipe out, then looking in the hole you should be able to see the clay tile, a good indication that there’s a problem is if you see any hairline cracks in that part of the clay tile liner, this is a good indication that there are probably more cracks al the way threw the chimney from bottom to top.
If this is your situation it would be good to call a licensed chimney sweep to visually inspect the inside of the chimney and give you an assessment of any damage, typically you will need a liner installed in this situation.
Chimney liner replacement
Are you in need of a chimney liner replacement for an existing liner that is damaged or old, this could be because of a broken or cracked liner, steel chimney liners can sometimes pull apart during cleaning if a brush is too tight on the liner, a chimney fire can cause a liner to lose its structural integrity then you need to have it replaced, and sometimes a chimney liner was never installed correctly from the beginning?
Regardless of what’s wrong with your liner the process and cost to replace it are the same for an installer.
When should I call a chimney sweep for a chimney liner inspection?
If you use your chimney regularly you should get your chimney swept annually and this is a perfect time to ask for a visual inspection this way make sure there are no problems within the chimney, most chimney sweeps include a visual inspection a sweep
In the case that your sweep finds a problem visually, he can do a deeper inspection to evaluate the situation.
Cost of a chimney liner inspection
Most chimney sweeps have a specialized camera that can detect any possible defects or problems you might have, this comes with an additional cost of around $150 to $250 but is well worth the cost and peace of mind to know everything is okay if you need work done on it.
What to expect from a chimney liner inspection
If there are any problems a professional can guide you in what to do and explain any necessary work that needs to be done, if you are wondering who to call in your area finding a reputable company is easy, the best thing to do is ask your neighbors and friends who they use.
You can also look up a licensed sweep nearest to you in the USA at CSIA
And In Canada WETT
You want to find a company that gives you an assessment that comes with a recommendation if possible, I don’t recommend going with the cheapest company you find just because they are cheap, always look for someone with knowledge and experience first.
From experience, if you go with the cheapest least experienced company you may end up calling the more expensive better-referenced one anyways and that can possibly cost you more in the long run.
As you can see choosing the right company to do the job is very important, and someone with chimney liner job experience counts.
DIY stainless steel chimney liner installation?
All of the above situations are for professionals, but it is possible to do this job as a DIY project, but I would never recommend it as one, there are many moments that a DIY installation can go wrong and there is a lot of danger involved in the installation so if your not a seasoned professional I don’t recommend it.
Another thing you need to think about that can make these complicated DIY projects are the laws and regulations because depending on where you live in most cases you will require a licensed specialist for the installation, this is because of insurance reasons, depending on where you live your insurer could ask for an inspection by a professional and if something is done wrong that will end up as more cost to you.
Now if you hire a reputable licensed company for the installation, normally you will receive a guarantee for the work being done, also you get peace of mind that a professional has done the work and that it’s done properly, but the best part is that you don’t have to get up on a ladder.
If you need to save some money on the installation you could buy the liner and then ask a professional chimney sweep to install it, this will definitely help with the cost if you are on a budget.
just make sure you measure how many feet you need and the flue size coming off your stove, most modern stoves are 6″ as we have mentioned.
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Thank you so much for reading.
