Flue Confusion

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Mark_ms

Feeling the Heat
Jan 28, 2008
352
Upstate NY on VT Border
I was about to pull the trigger on purchasing a Jotul wood insert. Then I saw a pellet burning stove and considered the advantages and disadvantages of both and I think that a pellet insert would be the way to go at, least for me and the Misses.

My question is on a wood insert the flue requirement is to go to the top of the chimney @ about $35 a foot x's25 ft. The prices are the same in VT and here on the NY side.

However the VT dealers on a pellet insert say you still need to go to the top of the chimey with a flue. The 2 dealers on the NY side say you only have to connect a 5 ft flexible pipe going up past the damper, pack it with insulation and light 'er up.

The 2 Vt dealers do work on my side of the NY border frequently.

So are the codes different? or are the Vt dealers just doing what is required in Vt and trying to hoodwink me into spending more money for 20ft more of flue I may not need.

Thanx,

Mark_ms
upstate NY on Vt border

PS Love this forum
 
The code requirements may be different. A similar situation exists in NJ. A full flue liner is required there. Just over the border in PA we only need the liner to extend above the damper.

Of course NJ also required that a CO (carbon monoxide) detector to be installed on each bedroom of my house before I could sell it.

My -- total electric -- house...
 
Mark, you can find fairly good deals on stainless steel flex that is rated for pellet stoves. At 25' you might need 4" pipe and that will complicate the price issue a little bit. I bought a 25x3 flex kit for 310.00 for my install. I cant advise you on your flue questions though, sorry.
 
I know the code in MA is a full flue liner to the top of the chimney.

I'd check with the fire dept. in your town to get the straight story.

The fire chief in my town was really helpful explaining the fire codes concerning pellet stoves to me. He also gave me things to look for when they installed my stove.
 
In some states the lines only has to go into the first tile to meet code but the spring clean up on a stove that does not have the liner go all the way to the top is a lot harder. Being a chimney sweep I charge double or more to clean a chimney with a short liner. you have to pull every thing out to clean. and put it all back with a shont liner .
 
Thanks for the replies, I would have gotten back sooner but I had a computer virus that completely shut me down.
Code for a pellet stove in this area is the "short" version of a flue ie: 5ft.

what is the disadvantage of the short flue?? Would there be excessive ash buildup on top of the insulation that is above the damper??

Thanx,


Mark_ms
 
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