Building my own outside air kit.

[HarmonP35i]

I am trying to make a parts list for making my own outside air kit. This is what i have so far.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_26365-41698...e&pl=1&currentURL;=/pl__0__s?Ntt=selkirk+pipe

http://www.lowes.com/pd_28878-85334-FXL0001_0__?productId=3133685&Ntt=3"+flex&pl=1&currentURL;=/pl__0__s?Ntt=3%22+flex&page=2

http://www.lowes.com/pd_26365-41698...=13&storeId=10151&ddkey=http:OrderItemDisplay

any other ideas? How can I attach the 2 3" pipes together. I wil probably need some stainless bolt and screwdriver type hose clamps for attacking to the vent top, stover and coupler.

 

[save$]

I butted that light aluminum pipe together with metal tape. Working well for me. If there is any pull on it, you could make an overlaping colar from a 3 in legnth of the same pipe, cut it legnthwise then over lap both ends and tape into place.

 

[Don2222]

Hello

The cold and sometimes damp air should be tempered coming in from the outside for good burning especially when you choose the lowest heat settings. By tempered I mean let the warm air inside the house warm the fresh air in the vent tubing. To do this do not insulate the tubing and make it as long as possible (possibly more than 10 but less than 15 feet ((you can coil it)) before attaching to your pellet stove. I tried insulating my vent and got alot of caked ash in the burn pot!!

Here is the England's OAK http://www.englanderstoves.com/Outside_Air_Kit.html

Also you can buy a hood type of vent pictured below that is made to attach to your tubing and screwing on to the side of the house.

 

[jumpink]

An installer I spoke to said he uses a dryer kit for outside air. He said they work perfectly and they are inexpensive.

 

[krooser]

I see no reason to warm the incoming air.... an 1100F fire won't know the difference between 50F air and 0F air... IMHO.

Hi efficiency furnaces take cold air directly into the combustion chamber...

 

[Don2222]

Hello

If you are running the pellet stove with an OAK on the higher heat settings the air temp does not make much difference. It is on the low settings you may get cakes ash and clinkers in the burn pot. Also my boiler expert told me that boilers like tempered air. He had a case where the new more efficient boiler system he put in made alot of noise with an OAK when it got real cold outside. Probably does not matter on the old inefficient boilers. Heck even the old carberators on cars had a Pre-Heater hose to heat the air going into the engine for better combustion.

So take this info for what you think it is worth.