OAK (Outside Air Kit)

[Arbee]

Hi.

I have an Avalon Bay Pellet Stove Fireplace Insert from Travis Industries and have owned/used it for many winters.

Recently, while pulling the unit out of the firebox to vacuum and clean its rear I noticed that the place on the back of the stove where an outside air kit (OAK) can be attached has, a few inches from this connection point further into the stove, an opening in this outside air conduit on its side where room air can enter to aid the combustion process in addition to the opening at the terminal end of the stove's air intake pipe where an OAK hose normally attaches.

Is this normal? Does it sound right? I'd think, if an OAK (outside air kit) was added with its hose terminating to a place outside the residence, that such an opening on the conduit's side might defeat to some extent combustion oxygen was extracted from outside thru such an OAK hose, rather than getting combustion oxygen from the living space being heated.

I asked Travis about this in an email; they've yet to get back to me.

TIA

 

[Whitenuckler]

Hi.

I have an Avalon Bay Pellet Stove Fireplace Insert from Travis Industries and have owned/used it for many winters.

Recently, while pulling the unit out of the firebox to vacuum and clean its rear I noticed that the place on the back of the stove where an outside air kit (OAK) can be attached has, a few inches from this connection point further into the stove, an opening in this outside air conduit on its side where room air can enter to aid the combustion process in addition to the opening at the terminal end of the stove's air intake pipe where an OAK hose normally attaches.

Is this normal? Does it sound right? I'd think, if an OAK (outside air kit) was added with its hose terminating to a place outside the residence, that such an opening on the conduit's side might defeat to some extent combustion oxygen was extracted from outside thru such an OAK hose, rather than getting combustion oxygen from the living space being heated.

I asked Travis about this in an email; they've yet to get back to me.

TIA

I'm not sure as I have a free standing, and ran 3 inch flex outside and on mine it is either one or the other. Inserts may be different, as most do not get OAK, as the only "easy" way is up the chimney. Maybe that is why they concentrate on using room air. I think on some models you can add OAK, but then you need to defeat the normal room air intake. They might still draw room air in a mix. Check your manual again and drawings of the stove construction.

 

[johneh]

Welcome to the form
See Page 12 of your manual.
Can't find it then here is one

https://cdn.pellet-stove-parts-4less.com//SPFL/manufacturers/Avalon/Pellet/Models/Astoria%20Bay%20PI/avalon-astoria-bay-pi-owners-manual.pdf

 

[Arbee]

Ok, a couple of things. In my firebox there is by design a trap door in its floor I want to say that is was there originally to sweep ash into the basement (my house if from 1921).

Anyway, this trap door is useful for running the air intake hose to my (unfinished) basement and then to a connection point I made in one of the basement windows.

The manual, which I have (thanks) says nothing, page 12 or otherwise on this extra hole I originally described. It just says on page 12 how to hook up an OAK.

Thanks.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Ok, a couple of things. In my firebox there is by design a trap door in its floor I want to say that is was there originally to sweep ash into the basement (my house if from 1921).

Anyway, this trap door is useful for running the air intake hose to my (unfinished) basement and then to a connection point I made in one of the basement windows.

The manual, which I have (thanks) says nothing, page 12 or otherwise on this extra hole I originally described. It just says on page 12 how to hook up an OAK.

Thanks.

https://www.travisindustries.com/docs/17601029.pdf

Let us know if this helps. The only issue I can see is what's happening inside the stove. I don't know if you need to remove a knockout ect.
There is a thread recently about this sort of issue on a different insert...maybe someone remembers

 

[Arbee]

@Whitenuckler I very much appreciate your reference and the effort you took to acquire it for me, but rest assured, if Travis Industries put out a white paper on my stove, including the one you provided, I probably have it, including the manual for dealers only on diagnosing its issues.

But thank you anyway.

With 20 years of use I think I've replaced most moving parts on it at least once if not twice, not to mention gaskets and what not.

I kid you not when I say that my dealer, who I've become friends with over the life of my stove's ownership, has asked me (not vice versa) at times, if I happen to have a spare part "X" in my collection when he's needed one in a jiffy knowing I stock stuff for emergencies. So I am definitely a hands on kind of pellet stove owner.

I'm just trying to figure out why Travis would make an alternative opening in the stove's air intake conduit and whether, when the stove was first installed, if this was some knockout piece originally covered, that is best re-covered if a dedicated outside air intake (OAK) is used.

When the stove was originally installed my local building department insisted on the OAK but given the naturally air porous nature of my 1921 home, there was no true need for an OAK, as might be necessary in more air tight and newer building construction. At somepoint, i don't remember when, that original OAK was disconnected.

Anyway, when cleaning the stove and having it already removed from the firebox I thought it a good time to reconnect the OAK. And this second opening in the air intake was a surprise to me. It seems like it would compromise the OAK's abiltiy to draw air from outside.

TIA

 

[johneh]

It would be nice to see a picture of the 2 openings.
I don't know your stove, but with pictures we may be able to advise on a hookup of the OAK

 

[Whitenuckler]

@Whitenuckler I very much appreciate your reference and the effort you took to acquire it for me, but rest assured, if Travis Industries put out a white paper on my stove, including the one you provided, I probably have it, including the manual for dealers only on diagnosing its issues.

But thank you anyway.

With 20 years of use I think I've replaced most moving parts on it at least once if not twice, not to mention gaskets and what not.

I kid you not when I say that my dealer, who I've become friends with over the life of my stove's ownership, has asked me (not vice versa) at times, if I happen to have a spare part "X" in my collection when he's needed one in a jiffy knowing I stock stuff for emergencies. So I am definitely a hands on kind of pellet stove owner.

I'm just trying to figure out why Travis would make an alternative opening in the stove's air intake conduit and whether, when the stove was first installed, if this was some knockout piece originally covered, that is best re-covered if a dedicated outside air intake (OAK) is used.

When the stove was originally installed my local building department insisted on the OAK but given the naturally air porous nature of my 1921 home, there was no true need for an OAK, as might be necessary in more air tight and newer building construction. At somepoint, i don't remember when, that original OAK was disconnected.

Anyway, when cleaning the stove and having it already removed from the firebox I thought it a good time to reconnect the OAK. And this second opening in the air intake was a surprise to me. It seems like it would compromise the OAK's abiltiy to draw air from outside.

TIA

Here is the post I remember. Review and see if it helps.

Post in thread 'Ussc 6041i'

Oct 22, 2025

Test fired yesterday to make sure there were no leaks.. all is good just gotta button it up. Gotta replace the bushing for the agitator, it’s very noisy.

Nice job. Good looking flame...that OAK is really helping.

• Whitenuckler

• 

 

[Ricks]

I don’t know your stove, but on my stove there is an air gap between the pipe for the OAK and the fire box.

I know other stoves have a sealed path from the pipe to the firebox. So it depends on the stove if the air gap is normal or not. I have heard of people wanting an air gap to prevent condensation and ice from forming on the pipe.

If you have an air pag I would devise something to seal the gap or a way to close off the OAK for times you are not using the stove.