Pellet stove flue ?????'s

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I'm very tired of the backbreaking of dealing with firewood. Guess I'm getting lazy as I get older. Thus I'm planning on getting a pellet stove.

I want to use my existing chimney. I wish to use the 3" stove pipe up to my 7" thimble going into the chimney using a reducer. From the research I've done so far, manufactures want the 3" flue to run inside the chimney to the top. Not sure exactly why since the pellet stoves have a forced draft.

If I go the route that I want to take, only about $35 in materials, going the other way,,,,over $300,,,,I can't see why the extra if it is not necessary. Anyone got input????? Thanks......SS

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

I just installed a free standing pellet stove last month with a thru wall exhaust.

My directions did state that for a insert (fireplace model) a full pipe all the way up the existing flu was required. Like you I'm not sure of the reason why it's required. You could call the customer servise number of the stove manufacturer and ask them.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

If the 7 inch pipe is a class A chimney in good shape, it should work. I can see excess cooling or air intrusion causing trouble because of the slow flue gas speed with the big pipe.

No matter how you install it, be sure you have a working CO detector near the stove.

hope it helps
John

 

[gss036]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

I think it would work, but not familiar with pellet stoves. Do they create creasole? If so might be the cooler air at the top will allow creasole to stick and eventually block the chimney.
I am with you on the wood issue, lot of hard work, but I am thinking about a gas stove type insert as we have natural gas in the house.
What type of stove are you removing that requires a 7" flue pipe? I have a 7" flue on mine for my Kent insert. I don't think I will get more than a couple more years out it though, as I am having damper troubles.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

Yea, dumping a 3" into a 7" is going to be an issue. It's about the drop in draft going to a larger pipe and slowing down the exhaust. Slow exhaust makes more creosote condense on the flue pipe when the flue is cold too. Depending the height of the original chimney flue, you may have to up size 1 or 2 inches to keep the gas volume and velocity right for proper asperation of the burner.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

The thimble is 7" but the chimney is brick with a clay tile liner 9 X 11. Its 17' from the top of the chimney to the thimble. If needed, I could drop a single wall 3" stove pipe down the chimney. For the draft purpose I can understand why and plus it would build up creosote. Still trying to decide to buy new or used. Found one ebay that is nearby. Mfg'd in 2006 & comes with all the stove pipe and fresh air venting.

I've heard good and bad on these stoves. Like anything that requires maintenance, its necessary to keep up to prolong the performance and efficiency.

 

[cpubud]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

they require the smaller flue to keep the flue gasses hot up and out the chimney to prevent condensation inside the chimney. beeing that this condensation contaions a high level of acid that eats the mortor in the chimney. that way you dont come home from work and find your chimney laying in your yard.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

they require the smaller flue to keep the flue gasses hot up and out the chimney to prevent condensation inside the chimney. beeing that this condensation contaions a high level of acid that eats the mortor in the chimney. that way you dont come home from work and find your chimney laying in your yard.

This is why they have chimney liners (?).

I have a Sierra wood stove insert that has a 7" opening which is just going up the 12"x12" liner. There's a lot of creosote.
I'm starting to get tired of the wood thing too...will probably replace with a pellet stove sooner or later.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

My son installs pellet stoves for a living. He will only use stainless steel liners in the chimney or suggest you direct vent to an outer wall with the proper pipe.

 

[cpubud]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

yes, chimney liners reduce the size of the chimney. you drop them down the inside of the chimney from the top down and reconnect to them from the appliance.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pellet stove flue ?????'s

Check the availabilty of pellets in your area during the winter, they're frequently unavailable in my part of the country when the demand is high, like in the winter when you need them. They ration them out if they have them, only a certain number of bags per person.

I had both a wood and pellet stove in the house I have now, I took out the pellet stove, didn't like noise of the fan and having to buy the pellets. I get the wood cut to length for free, I just need to split it, it does get old though.

Where I lived before the power went out frequently enough in the winter that you needed to have a wood stove, since with no power you can't use a pellet stove.