Chimney draft

[wg_bent]

I thought this might be interesting for all those who want to better understand chimney draft. My home had a chimney that was on an outside wall. Draft when getting the stove going was always an issue with a lot of preheating the chimney required before starting a fire. This winter we put an addition on the house on that side, so now the chimney is an inside chimney. The draft difference was AMAZING. I never get a house full of smoke now. So, consider insulating your chimney very well

WG

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm guessing this is a masonry chimney? For sure that would make a tremendous difference. Good for you.

fwiw, we have an exterior SS chimney. It is short and no chase. Common wisdom says this is terrible. It works like a charm and I don't really know why.

 

[tfdchief]

There are so many variables with chimneys. It just is not an exact science. With my new Hampton, I would have had to extend and support my Class A chimney if I went any taller.....total from the top of the stove to the cap is 13 feet, just barely enough according to the manual. I put a stove pipe damper in, just for insurance. I figured it didn't hurt anything if I didn't use it, but if I needed it, and didn't have it......well its to late then. Really glad I put it in. The thing drafts like crazy and I use the stove pipe damper occasionally. You just never know for sure until you try it. My dad had a home grown wood stove in a hunting cabin. I won't bore you with the set up, but it should have put more smoke in the cabin than out the flue. But it drafted just fine. My son has a 2 story house, insert, s/s liner, interior masonry chimney, and has problems sometimes. Anyway, glad things worked out for you wg_bent

 

[BrotherBart]

Does Elm burn well in it?

 

[tfdchief]

Does Elm burn well in it?

That's gotta be a trick question

 

[BrotherBart]

Warren loves Elm.

 

[tfdchief]

That a boy Warren.....its all BTUs

 

[PapaDave]

You know, what I got from that is that I need to build an addition.
Did I miss something?

 

[tfdchief]

You know, what I got from that is that I need to build an addition.
Did I miss something?

Nope

 

[PapaDave]

Great, another project.
Been thinking about it anyway.

 

[wg_bent]

Great, another project.
Been thinking about it anyway.

No it's not a masonry chimney. It's a triple wall majestic prefab with a SS flex liner. So 4 walls. And an addition is quite an insulation blanket! There's probably cheaper ways to insulate a chimney. ;-) And it's funny, I don't seem to have burned any elm is quite a while. Last year I got hold of a massive amount of cherry and a friend delivered several dump trucks of pine on me. Free, delivered wood is the best!

 

[begreen]

Sounds like the avatar needs an upgrade!

 

[fire_man]

I thought this might be interesting for all those who want to better understand chimney draft. My home had a chimney that was on an outside wall. Draft when getting the stove going was always an issue with a lot of preheating the chimney required before starting a fire. This winter we put an addition on the house on that side, so now the chimney is an inside chimney. The draft difference was AMAZING. I never get a house full of smoke now. So, consider insulating your chimney very well

WG

This gives me confidence I won't be wasting time and money insulating my flue. I have a SS 6" uninsulated liner in an exterior chimney. It worked great with a Vermont Casting Resolute, and a Fireview, but not as good for the WS Progress. I think the very low flue temps on the Progress and the more tortuous exit path mean you need a pretty decent draft with this stove. Fortunately, I have a 13x13 clay liner, so there is lots of room for a full 1" of blanket wrap insulation. And a blanket wrapped liner HAS to be cheaper than an addition-wrapped liner!