Top vs. Rear vent

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joebo

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Oct 27, 2009
8
Eastern PA
I will be installing a new(to me) wood stove into an existing masonry chimney. The stove has the option to top or rear vent and honestly I can set it up either way, although I think top vent will need less piping.

Any pros or cons to top or rear venting?
 
Whatever method requires fewer bends (elbows) is the way to go.
 
It depends on the stove. What make/model?

If top vent is easy, that usually will increase draft. But if the flue liner is over say 20', many folks like to install a tee on the liner and connect rear-exit to facilitate cleaning. A rear exit connection will move the stove forward on the hearth. This has its advantages, like more heat in the room and disadvantages, like the hearth needs to be extended to cover the 18" in front of the stove rule.
 
joebo said:
I will be installing a new(to me) wood stove into an existing masonry chimney. The stove has the option to top or rear vent and honestly I can set it up either way, although I think top vent will need less piping.

Any pros or cons to top or rear venting?
Click to expand...

Rear - with proper T can be easier cleaning. Can be a better appearance.
Top - No bend, much better for draft. Can be a better appearance.

I prefer top because it's more efficient in general, but I've had both.
 
BeGreen said:
It depends on the stove...
Click to expand...
It depends on the chimney too. What height is the Tee?
 
BeGreen said:
A rear exit connection will move the stove forward on the hearth. This has its advantages, like more heat in the room and disadvantages, like the hearth needs to be extended to cover the 18" in front of the stove rule.
Click to expand...

Glad I did it this way. I had to extend the hearth anyway, and bringing the stove out another foot is absolutely helping it throw more heat more quickly.
 
Our stove is in a fairly narrow room (about 14 feet) so the top vent allowed us push the stove a little closer to the masonry chimney and to the wall. The hearth still juts into the room more than I would like but passage in front of the hearth is reasonable.
ChipTam
 
The space is not an issue. I plan to go top mount since it will only need one elbow, but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on the great world of rear venting.
 
LLigetfa said:
BeGreen said:
It depends on the stove...
Click to expand...
It depends on the chimney too. What height is the Tee?
Click to expand...

Yes, I was visualizing a fireplace install, but it sounds like I was mistaken and this is a freestanding chimney install instead. Less elbows usually = good plan.
 
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