Liner warranty
When you were shopping for your new wood burning stove, I have no doubt that great play was made of the long warranty on the liner that would be supplied with it. 10 years, 25 years, lifetime! (SIC)
What on earth does any of this actually mean?
Do make a point of asking for the name of the liner manufacturer. This way, you can go to their website and check the warranty conditions.
Typically, liner warranty will be dependent on a number of factors,
- Maintenance. In the event of failure evidence will need to be provided to assure the manufacturer that you consistently maintained the product. (Predominantly, sweeping certificates, at least annually)
- Installation. Evidence that the liner was installed correctly in the first instance. (Usually a requirement that it was installed by a HETAS registered engineer. Bit dodgy in Scotland where Building regs doesn't recognise HETAS as a competent organisation, and there is no requirement for building control supervision for a relining project)
- Ownership. Oft a "Lifetime" warranty cannot be transferred. So if you didn't install it, its not your warranty.
- Registration. Amazes me that with something of high value the end user assumes that the installer will deal with warranty registration. He wont! Its your liner, not his! Get the manufacturers details and use their website to register your warranty.
- Expectation. ALL liner warranties that I can find, only cover the supply of a replacement liner in the event of failure. NOT installation costs. Although manufacturers appear to be covering their backs for every eventually, historically, I have found them to be fairly relaxed about supplying replacement liner, assuming no obvious abuse was evident (And the installer put it in the right way up..."Right way up?"...thats another blog!) After all most manufacturers produce millions of kilometers of this stuff per annum, 10 metres here or there isn't going to break the bank! (But the cost of installation is yours!)
316 or 904?
Great play is made of the difference. 904 is oft cited for solid fuel use and 316 for wood burning. In my experience (And this is opinion, not gospel!) Its a difference that makes little difference. The biggest difference in the longevity of a liner is usage. DON'T slumber overnight on solid fuel. Whats the point? You are only heating a room you arent in. You are also reducing the flue gas temperature to the point where condensation is not only likely, but inevitable. That condensation and its inherent corrosive elements are busily destroying your liner! (In the morning, light your stove, and by the time your toast and coffee is ready your room will be warm!) DON'T burn crap on your stove. No old pallets, no kitchen waste, no old carpet or those bits of laminate from the kitchen renovation..they all contain elements destined to reduce your liners life.
Do get the sweep in annually. He will not only assure a clean useable flue but will be assessing what he takes out of it to advise on proper usage and how safe your liner is