Copy and paste the link, then read it:
http://www.safesidechimney.com/woodstoveold.htm

An insert is a wood stove. The same principals and regulations apply to you.

Rhode Island has had change-out programs (as recently as this summer)that give homeowners rebates to offset the cost of replacing the old air polluters with a new EPA certified wood stove, so I don't know why you didn't take advantage of that as you state finances are a constraint to do this properly.

I have already viewed that link.
My question was directed for previous install experiences of people who have done what I am proposing to do. I was hoping they would recommend one way over the other. The post I saw in August (written by Berlin) said it was a waste of money if the liner is good. Since we are trying to save money, I would be inclined to not spend an additional $500 to run a pipe to the roof.

As I mentioned....money is tight. I didn't take advantage of any rebates (even if I had known about them) because a wood stove that costs $0 is better than one I need to buy.

Do I want to burn my house down? Of course not...however, if there is a cheaper alternative I need to as least consider it.

I disagree with that post by "Berlin". I did not contest it because I was tired of people accusing me of being prejudiced somehow. I am only here to steer people in the right direction and I hope to save some lives while I am at it.

Many chimney sweeps will NOT service any insert or woodstove that does not have the liner running all the way up. The reason, is that it does not work well and the stove/insert needs to be pulled out each time for cleaning. Plus, all the soot falls all around and on top of the plates. If you like uninstalling it every time and don't mind that it might not draw well, then go ahead and do it halfway.

I personally think it is the absolute HEIGHT of stupidity to not either line a chimney with a properly sized liner, or install a properly sized prefab chimney when installing a wood stove.

Most fireplace chimneys are simply far too large. I've seen this done numerous times.

The usual result is extreme accumulations of creosote in the chimney and poor woodstove performance.

One chimney fire I saw in Pennsylvaia (air tight woodstove installed in a 12 by 16 chimney in an older home) was so severe that fully HALF of the chimney collapsed.

every chimney is different. I completely disagree with the scam of convincing every homeowner to reline otherwise sound chimneys with stainless or other liners; when they are venting oil, gas, or coal stoves or wood fireplaces. however for wood stoves/inserts where there is a possiblity of large deposits of tarry flamable creasote having a clay lined chimney relined with stainless might be a good idea, esp. for inserts. the reason i would probably do it with an insert is simply because of the increased difficulty in cleaning and possiblity of lack of a perfect seal. If a woodstove were simply being installed and vented into an existing sound chimney with a clay liner through a thimble in the masonary, i would never waste the money on an extra liner.

"I did not contest it because I was tired of people accusing me of being prejudiced somehow"

prejudiced? no, but biased yes, as a former stove shop owner you make it obvious in some posts that you still think that way, however, many of your posts and replies are informative and very helpful for some of the people on this board. trying to convince bamckenna that they should trade in they're nice old stove for a pita epa stove demonstraits that you still view things from a stove shop owners perspective.

I just bought a Vermont Casting DutchWest Consolodated Federal FA264CCL. It is 18 years old but was still in its' original wrappings so it's new. Burns both wood and coal.
The chimney installer estimated $2,283 to set the stove up and install a s/s liner with insulation and hook up the stove to burn wood only. Add $890 for the thicker s/s liner that accomodates coal.
My house is a ranger with the fireplace in the finished basement. The chimney is rather normal in design and height.
That cost breaks my budget! Is this typical? I won't be able to install it at that price. ;-(

well, you did not explain yourself fully, is there an existing masonry chimney or are you starting from scratch? If the existing masonry chimney is in sound condition, howerver the liner may not be perfect or existant than you could use it with your stove without relining- but only if you are burning ONLY COAL. if you plan on burning wood, i would have a stainless liner installed.

Burning coal is an even BETTER reason to have a stainless steel liner installed.

Most coal forms compounds that, when mixed with ambient water, become highly acidic.

Coal is also no free of creosote.

kframe19, perhaps you don't have much experience burning coal or with chimneys used for venting coal fires, coal produces no creosote even while smoldering for days (bituminous or anthricite); additionally i have seen first hand how highly acidic (6+ % sulfur) pennsylvania high vol bituminous has NO noticable effects on unlined chimneys used for over 70 years of coal burning. also in east germany chimneys used for over 50 years and still being used that are in excellent condition after burning eastern european brown coal, mostly from slovakia. I heat my home almost soley with bituminous coal. I stand by my experienced opinion that there is NO need to line or reline a SOUND chimney that will be used for coal burning. airtight woodburning is one of the only reasons for lining or relining an otherwise sound chimney.

You're right, my bad, it produces fly ash, which lodges in the chimney and produces the nice acids.

I grew up in Pennsylvania and have burned more than my fair share of coal. I've also helped rebuild chimneys where years of coal burning has destroyed the mortar to the point the bricks can simply be lifted out of place, the residue blown off, and the whole thing cemented down again.

I've also seen more than my fair share of "smoker" chimneys where the deleterious effects of years of coal burning have combined with weathering to eat holes in the mortar to the point where the chimney will be smoking at one or multiple points along the stack itself.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- it's the height of wanton stupidity NOT to spend $2,000 or $3,000 to line a chimney properly when the ultimate consequence could be devastating property loss or even death.

On this subject just a few days ago there was a chimney fire in Northern Virginia where I live that caused nearly half a million in damage to the home.

"I grew up in Pennsylvania and have burned more than my fair share of coal. I've also helped rebuild chimneys where years of coal burning has destroyed the mortar to the point the bricks can simply be lifted out of place, the residue blown off, and the whole thing cemented down again."

Really? coal burning did that? exactly how do you know that the problem was not they type of mortar used, letting it stiffen before use etc.? and how old are these chimneys? are you speaking of the exterior portions?? this is very interesting because i have worked with chimneys that haven't been in use for over half a century, were used for woodburning before that, and they exhibit these same problems, sure its not just years of weathering or poor masonry skills initially?

"I've also seen more than my fair share of "smoker" chimneys where the deleterious effects of years of coal burning have combined with weathering to eat holes in the mortar to the point where the chimney will be smoking at one or multiple points along the stack itself"

I've seen the same thing in chimneys that have never burned coal. not once.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- it's the height of wanton stupidity NOT to spend $2,000 or $3,000 to line a chimney properly when the ultimate consequence could be devastating property loss or even death.
On this subject just a few days ago there was a chimney fire in Northern Virginia where I live that caused nearly half a million in damage to the home. "

The height of wanton stupidity is to convince others to waste $2000-10,000 (because in some cases thats what it will cost) to line or reline a chimney when it is not needed. I have nothing to lose or to gain by telling people not to waste money on needless lining or relining of chimneys. I simply wish to share my extensive knowledge about solid fuel combustion, chimneys, etc, on this site, for the sole purpose of helping people better understand such systems in the home; and that there are reasons for things like liners which i detailed in some previous posts, and where liners are really quite unnecessary, because in many situations they are- with no risk of chimney fires or loss of life or limb! one of those very situations where liners are unnecessary (in a sound chimney) is coal burning! coal soot will not burn(no chance of chimney fires AT ALL!), produces very little moisture to react with the fly ash and soot to produce acids in the chimney. one place where liners are almost always necessary however is air-tight woodburning because of the risk of large chimney fires, creosote leaching etc.

Thanks to everyone for the spirited replies. I got exactly what I was hoping for...different opinions and views...and then I based my decision on them.

You all should be happy to know that I have hired a local chimney sweep who specializes in inserts to do a complete install which includes running a stainless steal pipe up the entire chimney. As I have a young family, everyone convinced me to spend the money ($700) to do it right. Since it was 17 degrees this in morning in RI, it will be nice to get the stove up and running again when he comes next Tuesday.

Thanks again.