Should I use Stainless or Galvanized chimney pipe?

[chris-mcpherson]

Some of it will be enclosed in a direct vent bump out and about 20' of it will be exposed. Doing the job in Stainless will cost me ~$400 more. Money is definitely an issue but I don't want it to cost me more in the long run.

 

[madison]

I believe, stainless for the portions exposed to the elements and eye. Otherwise, galvanized. It was my understanding that the galvanized appearance will change with exposure to the rain/snow, but integrity is not affected.

I used galvanized inside, and painted it with high temp black. Stainless outdoors. Pics in sig. link.

Hope this helps.

 

[chris-mcpherson]

That's what I thought about the integrity of the galvanized but, I have a supplier pushing the stainless with it's rust and corrosion resistance properties. I thought galvanized would hold up just as well. I figured it was an issue of aesthetics only.
Would it be advisable to paint galvanized pipe? If so, I could paint it the color of my house.

 

[vvvv]

That's what I thought about the integrity of the galvanized but, I have a supplier pushing the stainless with it's rust and corrosion resistance properties. I thought galvanized would hold up just as well. I figured it was an issue of aesthetics only.
Would it be advisable to paint galvanized pipe? If so, I could paint it the color of my house.

i would & keep extra paint on hand in case it peels

 

[tiber]

You MUST paint galvanized. If you're looking for "hands free", you want stainless.

Myself, I want it to match the side of the house, and I don't want a blinding obilisk of light at dawn and dusk to piss off my neighbors, so I'm going to get galvanized.

 

[chris-mcpherson]

I don't want a blinding obilisk of light

Damn good point.
I was considering stainless so it would look shiny and new but it could end up being too much of a good thing. After consideration and the responses in this thread I'll use galvanized and paint it my house color.
Thanks guys.

 

[madison]

I think high temp paint would be advised for fire resistance (? local codes ?) and longevity. Which is going to add to the cost of the project.

 

[chris-mcpherson]

Oh yeah...didn't think of that. Any idea what the approximate temp would be over half way up a 26' run would be?

 

[DAKSY]

Oh yeah...didn't think of that. Any idea what the approximate temp would be over half way up a 26' run would be?

Hot enough that the Class A will STILL require a 2" clearance to combustibles.

 

[chris-mcpherson]

I was referring to the type of paint to use. Am I limited to hi-heat stove paint?
DAKSY...what part of NY are you at? I grew up in the Adirondacks.

 

[tiber]

Well just high heat paint. Engine and brake paint comes in a variety of colors. Try Pep Boys, napa, etc.

 

[madison]

Bar-bq paint as well is an option.

I personally would not want to try anything but high temp paint, during normal operation, the class a gets pretty warm, and i imagine if you screw up and get a chimney fire or stove overfire, you will blister the paint and possibly your home in the process.

 

[DAKSY]

I was referring to the type of paint to use. Am I limited to hi-heat stove paint?
DAKSY...what part of NY are you at? I grew up in the Adirondacks.

East of Albany in Rensselaer County...Averill Park...Actually live on Burden Lake.
Love the Adirondacks. Lotta GREAT motorcycle roads up there...

 

[Renovation]

Hi Folks,

I just thought I'd bump this thread up, since I'm making the same decision. I'm planning on completely enclosing my pipe in an insulated chase, so it will not be visible or exposed to the elements. I'd like to save $200 by getting galvanized instead of stainless, unless there's a compelling reason not to.

From this thread, it seems not, which is good news for me. But if anyone has any additional insights, I'd like to hear them. If not, I'm content.

Thanks, and happy burning!

 

[pen]

This is the part of the stainless steel spec sheet from simpson
Cost for this pipe is 172.97 from http://www.ventingdirect.com/simpso...ess-steel-class-a-chimney-pipe-length/p656032

Specifications

Material Specifications:
Outer Wall: 430 G-90 Galvanized Steel, .016" Thick, or .021" Galvalume Steel
Inner Wall: 430 Stainless, .020" Thick.
Insulation: Thermal Tech Blanket

Misc:
Maximum Temperature Rating: Rated for continuous use at 1000°, intermittent use at 2100°
Supported Fuels: Wood, Oil, and Coal
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
UL Listed: 103HT, 103

Here it is for the galvanized
The cost is 142. 70 http://www.ventingdirect.com/simpso...alvanized-class-a-chimney-pipe-length/p656033

Specifications

Material Specifications:
Outer Wall: 430 G-90 Galvanized Steel, .016" Thick, or .021" Galvalume Steel
Inner Wall: 430 Stainless, .020" Thick.
Insulation: Thermal Tech Blanket

Misc:
Maximum Temperature Rating: Rated for continuous use at 1000°, intermittent use at 2100°
Supported Fuels: Wood, Oil, and Coal
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
UL Listed: 103HT, 103



Are these spec sheets wrong? Other than the 30 dollar difference, I don't see what the heck the difference is? This is the same spec sheet that pops up for these products on other sites as well. I'm confused.

pen

 

[Renovation]

This is the part of the stainless steel spec sheet from simpson
Cost for this pipe is 172.97 from http://www.ventingdirect.com/simpso...ess-steel-class-a-chimney-pipe-length/p656032

Specifications

Material Specifications:
Outer Wall: 430 G-90 Galvanized Steel, .016" Thick, or .021" Galvalume Steel
Inner Wall: 430 Stainless, .020" Thick.
Insulation: Thermal Tech Blanket

Misc:
Maximum Temperature Rating: Rated for continuous use at 1000°, intermittent use at 2100°
Supported Fuels: Wood, Oil, and Coal
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
UL Listed: 103HT, 103

Here it is for the galvanized
The cost is 142. 70 http://www.ventingdirect.com/simpso...alvanized-class-a-chimney-pipe-length/p656033

Specifications

Material Specifications:
Outer Wall: 430 G-90 Galvanized Steel, .016" Thick, or .021" Galvalume Steel
Inner Wall: 430 Stainless, .020" Thick.
Insulation: Thermal Tech Blanket

Misc:
Maximum Temperature Rating: Rated for continuous use at 1000°, intermittent use at 2100°
Supported Fuels: Wood, Oil, and Coal
Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
UL Listed: 103HT, 103



Are these spec sheets wrong? Other than the 30 dollar difference, I don't see what the heck the difference is? This is the same spec sheet that pops up for these products on other sites as well. I'm confused.

pen

Hi Pen,

If you compare the sections of your citations that I've highlighted in blue with this quote from the DuraTech catalog:

Materials and Construction: Inner wall of 0.020" 430 stainless steel. Outer wall options of 0.016" 430 stainless steel or 0.021" galvalume steel

You'll see the blue sections are typos, and should read "430 stainless" instead of "430 G90 Galvanized". Then your quoted spec is consistent with the catalog, and with its own description of the stainless inner wall, which says 430 stainless, not galvanized.

The upshot seems to be, there is no difference in the specs of the galvanized and stainless pipe, except for material! So they seem otherwise equivalent, which is a good thing for me.

Make sense?

 

[pen]

So the stainless pipe is stainless inside and out and the galvanized pipe is stainless only on the interior?

If so, and you don't mind the appearance, they both seem to be rated equally each with a lifetime warranty. I guess it depends on how much aesthetics matter to you.

pen

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Personally I could care less what my neighbors think about my chimney. It is SS up the side of the house and looks just fine. I've had galvanized before and that too looked fine. No paint.

 

[chris-mcpherson]

I cared a little bit what a galvanized chimney would look like but in the end, the money savings meant more. I'm glad I decided to save the money because even though it's on the side of the house with the driveway... unless you mean to look at it, you don't even notice it. I have a feeling that a shiny SS chimney would have stuck out like a sore thumb.
I've also seen nothing that says galvanized MUST be painted... only tips on HOW to do it if you want to.

 

[wkpoor]

Galvanize will rust if near smoke. My chimney cap was originally galvanize and it rusted badly. Replaced it with stainless. I'm thinking this will apply to the pipe also. Keeping it painted will probably prevent the rust but will add a maintanence aspect. Depending on how diffecult it is to access would affect my decision.

 

[firefighterjake]

I cared a little bit what a galvanized chimney would look like but in the end, the money savings meant more. I'm glad I decided to save the money because even though it's on the side of the house with the driveway... unless you mean to look at it, you don't even notice it. I have a feeling that a shiny SS chimney would have stuck out like a sore thumb.
I've also seen nothing that says galvanized MUST be painted... only tips on HOW to do it if you want to.

I was a bit concerned about the look of the stainless steel chimney running up the side of my house . . . and it's not like I'm all about looks or keeping up with the Jones. I just thought it might look a bit odd.

However, after having it installed I discovered that 1) you tend to forget about the look after awhile and 2) I lucked out since you can really only see the last 2-3 feet from the road due to the location of the chimney and position of my house.

 

[Renovation]

So the stainless pipe is stainless inside and out and the galvanized pipe is stainless only on the interior?

Yessir, that's how it looks to me. And, as you see, there seems no difference in performance specs, certification, etc.

In terms of warranty, wait a half hour...

I just checked, and the warranty appears to not distinguish between galvanized and SS skin. Interestingly, it is void if the pipe is not installed by a certified professional. I guess they saw me coming.

If so, and you don't mind the appearance, they both seem to be rated equally each with a lifetime warranty. I guess it depends on how much aesthetics matter to you.

Well, appearance does matter, but no one will see it. I'm planning on going the extra yard, and enclosing the pipe all the way to the top--even above the roof line, in an insulated chase. I'm hoping that a straight, 8" flue, double wall stovepipe into class A, 25' total, enclosed and insulated all the way to the top would draw with a candle, let along a cool-outlet cat. I'm doing everything I can to make a future-proof flue that will draw well enough that it should work well with any stove I care to throw under it, even one with a 6" outlet, without having the risk of smoke spillage that a 6" flue on an 8" stove would have. (fingers crossed)

So, if I can save $200 with a galvanized rather than stainless skin I'll never see, with no performance hit, that's good!

Thanks to all for your advice.

 

[oldspark]

If I planed on having the house for a long time I would go with the SS, sure they both offer the same protection but the galv. has a thin layer of protection so if it gets scratched some way it will rust there where as the SS will never rust no matter what. And if you decide to paint it that will add up over the years.

 

[LLigetfa]

I've seen enough cheap class A chimneys rusted away that I would never go that route. Forget about those supposed lifetime warranties where inferred quality is implied. They are all about marketing. Good luck ever getting satisfaction on a claim.

 

[Renovation]

I've seen enough cheap class A chimneys rusted away that I would never go that route. Forget about those supposed lifetime warranties where inferred quality is implied. They are all about marketing. Good luck ever getting satisfaction on a claim.

Hey LL,

Thanks for your insights.

Agreed on the warranty.

Have you ever seen a quality (say Simpson) galvanized Class A pipe that's enclosed rust away?