Olympia Ventis or DuraVent?

[enigmablaze]

Our installer quoted us for DuraVent, however Olympia's Ventis has our interest for a few reasons, but it seems it isn't used nearly as often so I just want to make sure we're not missing something!

It appears we may have quite a bit of pipe above our roof, since this spot wouldn't have a chase but will be highly visible to us it would be a real boon for it to be powder coated to blend in to the house a bit as opposed to stainless steel. I'm also intrigued by their insulation "healthier" claim, "fume-free" etc. ETA also "forever warranty".

Is there any functional difference? Are they both equally insulated? Draw is a big concern for us so if one has a leg-up that would be good to know. I'm hoping they would both be very tightly sealed at joints to help with that. We want to go Stainless steel for either (just powder coated with the Ventis).

Also, the Ventis offers options of 304L or 316L inner wall pipe, I have no idea which would be preferable here, thoughts? Thank you!

 

[enigmablaze]

Also seems Ventis' interior wall is .016" while DuraVent is .020", both have .016" for exterior wall in the SS...is that significant?

 

[webby3650]

You will never notice any difference between the two. "Forever guarantee" and "healthy insulation" is just fluff! They all have a lifetime warranty. I've never used ventis, I do however use dura-vent regularly. I hear ventis is a quality product, as is dura-vent. I'd strongly suggest using whatever your local installer is not only offering, but familiar with. It can be painted, powder coating isn't a must, and very uncommon.

 

[bholler]

You will never notice any difference between the two. "Forever guarantee" and "healthy insulation" is just fluff! They all have a lifetime warranty. I've never used ventis, I do however use dura-vent regularly. I hear ventis is a quality product, as is dura-vent. I'd strongly suggest using whatever your local installer is not only offering, but familiar with. It can be painted, powder coating isn't a must, and very uncommon.

I have yet to see a painted chimney that looked good 5 years down the road. Powder coating will. The reason powder coating is uncommon is because olympia just started doing it a year ago.

And yes duravent is fine but the fit and finish of the ventis is way above duravent. Also is duravent still using 400 series inner wall? I know they used to but dont know now.

 

[bholler]

Our installer quoted us for DuraVent, however Olympia's Ventis has our interest for a few reasons, but it seems it isn't used nearly as often so I just want to make sure we're not missing something!

It appears we may have quite a bit of pipe above our roof, since this spot wouldn't have a chase but will be highly visible to us it would be a real boon for it to be powder coated to blend in to the house a bit as opposed to stainless steel. I'm also intrigued by their insulation "healthier" claim, "fume-free" etc. ETA also "forever warranty".

Is there any functional difference? Are they both equally insulated? Draw is a big concern for us so if one has a leg-up that would be good to know. I'm hoping they would both be very tightly sealed at joints to help with that. We want to go Stainless steel for either (just powder coated with the Ventis).

Also, the Ventis offers options of 304L or 316L inner wall pipe, I have no idea which would be preferable here, thoughts? Thank you!

We use ventis and i like it much better. Much better fit and finish. And 304 will be fine for you. But duravent would work well also. Like webby said if your local guys use duravent and they know that system dont make them change.

 

[enigmablaze]

We use ventis and i like it much better. Much better fit and finish. And 304 will be fine for you. But duravent would work well also. Like webby said if your local guys use duravent and they know that system dont make them change.

What does the 304L and 316L mean?

 

[edyit]

What does the 304L and 316L mean?

Those are grades of stainless steel. The simple answer is 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel while 316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. The molybdenum is added to help resist corrosion to chlorides.

 

[bholler]

What does the 304L and 316L mean?

What edyit said. But the 316 is needed for coal oil and gas. 304 is enough for wood. There is a better allow for gas but that doesnt matter to you

 

[webby3650]

I have yet to see a painted chimney that looked good 5 years down the road. Powder coating will. The reason powder coating is uncommon is because olympia just started doing it a year ago.

And yes duravent is fine but the fit and finish of the ventis is way above duravent. Also is duravent still using 400 series inner wall? I know they used to but dont know now.

Ya, the paint does need periodic touch up. We use dura-tech from dura-vent. It fits up pretty nice. We also use TLC from Hart & Cooley, it's fit isn't as good but I like the quality of the pipe. We will probably start using some ventis, I heard they developed a line of pipe to distribute through UBG.

 

[bholler]

Ya, the paint does need periodic touch up. We use dura-tech from dura-vent. It fits up pretty nice. We also use TLC from Hart & Cooley, it's fit isn't as good but I like the quality of the pipe. We will probably start using some ventis, I heard they developed a line of pipe to distribute through UBG.

UBG? We buy direct from them why would you use a middle man? It is a benefit for us because their factory is only about 2 hours from us so iff need be we can either run for something or pay for messenger delivery.

 

[bholler]

Ya, the paint does need periodic touch up. We use dura-tech from dura-vent. It fits up pretty nice. We also use TLC from Hart & Cooley, it's fit isn't as good but I like the quality of the pipe. We will probably start using some ventis, I heard they developed a line of pipe to distribute through UBG.

And like I said duravent is not bad pipe at all I just like ventis better

 

[webby3650]

UBG? We buy direct from them why would you use a middle man? It is a benefit for us because their factory is only about 2 hours from us so iff need be we can either run for something or pay for messenger delivery.

United Buyers Group. If a dealer is a UBG member, they are given special prices on items from participating manufacturers. UBG can guarantee a certain amount sales, so they are able to offer the item at a lower price. Kind of like the purchasing power a big box store has. Often manufacturers will make a line of pipe or a stove that's only made available to UBG members.

 

[enigmablaze]

Sounds good, this is super helpful...sounds like Ventis would be a good option. I've emailed my installer to see what he thinks about using it. I'm not sure if they have or not.

 

[enigmablaze]

Is the 316 or 304 steel of Ventis inferior to the 430 steel of the DuraVent? My installer thinks this would be a "lesser pipe" but referred to those numbers as the "heaviest grade"...so I'm not sure if he doesn't understand or if I don't.

 

[enigmablaze]

I have yet to see a painted chimney that looked good 5 years down the road. Powder coating will. The reason powder coating is uncommon is because olympia just started doing it a year ago.

And yes duravent is fine but the fit and finish of the ventis is way above duravent. Also is duravent still using 400 series inner wall? I know they used to but dont know now.

It is 430...what does that mean?

 

[enigmablaze]

Would the Ventis not perform as well with heat and temperature change? This is a concern of his. Would it not bounce back from a chimney fire as well?

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

We use ventis and i like it much better. Much better fit and finish. And 304 will be fine for you. But duravent would work well also. Like webby said if your local guys use duravent and they know that system dont make them change.

That advice strikes me as odd (don't "make" the professional installers learn another product). I never realized that the wood-burning industry was so high-tech the installers were mentally challenged installing one product line and that learning another might be too much of a mental challenge. They might have to actually read the manufacturer's installation instructions? Heresy! The people ordering the components would have to be competent in, not one but, two product lines? That would require extra competency. All because the consumer thinks there should be a choice?

It reminds me of the state of the car industry over a century ago, you can have any color you want, as long as it's black. No consumer choice, just take what they give you. Hell, a black car will get you there just as fast as a white car. Damn uppity consumers, they should count their blessings that we don't make 'em all pink!

Consumers didn't put up with that for long and I'm not sure why they should today. Are these guys professionals or not?

 

[bholler]

That advice strikes me as odd (don't "make" the professional installers learn another product). I never realized that the wood-burning industry was so high-tech the installers were mentally challenged installing one product line and that learning another might be too much of a mental challenge. They might have to actually read the manufacturer's installation instructions? Heresy! The people ordering the components would have to be competent in, not one but, two product lines? That would require extra competency. All because the consumer thinks there should be a choice?

It reminds me of the state of the car industry over a century ago, you can have any color you want, as long as it's black. No consumer choice, just take what they give you. Hell, a black car will get you there just as fast as a white car. Damn uppity consumers, they should count their blessings that we don't make 'em all pink!

Consumers didn't put up with that for long and I'm not sure why they should today. Are these guys professionals or not?

I am sure any good installer could pretty easily learn a new system but it is going to take them consideranly longer if they are using components they are not framiliar with. And that is going to translate into a higher price for the customer. Also if it is not what they typically buy they probably are not going to get their typical pricing structure either which again translates into a higher end price. My comment had nothing to do with the ability of the installers but more about the op probably not wanting to pay a premium for them to learn a new system. To use your car analogy you are not going to go to a chevy dealer to get a toyota so why would you go to a duravent installer for a ventis chimney?

 

[bholler]

Would the Ventis not perform as well with heat and temperature change? This is a concern of his. Would it not bounce back from a chimney fire as well?

No ventis is a higher quality pipe and 304 is the industry standard for wood liners. 430 is cheaper and typically only used for exterior of chimneys and for the inner wall of double wall connector. I honesty dont know the difference in their properties which i will look up but if it was me i would go with the industry standard.

 

[bholler]

Is the 316 or 304 steel of Ventis inferior to the 430 steel of the DuraVent? My installer thinks this would be a "lesser pipe" but referred to those numbers as the "heaviest grade"...so I'm not sure if he doesn't understand or if I don't.

Ventis is without question a higher grade pipe than duravent.

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

I am sure any good installer could pretty easily learn a new system but it is going to take them consideranly longer if they are using components they are not framiliar with. And that is going to translate into a higher price for the customer. Also if it is not what they typically buy they probably are not going to get their typical pricing structure either which again translates into a higher end price. My comment had nothing to do with the ability of the installers but more about the op probably not wanting to pay a premium for them to learn a new system. To use your car analogy you are not going to go to a chevy dealer to get a toyota so why would you go to a duravent installer for a ventis chimney?

If I want a Blaze King woodstove, I go to a Blaze King dealer. But why wouldn't they be willing to sell me the best chimney available? You admitted the Ventis had "much better fit and finish". If my BK dealer wasn't a Ventis dealer then I should just live with inferior fit/finish?

Doesn't sound ideal. Yes, I know either will "work".

 

[bholler]

If I want a Blaze King woodstove, I go to a Blaze King dealer. But why wouldn't they be willing to sell me the best chimney available? You admitted the Ventis had "much better fit and finish". If my BK dealer wasn't a Ventis dealer then I should just live with inferior fit/finish?

Doesn't sound ideal. Yes, I know either will "work".

Well i think they should sell ventis or excell. But i am not them them i am sure they have their reasons. If you dont like the chimney they sell get the chimney from someone else.

 

[begreen]

If I want a Blaze King woodstove, I go to a Blaze King dealer. But why wouldn't they be willing to sell me the best chimney available? You admitted the Ventis had "much better fit and finish". If my BK dealer wasn't a Ventis dealer then I should just live with inferior fit/finish?

Doesn't sound ideal. Yes, I know either will "work".

DuraTech is good pipe. BKVP, myself and many others here have had it installed for many years. The fit and finish is good.

 

[bholler]

DuraTech is good pipe. BKVP, myself and many others here have had it installed for many years. The fit and finish is good.

Yes it is fine like i said. But there is stuff that is better out there. And the 430 inner wall bothers me.

 

[begreen]

Already have 11 years on it and the pipe looks like new. Ask me in another 20 years if I am still alive by then. FWIW, I believe the inner wall is thicker than Ventis.

Grade 430 has good resistance to a wide variety of corrosive enviornments, including nitric acid and some organic acids. It attains its maximum corrosion resistance when in the highly polished or buffed condition. In general its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion resistance is close to that of grade 304. Stress corrosion cracking resistance of Grade 430 is very high, as it is for all ferritic grades.
http://www.pennstainless.com/stainless-grades/400-series-stainless/430-stainless-steel/