Double T for easier pellet flue cleaning?? Finally got the Simpson Duravent Double T and it is in!!

[Don2222]

Hello

Cleaning the pellet vent is a chore to take apart! Most of the buildup is in the Horizontal sections that are the hardest to get at!

So does anyone use Double Ts for easier access for cleaning??
(broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/item/5SE-4VP-TD/4-Selkirk-VP-Pellet-Vent-Pipe-Double-Tee-with-Cap-4VP-TD)


Therefore in the 1st pic below I was thinking of replacing the the 90 degree elbow and the T pipes with Double T's.
Then it would be a breeze to take the caps off and run the pellet brush in and shop vacuum it!

2nd pic is Selkirk Double T

 

[jtp10181]

We have used this in a few installs since Duravent came out with one. I have not heard any complaints. Did you have a question?

I am not sure if it would be wise to put one at the top with the cleanout oriented upwards. I have only had them at the bottom with the cleanouts down and horizontal.

 

[Don2222]

We have used this in a few installs since Duravent came out with one. I have not heard any complaints. Did you have a question?

I am not sure if it would be wise to put one at the top with the cleanout oriented upwards. I have only had them at the bottom with the cleanouts down and horizontal.

Hello jtp

Thanks for the reply. Do the double Ts add 5 EVL or is it higher?
Why not have one at the top? Then it would be real easy to run a brush straight down?


Here is a good definition of EVL !!

Also see here for more info http://nevelsstoves.com/pellet-stove-venting.html

Pellet stoves have to push the exhaust air through the vent pipe with the stove’s exhaust fan. With less restriction your pellet stove will breathe easier and burn more efficiently. First let’s clarify the word restriction. Restrictions come from several different items.

1. 45 degree elbows
2. 90 degree elbows
3. Horizontal distance
4. Vertical distance
5. Elevation where you live.

A rule of thumb equation we are using has been adopted by most pellet manufactures. The equation is called the sum of Equivalent Vertical Length (EVL). All of the above mentioned venting restrictions have been assigned EVL values as follows:

1. Each 45 degree elbow = 3 EVL
2. Each 90 degree elbow and Tees with cleanout = 5 EVL
3. Each foot of horizontal run = 1 EVL
4. Each foot of Vertical run = 0.5 EVL
5. Elevations above 3000 ft with an EVL of 7 must adapt to 4 inch vent pipe.

If your installation is below 3000ft, we would need to do some math. The rule of thumb equations is that if the sum of the EVL is 15 or greater, then the pellet vent pipe would be increased to 4 inch diameter pellet vent pipe.

 

[hossthehermit]

Looks very similar to my setup, but I have a regular tee at the top 90 as well as the bottom one, the top cap of the tee is horiz., if your brush has one of those flexible nylon handles it's easy to just slide it down thru as well as straight. Thinking about one of the 4 ways for the bottom, though, if Simpson makes one, won't be until this summer, though.

 

[Don2222]

Looks very similar to my setup, but I have a regular tee at the top 90 as well as the bottom one, the top cap of the tee is horiz., if your brush has one of those flexible nylon handles it's easy to just slide it down thru as well as straight. Thinking about one of the 4 ways for the bottom, though, if Simpson makes one, won't be until this summer, though.

Hello hossthehermit

Thanks for the reply and pic.

Yes, to be cheaper I was thinking of moving my T to the top and putting a 4 way on the bottom. That would still cover the cleaning and I would not have to pull seals apart!

Thanks again

 

[arnash]

"1. Each 45 degree elbow = 3 EVL
2. Each 90 degree elbow and Tees with cleanout = 5 EVL"
I was contemplating this math last night while trying to get to sleep. It seems an error to equate "T"s with 90 degree elbows. In a "T" some of the air slams into the wall of the pipe straight on, while in an elbow the air hits the wall at a 45 degree angle, deflecting off of it instead of hitting it head-on because of the shape of the elbow. Therefore the EVL for an elbow should be less than that for a "T" ,perhaps a value of 4 would be close.

 

[hossthehermit]

Or maybe a "tee" should be like 7 ?

 

[Don2222]

Hello

Finally got the Simson Duravent Double T.

I ordered it from NothlineExpress Sept 24, 2011 and it finally came today! It had to be back ordered. I guess 4" DT is not so common!!

Out of the box the configuration was baffling!!

Each capped end was very different!

See red arrows in pic below (Click to enlarge)

The right end had the inner grove and the left capped end looks riveted!!

I could not budge either end by hand so I got out my filter wrench and both ends came off!! Then coated bothe ends with Never-Seez!

Does any one else use a Double T for easier Pellet flue cleaning?

 

[Murphy118]

I've been looking at one of these since I did my first major cleanout last year,,,, how easy it would be to do my horizontal run....I just can't bring myself to part with close to $200 for a piece of cylindrical galvanized steel.......hmmmm maybe i can ask Santa for one!
I can't even use the leafblower trick on mine since the "good" neighbor is on that side of the house and his white sided house is only about 15 feet away....... now if the stove was on the "bad" neighbor's side,,,,,,,,,,,,


John

 

[Don2222]

I've been looking at one of these since I did my first major cleanout last year,,,, how easy it would be to do my horizontal run....I just can't bring myself to part with close to $200 for a piece of cylindrical galvanized steel.......hmmmm maybe i can ask Santa for one!
I can't even use the leafblower trick on mine since the "good" neighbor is on that side of the house and his white sided house is only about 15 feet away....... now if the stove was on the "bad" neighbor's side,,,,,,,,,,,,


John

I will let you know how it works when I get it installed, but it took 2 months to order it so you better let Santa know real soon if you want one!!

 

[imacman]

....I just can't bring myself to part with close to $200 for a piece of cylindrical galvanized steel.......

$166 w/ free shipping from Dynamitebuys.com

Yeah, I know....that's still a lot of $$ for what it is.

 

[arnash]

I've been looking at one of these since I did my first major cleanout last year,,,, how easy it would be to do my horizontal run....I just can't bring myself to part with close to $200 for a piece of cylindrical galvanized steel.......hmmmm maybe i can ask Santa for one!
I can't even use the leafblower trick on mine since the "good" neighbor is on that side of the house and his white sided house is only about 15 feet away....... now if the stove was on the "bad" neighbor's side,,,,,,,,,,,,


John

You could use a blower if you tied a cloth laundry bag or pillow case to the end of the vent pipe. It would substitute for a vacuum cleaner bag. It would never be white again, but who cares. Also, you could increase its retention by moistening the inside with a spray bottle. The water would absorb any fine dust that otherwise might make its way through the fabric.
Personally, I'm not going to bother with cleaning until there's an actual reduction in the air flow. That might take two seasons or more I guesstimate. But it all depends on how clean you run your stove. If it never runs with too much fuel, which produces lots of soot, then the inside of the vent pipe will remain much cleaner than one run dirty often. Yesterday while cleaning my leaf-filled rain gutters, I began smelling smoke. I looked at my vent pipe and it was pouring out smoke, -I forget to reduce the feed rate from maximum when I left the room (my stove is first generation all manual). After letting the burn-cradle thin out a little it began to burn without any visible smoke. That results in less soot build-up in the vent.
One other thing that helps is having unimpeded air-flow. I think it's pretty certain that any vent connector that has a pure right-angle turn is bad for smooth air flow. I wouldn't want to use such a thing. It should be angled like the twistable adjustable angle connectors which curve the corner at 45% angles instead of 90%.

Having used my stove only one season so far, I've never cleaned my homemade vent pipe so I'd like to know if it will contain more that just soot. Will it also contain lots of ash? I'm thinking not since it seems to accumulate quite abundantly inside the stove.

 

[stallau]

I added one for the same reason you have which is a horizontal run. it turned a major battle into a 10 minute cleaning during he heating season.

So if anyone needs a 4" single tee in the Sanford ME area let me know $25

 

[Don2222]

Hello

I finally got the Double T in!! Then I used the single T at the Top. Now as you say STallau, just a 10 min cleaning!!

See pic below!!

Click to enlarge!!

 

[Don2222]

Hello

I know it looks tight and it is, but it works fine see pic. Beats the alternative of taking those pipes apart

P.S. Does anyone near Salem NH need a 4" diameter Simpson Duravent 90 Degree Elbow in great shape (No Silicone or RTV) for $20.00 ??

Simpson Duravent 4" Diam new on Amazon is $59.21
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0AG8TD9SS789VWMQTQXE