OAK up the chimney

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Paforeleft

New Member
Nov 14, 2011
2
Central Coast California
I am about to install a large woodburning stove (equinox) into an existing interior fireplace where we prevously had a smaller avalon stove. I wanted to have an OAK intalled and the only way to do that is to install it up the masonry chimney and out the top. I suggested this method to the installer and he says that he can do it. In reading about OAK installation i have never heard of this method and have also read that the air intake should be below the grade of the stove intake. Any thoughts on this method of OAK intallation. We have a long house with a central great room where the stove is. The rooms farthest from the stove don't get much heat, hopefully the larger stove with an OAK will help that

Thanks for your input
 
Probably could be done okay but on those days when smoke tends to hold down low you would be sucking up the gasses and smoke from what has already burned. Not sure if that would be a problem or not.
 
Would there be 2 liners in here? One liner for the OAK and another for the stove?

pen
 
At first glance I wouldn't be too excited about that. I'm sure it could be done, but I'd wonder about how good the draft would be in getting the fire started - maybe I'm thinking too much.

I'm imagine they want the OAK to be below the grade of the stove to help with natural convection and movement of air. Also don't forget that as your length of pipe increases the diameter needs to go up to support the same CFM. Not sure what the engineering specs would be to accommodate your design, however.

I might really consider not doing an OAK instead of that method - maybe I'm just too paranoid. Just seems like a bad idea from the get-go to me.

Any worries with an out of control fire going up the OAK in any way? Another reason for below-grade install to me.
 
Sounds like a bad idea to me. Chimneys pull air up. You would have to reverse the "chimney" just to provide air to your fire. It might work, but I'd guess you wouldn't be happy with the results.
 
Waulie said:
Sounds like a bad idea to me. Chimneys pull air up. You would have to reverse the "chimney" just to provide air to your fire. It might work, but I'd guess you wouldn't be happy with the results.
I agree 100% Waulie! That is not a good idea first because you would essentially be pulling air DOWN to start that fire going.....and if/when you got the fire going you would probably pull a lot of smoke down instead of fresh air......the fact that the flue will be in the same chase as the combustion air pipe will mean that the combustion air pipe will get warm from residual heat off of the flue further diminishing your air flow to the firebox...remember heat causes air to rise.....I would be looking for a low spot to get that combustion air from........just my opinion..
 
I think I remember seeing somewhere on the forum where someone had installed an OAK up their masonry chimney with their SS liner, then routed it down the outside side to keep it a few feet below the top of the liner. There was a picture with it, it was kind of crazy looking but his local inspector said it was OK and he wasn't having any problems. Might be worth doing some more heavy duty searching.

EDIT: Found it. Second page https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/66429/P22/
 
I think once that cold air starts down the OAK into the stove your going to have a tough time controlling it. You want the stove to pull the combustion air in not get pushed in. I had some problems with my OAK for my basement install because it ran up the wall and out the sill plate, cold air came down too fast and screwed up the burn times and cooled the stove prematurely. I installed a goose neck outside the sill plate, reduced the intake size and it seems to be working so far.
 
I offer the same concerns against doing this and will add how do you plan on cleaning the chimney with the OAK in it?
 
What problem are you trying to resolve by installing an OAK in the firs place? In my opinion the best way to install and OAK is to go through the floor and route the inlet as close to the ground as is reasonable without risking it being easily covered up. The lower the air source, the denser it is and the more it will help your chimney draft properly.
 
mayhem said:
What problem are you trying to resolve by installing an OAK in the firs place?

This is what I'd like to know.

I come across so many people going to extensive lengths to install OAK's without considering if they even should. I'm not saying that it isn't warranted in this case, but the OP hasn't pointed out what the issue he's having that he's trying to remedy with an OAK.
 
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