More barometric draft questions

[fields_mj]

I have a Drolet Heat Commander on the way. It will be replacing my 1980 vintage Energy Mate add on wood furnace. I understand that a barometric draft control is pretty much mandatory, which is fine. Several folks here answered some questions about them for me earlier this year (thanks a TON). Now that my need to actually purchase and install one is immanent, I have a couple more questions.

First, can someone recommend a good one, or a good brand?

Second, if i understand correctly, I need a manometer to set the draft control up correctly. Can someone recommend a good one of those?

Last, how flexible is the installation? Let me explain a little more. Currently my stove pipe (with no barometric draft controller) comes out of the back of the furnace to a 90, then runs at about a 45deg angle up and to the left until it aligns with the center of the chimney, then another 90 into the chimney where it Tees into a stainless liner. I really like this layout because it gives me access to the chimney, liner, and stove pipe for any maintenance that might be needed without having to move the furnace like I would if it were sitting directly Infront of the chimney. It sounds like the common way of doing things now is to come out of the stove into a Tee with one branch of the Tee going to the flue, and a barometric damper mounted to the other branch. If I do this, that branch will be sitting at a 45 deg angle to the world. Will the barometric draft control work in that kind of position, or does it need to be relatively close to square and plum so that gravity is pulling down in the correct direction for it to function properly?

Part B to this question. It the barometric draft control needs to be square and plum to the world, can I install it between the stove and the flue? My thought i s this. Currently, the stove pipe comes up and left at a 45 deg angle, and then has a 90 deg elbow where passes through the chimney wall. Can I replace that 90 deg elbow with a Tee and put the barometric draft control on the unused branch of that Tee instead? If this is acceptable, it would make accessing the unit a lot easier. I'll still probably put a Tee on the stove also but I'll cap the lower branch. Its not very accessible, but it would still give access to the flue pipe without having to disassembly multiple things or move the furnace.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Mark

 

[Ivy297]

I have a Drolet Heat Commander on the way. It will be replacing my 1980 vintage Energy Mate add on wood furnace. I understand that a barometric draft control is pretty much mandatory, which is fine. Several folks here answered some questions about them for me earlier this year (thanks a TON). Now that my need to actually purchase and install one is immanent, I have a couple more questions.

First, can someone recommend a good one, or a good brand?

Second, if i understand correctly, I need a manometer to set the draft control up correctly. Can someone recommend a good one of those?

Last, how flexible is the installation? Let me explain a little more. Currently my stove pipe (with no barometric draft controller) comes out of the back of the furnace to a 90, then runs at about a 45deg angle up and to the left until it aligns with the center of the chimney, then another 90 into the chimney where it Tees into a stainless liner. I really like this layout because it gives me access to the chimney, liner, and stove pipe for any maintenance that might be needed without having to move the furnace like I would if it were sitting directly Infront of the chimney. It sounds like the common way of doing things now is to come out of the stove into a Tee with one branch of the Tee going to the flue, and a barometric damper mounted to the other branch. If I do this, that branch will be sitting at a 45 deg angle to the world. Will the barometric draft control work in that kind of position, or does it need to be relatively close to square and plum so that gravity is pulling down in the correct direction for it to function properly?

Part B to this question. It the barometric draft control needs to be square and plum to the world, can I install it between the stove and the flue? My thought i s this. Currently, the stove pipe comes up and left at a 45 deg angle, and then has a 90 deg elbow where passes through the chimney wall. Can I replace that 90 deg elbow with a Tee and put the barometric draft control on the unused branch of that Tee instead? If this is acceptable, it would make accessing the unit a lot easier. I'll still probably put a Tee on the stove also but I'll cap the lower branch. Its not very accessible, but it would still give access to the flue pipe without having to disassembly multiple things or move the furnace.

Thanks in advance for any input.
Mark

I think that you will like the Heat Commander. I have a Heatmax 2 in my basement connected to 28 feet of double wall stainless flue. I did the install myself and purchased a Field "RC" type barometric damper and a Dwyer Mark 2 manometer to measure the draft and set the damper. I think I got them from Ebay at the time.
The barometric damper is black iron (you don't want galvanized) and it came with the tee. The tee has a clamp that allows the damper to be rotated to a level position on my 45 degree stovepipe install.
I started a break in fire and checked my draft with the manometer without the damper installed and measured -.18 or so instead of -.06 that Drolet recommends. The outside of my double wall flue pipe was also warmer than I wanted to see. I installed the damper and adjusted it while watching the manometer and now the fire has the "low and slow" look that I think I should have. The outside of the double wall chimney pipe is also cool to the touch.
The manometer needs to be between the stove and the damper tee. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the pipe and used a piece of brake line to insert into the pipe and connect to the rubber hose on the manometer.
Good luck with the install and search the site for tips.

 

[brenndatomu]

If the barometric draft control needs to be square and plum to the world,

Yes it does.

Can I replace that 90 deg elbow with a Tee and put the barometric draft control on the unused branch of that Tee instead

What I envision from that description should work fine.
Heres the manual https://www.fieldcontrols.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/01575700_TypeRC_Rev_B_04-15.pdf

purchased a Field "RC" type barometric damper and a Dwyer Mark 2 manometer to measure the draft and set the damper. I think I got them from Ebay at the time.

👍
Unless you can find a deal on ebay, supplyhouse.com usually has about the best price on new dampers...but looks like they are up $20 from where they were a few years ago, no surprise there I guess

6-RC - Field Controls 6-RC - 6" Draft Regulator for Wood, Oil, or Coal

Field Controls 6-RC - 6" Draft Regulator for Wood, Oil, or Coal - The Field RC is furnished as standard equipment on many leading brands of oil or coal-fired heating equipment. It is calibrated to allow for easy adjustment to the furnace or boiler manufacturer?s specifications. Designed for...

www.supplyhouse.com