Jotul Outside Air Kit - Snow Depth

[Vigil Igne]

So I'm looking at different outside air kits and see the Jotul 55 documentation states the following when installing their OAK:

"The exterior air inlet should not be installed at a level higher than the stove bottom." (D/L "(broken link removed to http://jotul.com/us/products/stoves/_attachment/9939?_download=true&_ts=13cf400f509)- page 22)

What??? .... What about snow depth?

 

[begreen]

Yes, a dense covering of snow could lead to combustion starvation. If the stove was installed below grade it would have to go up. Seems like it could have a loop below the firebox before coming up to above snow depth.

 

[Vigil Igne]

Thanks, but gotta ask ... What does the loop do (or solve) that they would have this limitation?

 

[begreen]

I'm guessing that Jotul may be concerned about reverse draft. Theory is that the loop would act as a trap.

 

[double-d]

Could this be the mfg is more concerned about someone using an OAK in a basement situation with "negative pressure" that could cause back drafts?