How Much Does a Stainless Steel Chimney Liner Cost?

Chimney Liner Cost Range

The cost range to have a stainless steel chimney liner installed in your chimney flue is between $1,425 – $5,200 for a 25 foot liner installed by a local professional near you. If you choose to handle chimney liner installation on your own, expect to pay about $450-$700 for a chimney liner kit, tools and accessories to handle the installation.

Average Cost

Chimney Liner Overview

Stainless steel chimney liners are installed inside of your chimney flue to vent furnaces, gas fireplaces, wood or pellet stoves, and just about any other appliance that burns gas or wood. If your home or fireplace is more than 15 years old, don’t be surprised during an annual inspection or chimney cleaning, if it’s recommended that you have a flue liner installed to help the older clay tile liner do it’s job. They can alleviate expensive repair costs, eliminate the chance of a chimney fire, as well as make your ul listed wood stove or gas or oil burning appliance safer to operate.

This page of Costimates is about the cost of stainless steel chimney liner installation. We’ll help you understand why you might need a chimney liner, as well as the various types and their costs that can be installed to a wood burning fireplace. You’ll learn that installing a chimney liner can be a DIY job for the right homeowner, but it’s much easier to call in a pro and have it done for you.

We’ll also help you understand more about the retail cost of chimney liner kits as well as the factors that will affect what you pay at the register. Finally, we’ll share cost comparisons from around the web.

Chimney Liner and Installation Cost Factors

Once you learn you need to get a chimney liner, you need to know about the differences in liners and how much those factors will affect the price. This section helps you learn about which features add to the cost of a chimney liner for your home.

In general, a good quality stainless chimney liner will last 15 to 20 years, assuming you perform regular cleanings and maintenance on the chimney and liner system. Low quality, or cheap chimney liners have been guilty of failure in less than 10 years, many in less than 5. This is due to low quality materials and corrosion affecting the lifespan of the chimney liner.

• Type of Liner  – The most commonly installed chimney liners are semi-flexible and create a stainless steel liner in one continuous piece. Alternatively, solid pieces of stove pipe can be assembled and lowered down the chimney. There are also cast in place liners that can be done onsite, but cost a bit more.
• Liner Shape  – Chimney liners are available in several shapes, with round being the most common. Others are oval, square and rectangular.
• Size – The diameter and length required for your chimney are two main factors in the chimney liner cost. Larger, and longer, both cost more.
• Insulated or Not – Depending on the use, you may be required to add insulation between the chimney liner and the existing chimney flue. If insulation is required, the installer may choose to wrap the liner as it’s being installed, or use a pour-in liner that flows into place and hardens.
• Needed Accessories – While most chimney liner kits come with everything needed to install, you may need additional items like connectors for appliances, or want higher quality items like a chimney cap, top plate and more.

Cost of Chimney Liner and Installation Supplies

Along with the chimney liner itself, you’ll need a few supplies to help get the job done if you choose to do it yourself.

• $150 – $300 | Chimney Cleaning – Your chimney may need to be cleaned before the liner is installed.
• $60 – $140 | Liner Pulling Cone – This is a cone-shaped adapter that attaches to one end of the new chimney liner, and allows you to pull it down your chimney. It makes it easy to go through slight bends and curves, and is required for chimney liner installation.
• $35 – $450 | Chimney Cap – Most kits will include a basic chimney cap, some won’t.
• $0 – $150 | Top Plate – Most chimney liner kits include a basic top plate. Others may require you to purchase separately, or due to your chimney dimensions, it may need to be made onsite.
• $120 – $300 / Day | Lift Rental – If you have a high or very steep roof, a powered lift may need to be used to safely install the liner.

Permits, Inspection, and Installation Costs

You need to check with local authorities, but you may be required to have a mechanical safety inspection after installing a liner in your chimney. This is done for safety purposes to ensure proper installation.

• $50 – $200 ea. | Permits/Inspections (if needed)

Chimney Liner Installation Labor Factors

If you choose not to install the liner yourself, (recommended) you’ll need to hire a chimney sweep or a chimney repair company that is experienced in the installation. Several factors will determine your cost to install a stainless steel chimney liner:

• Roof Height – Obviously, if you have a 3 story home with a high chimney, there is much higher risk to the workers and a premium paid for such risk. Renting a lift, or added safety precautions are required for tall homes.
• Age and Condition Of Chimney – Your existing chimney may need cleaning or repair work before the new flue liner can be installed.
• Difficulty of Installation – Depending on your needs, some liner installations are simply harder than others due to the number of appliances, the number of connectors, the type of insulation required, etc.

Completed Installation Time

• 1 Day | The most basic installation and cleanup in a single-story home with a straight flue and single connection.
• 2 -3 Days | If repairs are required in advance of the installation, taller homes that require a lift, or special insulting materials are needed.

Related Projects

Fireplaces are a wonderful thing in your home, both for the look and the utility of heat when needed. Along with the chimney, they do require maintenance and upkeep to prevent a fire hazard. Explore these other fireplace and chimney related topics at Costimates.

---

DIY or Hire a Pro

Plain and simple, installing a chimney liner is a job best left to a pro. While many DIY sites state this is a quick and simple project, there is more to it than just buying a kit and putting it down the chimney flue. Pros are going to have the tools and knowledge to get the job done right the first time, as well as the expertise to make sure the right kit size and components are purchased in advance. While it will cost a bit more at the onset, it will be worth it in the long run for both savings and safety of your home and family.

• Requires planning to get the right kit size in both length and diameter, as well as the right connectors and insulation as needed.
• Requires extensive ladder time, to and from your roof.
• Installing a chimney liner can be a very dirty job. This is true for both the inside of your home and the outside.
• You’ll need 2-3 people to install a chimney liner.

I have never installed a chimney liner in our flue and as I have said about many of these Costimate projects, I would not do this job myself if you paid me!