How long can stove pipe be?

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Spauld

New Member
Jun 8, 2014
23
Colorado
I am having a new shop built in my backyard and I'd like to heat it with a new wood stove. It is a 16' x 24' barn-type building that is 16' high at the peak. Therefore, since the stove will be situated in one corner of the building, I believe the distance from the top of the stove to the exit point through the roof will be approximately 12 to 14 feet. From what I've found through my searching, it sounds like this will most closely resemble an install for a cathedral ceiling. Is it possible (and legal) to have a stove pipe that long? And if the answer is yes, does it need to be a special kind of stove pipe for that length of run? I'm a newby and this will be my first woodstove, so any info on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
 
Welcome. Yes it can be done. The preferred stove pipe for runs longer than 8ft is double-wall interior pipe. Double wall keeps the flue gases hotter which can keep down creosote build up. It can be done with single-wall as long as clearances are honored, but you may find the flue needing more frequent cleaning.

The best method for keeping creosote down is to burn fully seasoned wood in a modern EPA stove. But even in an older stove seasoned wood make a big difference if you allow it to burn hot until the fire reaches the the coaling stage.
 
My Lopi sits on a 12" high hearth, then single wall stove pipe vents it straight up 12' to back to back 45°'s and into a cathedral ceiling support box. Once through the roof, there's about 4' of class A chimney to daylight. Never had a problem with it, draft-wise, or creosote-wise.
 
long pipe.jpg
 
Welcome. Yes it can be done. The preferred stove pipe for runs longer than 8ft is double-wall interior pipe. Double wall keeps the flue gases hotter which can keep down creosote build up. It can be done with single-wall as long as clearances are honored, but you may find the flue needing more frequent cleaning.

The best method for keeping creosote down is to burn fully seasoned wood in a modern EPA stove. But even in an older stove seasoned wood make a big difference if you allow it to burn hot until the fire reaches the the coaling stage.

All good info, thanks VERY much to all who replied to my post!
 
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Is that Dr. Suess's new install? ;lol
 
...Yep...I think I'll be doing something very similar to this. THANKS!
Please consider adding some support hangers.
 
Please consider adding some support hangers.
Yeah... geez. That whole pipe in Barts photo is being held by three or four #6 sheet metal screws at the interface above the upper elbow? Scary.

All that in a house constructed from stove fuel. ;-)
 
Had a customer with a similar install as the picture above.

I refused to clean the pipes until supports had been added, too much liability if the pipe falls apart after you've touched it!
 
Brother bart has a warm house! all of that heat exchanger surface area. I would use hangers too.....just sayin bart.
 
Brother bart has a warm house! all of that heat exchanger surface area. I would use hangers too.....just sayin bart.
Pretty sure that photo is not Bart's house. He never mentioned living in a log cabin...
 
Nope. Not my place. I keep that pic because that pipe run scares the heck out of me.
 
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