Tips for DIY OAK?

billc411 · Nov 9, 2014

First time trying to use existing Whitfield (Advantage II?) pellet stove in a house I bought last year.

1. House is 1000sf one story house w/ unfinished basement built in 1950. It is not tight nor well insulated (working on both of those issues). We got killed on heating oil last winter.

2. The stove is in the basement. The previous owner stated it kept the basement at 80 degrees and the upstairs at 65. The vent and OAK go up about 6 feet and then 90-elbow out the sill plate. (they do not share the same thimble)

3. The previous owner installed it himself. Unfortunately he used PVC pipe for the OAK - so I want to replace with metal.

What's the best type of ducting/pipe to use over this distance. The outside dimension of the stove's air intake is 1- 5/8"

I was think metal pipe would be nicer looking and have better cfm than flex dryer vent - but i'm having a hard time finding metal pipe at 2" diameter or bigger that's reasonably priced.

4" dryer vent on the other hand seems like over kill size-wise (my direct vent is only 3") and I can't seem to find flexible metal pipe that's closer to 2-3"D for that long of a run (need 8-10 feet)

Any advice on what to use and where to source the parts?

Thanks!

Wooden Head · Nov 9, 2014

billc411 said:
First time trying to use existing Whitfield (Advantage II?) pellet stove in a house I bought last year.

1. House is 1000sf one story house w/ unfinished basement built in 1950. It is not tight nor well insulated (working on both of those issues). We got killed on heating oil last winter.

2. The stove is in the basement. The previous owner stated it kept the basement at 80 degrees and the upstairs at 65. The vent and OAK go up about 6 feet and then 90-elbow out the sill plate. (they do not share the same thimble)

3. The previous owner installed it himself. Unfortunately he used PVC pipe for the OAK - so I want to replace with metal.

What's the best type of ducting/pipe to use over this distance. The outside dimension of the stove's air intake is 1- 5/8"

I was think metal pipe would be nicer looking and have better cfm than flex dryer vent - but i'm having a hard time finding metal pipe at 2" diameter or bigger that's reasonably priced.

4" dryer vent on the other hand seems like over kill size-wise (my direct vent is only 3") and I can't seem to find flexible metal pipe that's closer to 2-3"D for that long of a run (need 8-10 feet)

Any advice on what to use and where to source the parts?

Thanks!

I used 2 " flex auto exhaust pipe. I think at the time it was about $20 for 8'. I found it at one of the national auto parts store.

billc411 · Nov 9, 2014

Wooden Head said:
I used 2 " flex auto exhaust pipe. I think at the time it was about $20 for 8'. I found it at one of the national auto parts store.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...oap?ck=Search_N0075_-1_750&pt=N0075&ppt=C0022

This?

Seems like that would work pretty well.

Bob E · Nov 10, 2014

Man, I'm having a heck of a time trying to find the 2" flexible aluminum duct for the oak on my stove. I've been to every hardware and farm store around. Called the local stove store. Been all over ebay. No luck at all. I can find 1.5" and 3" without much trouble and at a reasonable price, but the only 2" I can find is like $100-200 for a 20' roll. That flexible exhaust is the only thing I've come across, but that stuff is pretty heavy duty. How did you attach it? U-bolts?

briansol · Nov 10, 2014

DO NOT use non-metal piping for intake air. There is always the potential for hot air to exit the intake (ie, power failure). It should be treated just like exhaust for thimbles, piping material, clearances, etc.

since you need 10' most off the shelf kits aren't going to be long enough (they are usually 18-24")

You're going to have to go the custom route and source piping from o'riellys or jcwhitney or your local midas/mineke/monoroe

bags · Nov 10, 2014

Try a local muffler shop. They can make up and bend whatever. Pretty cheap too.

alternativeheat · Nov 10, 2014

bags said:
Try a local muffler shop. They can make up and bend whatever. Pretty cheap too.

Yes and a short piece of flex or an adapter to mount it to the stove. Actually, a good muffler shop can crimp 2" down to 1-7/8" or expand 1-7/8" pipe to 2" on the ends as well.

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Tips for DIY OAK?

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