Hi, I know OAK has already been debated extensively. And after reading many threads I am convinced that hooking up the OAK will increase the efficiency of my stove. But my dilemma is where to get my outside air from. I have a New Englander 1500 sq stuffed into my fireplace vented up the chimney and no OAK currently installed. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can run the OAK?
Outside Air
- Thread starter mattpaige
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Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
It ain't pretty, but I ran mine to a window next to the stove with 3 inch metalflex which Woodstock didn't recommend, however they said try it.Works fine. Made a wood plate with a cut out circle. There also is in our fireplace a clean out and I could have run it through there into the basement then outside.
Golfeur
Burning Hunk
Is this really any more efficient than not having an oak? If I'm understanding correctly you have a hole cutout of a wood board stuck in an open window. Wouldnt this negate the seal of your window, thereby letting in cold air into the living space anyway?
I have access to coring equipment. Would it be crazy to core a whole straight out the back of the fireplace and run the OAK directly out? Or, I sealed the fire box with a steal plate and ran my 4" liner out of the top of the chimney, can I drill a hole in the steal plate and just run the OAK a little ways up the chimney?
Mt Bob
Minister of Fire
Yes exactly. I'm feeling drafts everywhere and my house is so dry I get electrocuted every three steps!
Mt Bob
Minister of Fire
I hope so. I'm just going to drill straight out the back of the fireplace. That seems to make the most sense.
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
I'll send a pic by end of day, my experience with outside air is that, and I'm no scientist, cold air makes my stoves run better. And, yes if it weren't for the bubble wrap I have over the window, a draft may come in. You could use rigid insulation.
My through-window diy oak probably made my window leak less since I sealed it up best I could and added insulation to the center between inner and outer osb panels.
Bill L
Member
There was a thread on here a while back with pictures where somebody cored through the chimney for the OAK. Pretty slick but I would not do it myself, just so as not to alter the structure. Other options are to utilize an ash dump if you have one, or end the OAK just above the smoke shelf and seal it with a plate, and ventilate your chimney cap
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
Pics of install, screen over to keep mice at bay. In my old house that I built (avatar pic) I had a 3 inch pipe going underneath in the joist bay to the sill but forgot to put a screen over it. Well, the mice would get in and you'd hear them as the metalflex made a racket. I lit some punk and wafted it near the intake and within 5 seconds they popped their head out and scurried.
![[Hearth.com] Outside Air](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/153/153473-6fce82f3e4e59809b81845ac092be774.jpg?hash=6wYIXvmgbj "[Hearth.com] Outside Air")
![[Hearth.com] Outside Air](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/153/153475-d22976a46641dca142a53169f50c4e5b.jpg?hash=_DGMxiZRCC "[Hearth.com] Outside Air")
Golfeur
Burning Hunk
Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
Hi deercamp, if you are asking me rearscreen, yes we do, however, we plan to move soon this year and a quick solution was best.
I put the OAK in the ash dump for now. So it's basically just pulling air from the basement. But in my opinion at least that's better then pulling the air from the living room.
Here is my through the window OAK under construction:
![[Hearth.com] Outside Air](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/oak4-800-jpg.143278/ "[Hearth.com] Outside Air")
Inner and outer OSB panels with insulation sandwiched between and that round foam gasket 'caulk saver' stuffed between the panes and around the boards, etc. I made the pass through with just sheet metal rolled into a tube and riveted, caulked.
This was just temporary for the year, I'll have to decide if I want to do something different yet.
Inner and outer OSB panels with insulation sandwiched between and that round foam gasket 'caulk saver' stuffed between the panes and around the boards, etc. I made the pass through with just sheet metal rolled into a tube and riveted, caulked.
This was just temporary for the year, I'll have to decide if I want to do something different yet.
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