Sampson Dura-Vent

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deep wood

New Member
Jul 20, 2008
30
AK
I'm installing a Lopi Pioneer Bay insert using Sampson Dura-Vent. The Lopi manual states "Pellet vent connections must be sealed airtight with 500 degree F RTV silicone and screwed together with at least three sheet metal screws". I download the Dura-Vent instructions and there was no mention of sealant or sheet metal screws. The Dura-Vent instructions indicates that silicone sealant is required when attaching the vent adapter to the stove and I plan on doing this. Based on my experience with my Quad Castile install I will also use screws at the stove adapter connection. I used Excel Vent on the Castile and Excel vent required three sheet metal screws at all joints.

Ok, here are my questions. The Dura-Vent connections have a factory installed silicone seal and the mating surfaces appear to be pre-lubricated. I assume the lubrication is to prevent damage to the silicone seal and ease the connection. The Dura-Vent pipe also turns and locks. Soooo....should a person add additional silicone to the joint as specified in the stove manual? It just doesn't make sense to me. I cant really find an adequate place to add silicone and the lubrication from the factory will prevent adequate adhesion. And how about them screws? I guess I can buy into the screws as it will prevent the pipe from turning and unlocking. Thank in advance for the advice.
 
We have not been using silicone on the new pipe with the seals in it. I don't think they have been using screws either, you will just poke holes in it and give more places for smoke to leak.
 
I use the simpson duravent and mine just has the fiberglass rope gasket. I just lock them together with the 1/4 turn lock and then run Gray High Temp RTV around the seam using my finger. I use the Gray because it doesn't look as gaudy on the outside of the house as the red. I don't have any leaks and If I take them apart for cleaning I just RTV them again. I don't use screws. You really don't need to as long as you're using support brackets every 4 feet or so.
 
Only used screws on my DuraVent in 2 places: 1st was to attach the appliance adapter to the stove. Slid it on, drilled & installed screws, then ran a bead of silicone around joint. The other was the adjustable pipe section I used....screws and aluminum furnace tape there.

All other connections I just twist-locked them. If you DO decide to seal each twist lock joint, I think the aluminum foil tape is the easiest. No cutting silicone w/ a razor knife to get them apart down the road.....just peel the tape off.
 
macman said:
Only used screws on my DuraVent in 2 places: 1st was to attach the appliance adapter to the stove. Slid it on, drilled & installed screws, then ran a bead of silicone around joint. The other was the adjustable pipe section I used....screws and aluminum furnace tape there.

All other connections I just twist-locked them. If you DO decide to seal each twist lock joint, I think the aluminum foil tape is the easiest. No cutting silicone w/ a razor knife to get them apart down the road.....just peel the tape off.

macman - What type of silicone did you apply on the adaptor joint? I can only find DAP Fire-stop sealant (up to 160 deg F). If you're using one with higher temp range, can you tell me where you purchase it? Thanks.
 
Cosworth said:
macman - What type of silicone did you apply on the adaptor joint? I can only find DAP Fire-stop sealant (up to 160 deg F). If you're using one with higher temp range, can you tell me where you purchase it? Thanks.

Cosworth, I bought Rutland Hi Temp sealant in the section of Home Despot where they have the pellet stoves located. The one I bought was clear, but they have black too. Pretty much any Hi-temp (500 degree or higher) silicone will work. I even used automotive hi temp silicone like we use on our sprint car headers instead of gaskets.....and those get a LOT hotter than the pellet stove, believe me.

Either of these will work just fine:

www.rutland.com/productinfo.php?product_id=28

www.permatex.com/products/Automotiv...ermatex_High-Temp_Red_RTV_Silicone_Gasket.htm
 
snikr said:
I like the idea of the aluminum foil tape. Where is a good (cheap) place to get some?

Tom

HD or Lowes in the plumbing section. It can be painted also, if your pipe is black....use Hi heat spray paint.
 
I buy the gray Permatex RTV at Autozone. It's rated up to 600 degrees. You can also get it in red, black, or blue. I used the black to seal up the seams around my black wall thimble. I think for the exterior pipe joints that I take apart for maintenance, I may be switching to foil tape next year. You can get the foil tape at any hardware store near the dryer venting or stove department.
 
Be careful when selecting "HI TEMP" foil tapes -- there are all sorts of temperature ratings on them. I got the 500 degree 3M tape at Ace Hardware. My local Home Depot didn't have anything with that high a temperature rating.
 
Most pellet stove manufacturers provide general instructions for installation of pellet vent, but defer to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the venting product that is used on the installation.

If you are using DuraVent's PelletVent Pro pipe, there are only two areas that require the use of silicone sealers -- at the pipe adaptor and when using adjustable sections. All other joints feature an internal ecapsulated silicone ring. Stainless screws are not a bad idea (but not required) provided you use 3/8's or 1/4 inch. These can be tough to find. If you use longer screws, you will puncture thru the inner pipe. This result in smoke leaks. This is all clearly noted in their instructions that come with the pipe.

Do not recommend foil face tape. Looks ugly and glue dries out over time resulting in leaks.
 
the manufacture has no idea what vent is used so they cya. Follow vent directions and silicone the stove adapter.
 
We silicone (Imperial or Inland) all joints that are inside the home and use only Dura Vent Pellet Vent Pro.

Eric
 
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