[SolarCell]

I'm planning to install a small wood stove, one rated for about 1000 sqft.

The pipe will go straight up through a vaulted ceiling.

I read somewhere that I should have something like 14' of pipe in order to get optimal draw through the stove; However, when I follow the code and put it 3' above the roof line, and 2' above the ridge which is within 10' of the pipe, I end up with a little over 9'.

Is that enough, since it's straight up.

Also, the ceiling/roof pitch is 4/12. I'm wondering if the plates on the wall thimble will conform to the angle, or do they make an angled thimble for such installations?

Thanks

 

[Zinger]

The 14' minimum chimney height seems to be a standard used by manufacturers whether the stove is large or small.

The reason it is important to have a chimney of proper length and diameter is because the new EPA compliant stoves require more draft than stoves of yesteryear to function properly.

With that said, I have a few thoughts.

If you want to try the installation with 9' of pipe, you can do that, and the stove may very well function properly (stove installations are hardly an exact science). If you are using proper pipe diameter (I'd imagine 6" if it's a small stove as you state), and you go with a good insulated 2100 degree stainless chimney (through the attic and above the roofline) then it may very well function properly.

Here is the caveat - if you install with less than 14' of pipe, leave yourself the ability to extend the pipe later if the stove does not function properly.

It will be pretty evident once you start using the stove whether it is functioning properly. Things like if you can't get it started very well (wants to go out), or if you are not able to completely close the air control. If you experience these problems you will need to add more length to the chimney.

You may be able to get some additional info from this site: http://www.stovenet.com. It's dedicated to wood stoves and the like.

Good luck.

 

[SolarCell]

I think I have a bit of a dilemma, because on one hand if I don't have a long enough pipe it might not draw well.

On the other hand, half of that 14' feet of pipe will be outside, so it would be more likely that the pipe would cool down so much that it would prevent the exhaust from rising properly.

I'm hoping the 9' 6" of pipe will be enough, there are no turns in it, so maybe it will be fine. I hope so, due to the fact that any extra pipe exposed to the cold could create another problem, especially in colder weather. Not only that, but an extra 4' 6" would look odd, as the pitch of the roof isn't very steep, so the pipe would be quite high above the ridge of the roof.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Where are you located?
Temp difference will effect this as well
I had maybe 10' of pipe at my last house
The stove was newer w/catalytic converter - burned fine

 

[SolarCell]

Yes, as I stated in my post above, the extra pipe exposed to the outside is a concern for me, as it could cool the gases in the pipe to the point that they won't rise properly, which would create a draft problem, and likely cause the chimney to become clogged.

The more pipe outside, the more likely the problem will occur, so for now I'm going with the shorter pipe, and crossed fingers.

I'm just wondering about that wall thimble, I don't want my pipe coming out of the roof at an odd angle.

I've installed a few stoves, but they were all piped through a wall into an existing flue, never straight up through the roof.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

You should be using insulated pipe going thru the roof & after that
So it doesn't cool down due to weather
"Where you are located?" is due to the fact hot stove air will rise faster if it is colder outside

 

[SolarCell]

Yeah, I'll be using stainless chimney pipe from through the thimble all the way to the cap.

I'm thinking that as the chimney cools the gases in it cool as well, and as a result they slow down, causing a lack of draw.

Hot air rises, but as that hot air cools it slows down.

I've heard people complain that their stove puffs smoke some times, but only during really cold weather, so it makes sense.

 

[Zinger]

Hey SolarCell, how did you ever make out?