Most homeowners that are installing a wood stove or freestanding fireplace just want to get the right venting components with the least amount of hassle as possible. There are so many brands, sizes, and types of stove pipe out there that it can get confusing. Today we are going to take a more in depth look at stove pipe right down to what stove pipe is and its uses. Hopefully by the time you have finished this article you will have a better understanding of stove pipe so that the decision is a bit easier on you.
What is Stove Pipe?
Stove pipe, also called chimney connector, is a single or double wall pipe that is used in the exhaust a wood stove or freestanding fireplace. It is used in conjunction with either class A chimney pipe or a masonry chimney. Stove pipe is often confused for class A chimney pipe, though it is not the same. Stove pipe is meant to use inside the home only. More specifically, it only should be used inside the room where the stove is installed. Stove Pipe is used in the venting system from the top of the appliance to the ceiling or wall where it will be converted to class-A chimney pipe or a masonry chimney. Stove pipe cannot be used to pass through combustibles at any point no matter how much clearance is created. The pipe reaches high temperatures that are not safe for being in a close vicinity to any combustible materials.
Single Wall vs Double Wall Stove Pipe
Either type of stove pipe may be used in most applications. Read your appliances owner’s manual to see if there is a requirement for which type of stove pipe is used. Some appliances require you to use double wall for venting or vice versa. Most states require double wall for modular home installations. One deciding factor to which type you will need is the clearance to combustibles around your appliance. If you have a minimum of 18’’ then you will be safe to use single wall stove pipe. If your clearance is less than 18’’ you will have to use double wall stove pipe. Even with double wall stove pipe there has to be a maintained clearance of 6’’. If you do not have at least 6’’ you will need to reconsider the placement of the appliance. Clearances are not an issue? Then the only thing you need to consider is if you would like the pipe to help heat the room. Single wall pipe is going to give off more heat into the room but it will also be extremely hot to the touch. Double wall will give off less heat but will also not be as hot to the touch. It is still not recommended that you grab ahold of a double wall piece of pipe to test the theory.
Choosing a Stove Pipe Diameter
The diameter of stove pipe normally will depend on the size of the flue opening on appliance that you are venting. That size will follow through with the chimney pipe and components as well. However if you currently have chimney pipe installed and the stove you are installing has a different size flue then you will have to consider three choices. First choice is whether to install a stove that has the same flue size as the chimney pipe you currently have. The second choice is to keep with the installation and just increase or decrease the stove pipe to be compatible with the chimney pipe. First thing before making the final decision that this is the way you are going to go, you need to check the owner’s manual to make sure that you can alter the size of the flue. Some stoves will not draft properly with the flue size altered. With this choice you will also have to decide whether to increase at the stove or at the support box. Where you increase will also depend on how your venting system runs; through the wall or through the ceiling. If it is through the wall you will have to increase at the stove but in a through the ceiling you can choose either one. It is recommended that you increase as close to the stove as possible for drafting purposes. The third choice is to replace the existing chimney pipe completely. The first and third choices are the most costly of the three however in some cases one or the other is necessary.
Brands that NLE Offers
Here at NorthlineExpress we offer only the best. Any one of our stove pipe lines are going to do a great job for your home. There are many other brands on the market now days, these are just the brands that we carry.
DVL is a double-wall, air-insulated stove pipe manufactured by Simpson DuraVent. It is designed to reduce clearances to combustibles from 18″ to 6″ to walls and 8″ to ceilings. DVL stove pipe is designed to increase wood stove efficiency and improve the overall performance of the wood stove by maintaining high flue gas temperatures for a strong steady draft. The inner wall of DVL is designed to heat up faster, stay hotter longer and minimize the formation of creosote.
DuraBlack is a single-wall interior stovepipe manufactured by Simpson DuraVent. It is used for connecting wood stoves to manufactured chimneys. Built to DuraVent’s high standards, DuraBlack chimney systems are constructed with dye-formed ends and feature adjustable lengths that eliminate the need for cutting and crimping. It is an economical, drip-free, single-wall stovepipe. DuraBlack is constructed of 24 gauge steel and has a welded seam.
DSP is a double wall stove pipe manufactured by Selkirk. It is a connector pipe that links your wood stove to an air insulated chimney. DSP stove pipe features a 1/4″ air space between the double wall construction to provide superior insulating value to keep flue gas temperatures higher and enhance draft performance. The double wall construction and insulating value of DSP stove pipe is designed to reduce moisture and smoking, increase wood stove efficiency, and produce less creosote build-up. Use Selkirk DSP Double Wall Pipe with any Selkirk Class-A Chimney Pipe.
Saf-T Pipe is a single wall chimney system manufactured by Selkirk. This stove pipe is fabricated from 22 gauge cold rolled steel making them among the thickest and most durable stove pipe available on the market. It is 60% thicker than most hardware store brands. HeatFab Stove Pipe features 100% laser welded or advanced resistance welded seams that will hold together in the event of overheating and also assure the pipe’s shape to make installation quick and easy.
Snap-Lock wood stove pipe is a single wall pipe. It’s seam snaps together to lock in place for a tight hold. Snap-Lock stove pipe is constructed of 24-gauge steel and requires an 18″ clearance to combustible materials. Snap-Lock black stove pipe is a good quality, economical stove pipe that can save you money.
I hope you have found this information to be useful. If you still have questions regarding stove pipe or the installation of stove pipe please give our friendly Customer Service Team a call at 1-866-667-8454. Here at NorthlineExpress, home of the “Buy and Try” satisfaction guarantee, we are always happy to help.