Got stuck on a flue liner that just would not line up

Keith Morgan · 2026-03-21T11:35:08.753751+00:00

Had a job over in Oakridge last Thursday, a simple repointing and new liner install, or so I thought. The old terra cotta flue was a bit out of square, no big deal. I got the new stainless steel liner from the truck, a standard 6 inch round, and started feeding it down. About eight feet in, it just stopped. No amount of twisting, pulling back, or swearing would get it to budge. I spent a solid hour trying to figure out if there was a broken tile or some old mortar blob. Finally, I had to pull the whole thing back out, get my inspection camera, and go up on the roof again. Turns out there was a slight offset in the clay flue I completely missed on the first look, a real sneaky one. What should have been a 3 hour job turned into a 6 hour marathon. Anyone have a good trick for spotting those hidden offsets before you commit the liner?

rowanwells6mo ago

Man, those hidden offsets are the worst. It sounds like you did everything right, they just hide until you're already committed. That sinking feeling when the liner stops is so frustrating. I've had a few jobs turn into all-day affairs for the same reason. A careful visual check from above and below sometimes misses those subtle bends.

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tessagarcia6mo ago

Ugh that's the worst. Once had a liner get hung up on a dead pigeon wedged in there, smelled awful.

4

wendy2056mo ago

Always scope it first, man. Saved me a bunch of headaches. That camera is worth its weight in gold.

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