At this time you have either made the decision to purchase a wood stove or you have already purchased one. Now you need to determine all of the flue components you will need to complete the installation. For someone who has little to no knowledge of chimney pipe just determining what supplies are needed can be a very troublesome task. We here at NorthlineExpress want to make this as easy on our customers as possible so we have created our Submit-A-Sketch worksheets.
There are 3 different Submit-A-Sketch worksheets to choose from depending on the type of installation you have. You will either have a Single-Story, Multi-Story, or Cathedral Installation. The room that you are installing the wood stove in will determine which one you go with. Today we are going to help walk you through getting the proper measurements and filling out the Submit-A-Sketch worksheet.
Determine the Type of Installation
To begin let’s determine what type of installation we will be doing. Does your room have a flat ceiling? If so you will not need the Cathedral Submit-A-Sketch worksheet. The Cathedral Submit-A-Sketch worksheet is meant for a room with a peaked ceiling to which there is little to no space between the ceiling and the roof. Normally there is only the truss system between the ceiling and the roof with a cathedral ceiling. Now we are down to either a Single-Story or Multi-Story Submit-A-Sketch worksheet. This one is easy to determine. Does your home have multiple levels or will the wood stove be installed into a basement? If the answer is yes then you will need the Multi-Story Submit-A-Sketch worksheet. If the answer is no and you only have a single story home with an attic space to go through you will need the Single-Story Submit-A-Sketch worksheet.
Where will the Wood Stove be placed in the room?
In this step you need to read the owner’s manual for the wood stove so that you know exactly what the clearances are for that particular appliance. Also you need to check your local code to ensure that you stay within their guidelines for insurance purposes. Once you have all of your limitations figured out step back, take a look around the desired room to choose the perfect location. Be mindful of the chimney pipe when deciding placement. Will there need to be an offset to get the pipe around an obstruction? Could you move the placement a bit to avoid needing an offset? Having multiple bends in your chimney system is not the most ideal set up. To have the best drafting possible the ideal set up would be to have a straight run from stove to chimney cap.
Getting Measurements and Filling out the Submit-A-Sketch
Today we will be filling out a Single-Story Submit-A-Sketch Worksheet. I will go over each number on the worksheet and the measurements that we will need!
- Fuel Type ________________________ (wood stove, pellet stove, chimney relining, etc.)
- This is just asking what type of appliance you will be installing so you or our Customer Service Rep knows what type of pipe you will need.
- Diameter Required ________________ (refer to manufacturer’s instructions from the appliance you are installing.)
- To determine what size pipe you will need either check the Owner’s Manual for the flue diameter or measure the circular flue on the top or back of your appliance.
- How Do You Plan to Install ______________________________
- Through-the-wall, through-the-ceiling: flat ceiling or cathedral ceiling?, Offset installation, or a chimney relining? Knowing this will tell us what components you will need in addition to your straight pipes. Such as 90 degree elbows or offset kits.
- Do You Currently Have Chimney Pipe _________________________________________
- If you currently have chimney pipe installed we will need to know…What brand? What diameter? This is because chimney pipe is not compatible with other lines of chimney pipe, they are brand specific. We also need to know this so that you get the stove pipe that will work in conjunction with the chimney pipe.
- Do You Have a Preference of Double Wall or Triple Wall Chimney Pipe __________________________
- Choosing double or triple wall chimney pipe will depend on your local codes and also preference. If you have a modular home most areas do require you to have triple wall class A chimney pipe so it is best to make sure that you check with local facilities to check on your guidelines.
- Do You Have a Preference of Single Wall or Double Wall Stovepipe ____________________________
- The choice of single or double wall stove pipe is also a personal experience in some cases. However your heating appliance may have requirements for their warranty and best possible operations of the appliance. It will also depend on clearance to any combustible materials such as shelves or walls. If you have a clearance of 6’’ – 18’’ you will need a double wall stove pipe. If your clearances are 18’’ or more you can install single wall stove pipe. Single wall pipe does give off more heat as well. So again really check into your local codes and read the owner’s manual thoroughly.
- What material is your roof covered with? ______________________ (Shingles? Metal?)
- The roof covering will determine what type of flashing you will need. If you have shingles you can purchase a galvanized or galvalume steel flashing. If your roof covering is a metal roof you will need a dead soft aluminum flashing or a universal rubber boot.
- Measurements (We need the following measurements to calculate a quote for you)
- Measurements will need to be taken to ensure that you purchase enough chimney materials to achieve the height needed. I will explain each of the measurements below. Please reference the Submit-A-Sketch image above for a visual of the measurements needed for the Single Story Installation.
(A) Ceiling Height __________________
- Measure from floor to ceiling at the spot where you will be installing the appliance.
(B) Appliance Height _______________
- Measure from the floor to the top of your appliance. If your appliance has a top exhaust flue measure to the top the flue. For rear exhaust flues you will measure to the middle of the opening from the floor. Rear exhaust flues will require a 90 degree elbow to start the run from the appliance.
Number of Stories ______________
- Note the number of stories that the pipe will be passing through. Measure from the ceiling to the floor for every story the chimney will be going through. If you will be passing through a floor before exiting through the roof you will need a few other components. In the room that the appliance is in is where you will put a ceiling support box. Once you connect to a ceiling support box you will then switch from black stove pipe to class A chimney pipe. Then though each floor that the pipe will pass through you will need a firestop radiation shield and also wall brackets installed every 6-8 feet to secure the pipe.
(C) Attic Height ____________________
- Measure from the bottom to the roof where the chimney will be exiting at. This will tell you how much class A chimney pipe you will need to get out of the roof line.
(D) Roof Pitch _____________________
- The roof pitch is the final determining factor in which flashing that you will need to purchase. It is also going to help determine how much pipe you will need above the roof line to obtain optimal drafting. If you do not know the pitch of you roof we can help you out with that as well. Click here to learn how.
Ceiling Pitch (if cathedral)_________________
- For Cathedral installations you will need to know the pitch of the ceiling. This measurement will determine the height of the ceiling support box to be installed. If you have a flat ceiling then a square or round flat ceiling support box will work for your installation.
Single Wall Double Wall Support Box
0/12 – 4/12 0/12 – 6/12 11’’ tall
5/12 – 9/12 7/12 – 13/12 24’’ tall
10/12 – 14/12 14/12 – 20/12 36’’ tall
Abnormal Specifications (Any offsets – refer to offset charts – any other information we may need) _________________________________________________________________________
- This is where you will need to list any obstructions that the pipe will need to go around. Measure the horizontal distance of the obstruction this will determine the clearance that the offset needs to meet.
- What is the horizontal distance from the peak of your roof to the chimney pipe (E)? _________________________________________________________________________
- Measure horizontally away from the peak of your roof to where the pipe would exit the roof at. This measurement with the pitch of your roof will determine home much chimney pipe you will need above your roof line for proper drafting.
Send the Submit-A-Sketch Worksheet
Once you have completed the Submit-A-Sketch worksheet you will have the information you will need to determine the amount of pipe and the chimney components that you will be need. If you are not comfortable with calculating the amount of pipe you will need you can follow the directions at the top for submitting it to our Customer Service Team. Either you can email the Submit-A-Sketch to fireplaceorders@onlinestores.com or you may fax it to us. Whichever option is more convenient for you is fine with up as well. Here at NorthlineExpress, home of the “Buy and Try” satisfaction guarantee, we are always happy to help.