Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wood Stove Installation

Wood Stove Installation


Wood stove installation is a complicated process that must be taken with care and expertise, and I would recommend using a professional to install your wood stove. Safety is key and a wood stove is very safe with the correct installation and care. If you however feel you are capable of installing the wood stove your self there are several vital factors you must consider.

Location is important, not only for optimized satisfaction but safety as well. It is not advisable to place the wood stove on any flooring that is flammable like wood. There are however appropriate surfaces for the wood stove, like concrete, ceramic tiles, marble and slate, these are more suitable as they don't catch fire easily leaving your house safer. Not only are there safety restrictions on the flooring but also the area the base Covers. The wood stove base should Cover 8 inches around wood stove with 18 inches n front of doors to reduce chance of surrounding flooring catching fire. Better to be safe than sorry. Around the wood stove there are safety precautions that can be taken with the walls as well. Again gaps of at least 12 inches should left around the wood stove. For further protection non-combustible wall protection can be used as well as a rear heat shield. Protecting the walls is essential as any flammable material within close vicinity of the wood stove is a danger.

Chimney and stovepipe connection (installation) is again another task in the wood stove installation that needs to be done with care and with some expertise. The chimney is what directs the harmful and unwanted smoke out the house. There are a number of aspects to remember. When installing the stove pipe it should be kept and least 18 inches from anything combustible. To be on the safe side you can protect the stove pip with a heat shield to greatly reduce the chance of a fire. As for the chimney it should be at least 3 feet above the roofs surface, however the taller the better. There is however one thing to remember with wood stove pipes and the chimney, there are several types with several protections so understand what you are dealing with before under going the installation.

Wood stove installation is a demanding, complicated, highly responsible, time consuming job and unless you really know what you are doing it is advisable to get a professional to install it for you.




Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Why Should You Have a Chimney Cap on Your Chimney?

Why Should You Have a Chimney Cap on Your Chimney?


A chimney may be found in buildings, steam locomotives and ships. It serves to vent hot gases or smoke from a furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. It allows combustible by-products to be vented away from the structure safely without causing damage to the structure they're attached to. The maximum efficiency of a chimney is proportional to its height. A higher chimney has the ability to transfer flue gases at higher attitude and reduces its influence on surroundings. Mostly all flues need to have a cap for many reasons.

It is common for birds to enter a chimney if it doesn't have a chimney cap. Rain coming into the appliance can also cause damage to its walls and cause an unpleasant odor. Your pipe when left unCovered, rain water can enter the pipe and your home, and this can cause major problems and deterioration. The cap prevents rain, animals and dirt from getting inside. The lid of the cap must over extend your chimney in such a way that when it rains, the rain falls off to the sides of your flue and not on the top of your crown.

Another important purpose of the cap is to minimize wind downdrafts that cause more smoke. These caps offer many benefits including cleaning, safety and a clean environment. You will never have to worry about small animals making nests in your smokestack.

These caps can be purely functional or ornamental. The caps come in different styles, shapes and sizes. Choose the right sized cap for your chimney. It can make or break the look of your home. Standard caps are made of metals including steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminum. Every home should have a cap on its chimney to give a graceful look to your home and to keep your pipe safe from dirt and rain.

The cap is an attractive and functional addition to install on a residence. It will enhance the look of the exterior of your home. They will add an exterior visual appeal and be worth the monetary investment for many years. The cap will keep your chimney working efficiently for many years, eliminating the need for regular and costly repairs on your appliance.

These caps are made from a number of materials, from metal to clay. It is one of the most essential components of your chimney. Think about the important role it plays and look for the right sized cap for your appliance. You can purchase them as mass-produced or individual design units.




Monday, October 3, 2011

Stove Pipe Chimney Pipe

Stove Pipe Chimney Pipe

Simpson Duravent 1645 Stove Pipe Elbow 6" - Black 


Product Specifications

Part Number: 1645
Color: Black
Material: Dura-Black 24 Gauge Steel
Item Package Quantity: 1
Item Dimensions
Weight: 2 Pounds

Technical Details

  • Minimum clearance 18" to combustibles
  • 45 degree fixed elbow 6"
  • Drip-free 24 gauge
  • Black Boxed
  • Boxed T

Product Description

DURAVENT" STOVE PIPE ELBOW 24 gauge 45 degree fixed elbow 6" Drip-free Minimum clearance 18" to combustibles Black Boxed 
 
Q&A
 
Q:  I want to install my own chimney pipe but don’t know where to start.
A:  The easiest way to start is to go to our Chimney Pipe Installation Planning Guide.  We'll answer several questions here though.
  • Start first by determining what type of chimney pipe your appliance requires.  This information is in the instruction manual of your appliance and there are several types of chimney.  For instance; Class A chimney pipe is for wood, coal, and most fuels however, it may not be required for your gas appliance or pellet appliance.  Pellet vent is for pellet burning appliances or corn burners.  B-Vent is for certain gas appliances but not all.  Direct-vent chimney is for a direct-vent gas appliance.  Bottom Line – Read your instruction manual to see what type of chimney is required for your appliance.
     
  • Determine the layout or installation type that is applicable for your home.  For Class A chimney pipe, a straight up thru-the-ceiling installation is the most popular, the least expensive, and provides the best draft but is not always an option. 
     
  • Next, determine the size of the chimney pipe needed.  Never go smaller than what is required or you risk having smoke or gasses backing up or a poor draft in other words.
     
  • There are different requirements for the US or Canada in some cases which we point out based on the type of chimney pipe.
     
  • Once you determine the above 4 requirements you will need to choose a manufacturer and brand of chimney pipe (many manufacturers offer several brands within a type) .  Although several brands are available, we recommend Dura-Vent DuraTech chimney pipe for most new installations due to their reputation, warranty, product offering, availability, and price.  Visit our Class A Chimney Pipe section for further recommendations.
     
  • Never substitute single wall wood stove pipe for class A chimney pipe.  Wood stove pipe is for the interior part of your installation, then use class A chimney pipe once you penetrate a wall or ceiling.
     
  • Also see our article on Proper Venting.

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Q:  Should I install my chimney pipe vertically or horizontally through a wall and then up?
A:
  Run your chimney pipe vertically if you have that option, it will be considerably less expensive and will draft better since there typically would be no elbows restricting the draft.  Chimney pipe that is mostly outside as is the case with a thru-the-wall installation will also run cooler and may have less draft or downdraft problems than a chimney that goes straight up.
Q:  What if I get stuck and can’t figure it all out after I buy the chimney pipe?  Can I return it?
A:
  If you get stuck please give us a call.  We have several trained customer service representatives that are eager to help you.  If you decide to return all or part of your purchase…no problem.  Our philosophy is to help people get what they want or need or to take it back if it isn’t working out.  There are no re-stocking fees but you’ll be responsible for shipping costs.  We’re here to help you succeed in your chimney pipe installation.
Q:  I’ve seen people use black pipe for the entire wood stove chimney pipe installation.  I’d like to save money but is this safe?
A:
  Absolutely not!  Black stove pipe is NOT chimney pipe and should only be used up to the point of penetrating the ceiling or wall.  From that point on class A chimney pipe is required.  Black single wall stove pipe has a clearance to combustibles of 18” (double-wall black pipe has a clearance of 6") whereas class A chimney pipe is generally 2”.  Stove pipe used outside will run way cooler flue temperatures than class A chimney pipe and will potentially build up creosote quite rapidly increasing the chance of a chimney fire.  There a no safe way to use black stove pipe for the entire chimney pipe system so ask yourself…Is saving some money worth me or my family’s life and home worth the risk?
Q:  I need more class A chimney pipe brand XYZ.  Can I use any other brand of chimney pipe instead?
A:
  No.  Every manufacturer of class A chimney pipe uses their own methods to secure the pipe together so one brand most likely will not connect together correctly with another brand of chimney pipe and could be dangerous due to a poor fit as it could come apart or leak creosote, smoke, or gasses.
Q:  Can I just run single wall black pipe all the way up?

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A:  No, you must transition to Class A chimney pipe at the ceiling or wall.
Q:  What is the difference between stove pipe and chimney pipe?
A:
  Many confuse the terms.  Stove pipe is usually painted black and is used in the interior on the home until you transition through a wall or ceiling then class A chimney pipe is used thereon.  Stove pipe, black pipe, single wall pipe all refer to the same thing.  Chimney pipe, class A pipe, triple-wall pipe, insulated pipe all refer to class A chimney pipe.  Double-wall pipe could be associated with either double-wall black pipe like DVL or double-wall chimney pipe like DuraTech. 
Q:  Why should I buy from NorthlineExpress.com?

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A:  We're experts when it comes to chimney pipe installation and we have a full staff eager to help you solve your chimney system challenges.  We have a large stock of chimney products from pipe to brushes to cleaners and everything imaginable for your fireplace, wood stove and pellet stove.  Unlike many internet retailers who carry little or no inventory, we have a 23,000 sq. ft. warehouse stocked with product.  The big advantage is we can generally process your order faster, provide better tracking information about your order and we understand the products since we see, feel, and handle them.  NorthlineExpress has an A rating with the BBB and we have a policy to keep the customer happy even if we lose money, it just makes life easier.  When you call our company you'll talk to an individual who is always looking out for your best interest.  We are here to take your calls Monday –Friday from 9AM-6PM, also on Saturday from 10 am -3pm EST. We are always available 24/7 on the web.  Also see Why Buy From NorthlineExpress.com and our Welcome pages.