Rusty McStovepipe

[TucsonHeat]

Hey there.

Please see the attached photos of the rather alarming rust that developed on my stovepipe over the summer.

It rusted in a similar but much less prolific fashion a couple of years ago; I just steel wooled it off and painted it with stove paint... This is significantly more severe.

I suppose it's the result of the evaporative cooling we have here instead of AC.

The stove is fine, it just seems to be the pipe...

Should I just repaint it again, or should I be worried about something?

(sorry about the sideways photos)

Thanks!

 

[begreen]

Wow that is pretty bad. The main thing you want to confirm is that this rusting does not go through the pipe. Hopefully it is just surface rust caused by condensation. If it is rusting from the inside out there is a more serious problem.

 

[Highbeam]

Single wall pipe has a life anyways but usually it rusts from the inside out and gets thinner and thinned until you replace it.

How old is this pipe? Is it about done anways? Next year, maybe spray wax or other water repellant could be tried with the understanding that it will make a stink when you first light up in the fall.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Welcome to the forum TusconHeat.

Maybe this because of the salt water from the ocean you are near...

I would take it apart to try to determine if there are weaknesses in the pipe. If so, then for sure replace it. It does seem a bit odd that the evaporative cooling could cause this though. Check it very close just to make sure but I'm betting it will still be okay.

 

[webby3650]

If you repaint it you will need to sand it down first. This is very strange! I have replaced black pipe that was rusting, but it was in an un-insulated pole barn. We replaced it with SS single wall pipe, that would be an option.

 

[Highbeam]

If you repaint it you will need to sand it down first. This is very strange! I have replaced black pipe that was rusting, but it was in an un-insulated pole barn. We replaced it with SS single wall pipe, that would be an option.

I've held a chunk of that rigid SS single wall. It is a liner pipe but 24 gauge so it meets the spec. It was very expensive, like more than double wall.

 

[webby3650]

It was very expensive, like more than double wall.

Ya, it beats looking at a rusty stove pipe, and that's why we were there. And it was 22 gauge

 

[begreen]

Double wall pipe is what I would replace it with. The inner liner is stainless and the air gap will prevent condensation due to temp differential in a high humidity environment.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

If it's rusting out within a year or 2 the SS may pay for itself.

Matt