External chimney and clearances

[Greg123]

My original idea was having the installers run my class A chimney system was the “out and up” external chimney. Let me start by saying I have never really liked this style because of the cold external chimney and the potential for more cresol, I have always been told and read that it is better to keep the chimney within the envelope of the house, but the “out and up” seemed practical in my situation So to do everything legit I contacted our counties building inspector for permit information and started asking some question, my main concern was on the same side of the house that the chimney will be exiting is a 500 gal propane tank

The inspector said he would drop by and do a preliminary site inspection before the installers come out to point out any possible problems with the location and chimney that I have choose. So I booked my appointment for early next week. He did tell me code requires the propane tank to be 25 feet away from the clean out.

After hanging up the phone I went out and measured the distance and the propane tank and it sits 37 feet away from where the clean out will be, so I’m good there. But then I noticed the propane tank regulator that attaches to the house will be only 4 feet or so from where the cleanout would be. I’m thinking this will fail code for being to close but I will find out when the inspector does his preliminary inspection early next week. Moving the regulator and internal piping in the basement is not an option for me.


I have a two story colonial style home, So if the “out and up” does fail I’m looking at another option of just having the installers run the class a straight up through the ceiling through the second floor and through the upstairs ceiling through the attic and out through the roof.

Doing this will run the class A through my daughters bedroom, I’m wondering what others have done to hide the pipe that run through there second floor Living space . false wall or nothing?. any Ideas?.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Greg, as for the out and up, we've had out chimney that way for 30 years now with no problems. As for creosote, you'll get that from burning wood before it is seasoned well enough. We put in a new SS chimney 2 years ago when we installed our new Fireview and haven't had to clean the chimney yet. I give credit both to the stove and to the fact that the newest wood we burned was only 3 years cut, split and stacked. Burning dry wood like that gives more heat with less creosote problems.

There are many who say if you run the chimney outside that you have to build a chase. I say no, but no doubt it would help some.

 

[Greg123]

Thanks that's good to know the "out and up" is the way I want to go just don't know what the code is on the propane regulator is.

 

[firefighterjake]

Greg, as for the out and up, we've had out chimney that way for 30 years now with no problems. As for creosote, you'll get that from burning wood before it is seasoned well enough. We put in a new SS chimney 2 years ago when we installed our new Fireview and haven't had to clean the chimney yet. I give credit both to the stove and to the fact that the newest wood we burned was only 3 years cut, split and stacked. Burning dry wood like that gives more heat with less creosote problems.

There are many who say if you run the chimney outside that you have to build a chase. I say no, but no doubt it would help some.

+1 . . . I had no real options other than the out and up route without doing major structural work to my house plumbing, electrical, walls and floor joists and so with some reservations I did the out and up route . . . and was happy to discover that contrary to what I feared I did not have an excessive amount of creosote (good, seasoned wood and using proper burning techniques and temps), draft was good (not too much and not too little) and the house was fine heat-wise . . . granted the optimal set up would have been inside the home for better draft, creosote and heat retention . . . but on the flip side cleaning out the chimney is easy-peasy as I have a T connection outside . . . undo three screws and run the brush up from the bottom and the bulk of the chimney is cleaned in 5 minutes.

 

[Greg123]

The out and up seems to be the way to go for me also. With regards to the gas regulator on the outside, if code does require a clearance in case of leak, then wouldn't code also require inside clearance to any thing running on gas in the house in case it leaks also.

 

[coreystaf]

Hey Greg, you asked earlier about what to do when you go thru the upper floor, you MUST enclose the pipe, not a matter of what you like, you have to chase the pipe if you are passing thru living or storage area. I'm not sure about the clearance to the regulator, but I can check, the inspector will no doubt tell you tho.

 

[Greg123]

Corey thanks for the info, if you find any info on the regulator please post.

 

[Greg123]

Well curiosity got the best of me, so I called the inspector; they are more concerned with the actual propane tank being 25 feet away from the cleanout, and as far as the regulator they are not concerend.

I imagine different Counties, towns, inspectors might have clearance requirements for regulators but mine does not.

 

[OldDedHed]

The regulator isn't a concern like a tank is. Tanks vent routinely when the temperature rises, and of course there's some leakage when filled. Regulators have vents on them, but on a tank supply the chances of the line pressure changing enough to cause a regulator to vent are nonexistent.