Second hole in block chimney?

[Rory]

My Tarm Solo 30 smokes unacceptably when I have to open the door with a fire going. I bought a draft fan to install on my stovepipe, but my sections of pipe are too short to do a good install. I'm left with two choices - move my furnace at least 6 inches or so, which involves quite a few piping connections, or possibly install a new hole in my chimney to give me a greater run. The chimney is built of 8" concrete blocks, and I have 3 and a half blocks between my present port and the ceiling. If I skip a course, can I knock a new hole 16" above the present one?

 

[BoilerMan]

How far from a combustible surface (wood) will that put your flue pipe?

TS

 

[Fred61]

I think they suggest mounting the draft fan on a horizontal section of the smoke pipe.

 

[Rory]

How far from a combustible surface (wood) will that put your flue pipe?

TS

The closest wood is the bottom of the 2x10 joists for the floor above. The present port was split between the 4 and 5th full blocks down from the bottom of the joists and there is a half block at the top as well, so the top of the present pipe is 35" below the joists. Each course above, were I to split the blocks again, gets me 81/4" closer. It seems like I should probably leave at least one full course in between, in which case I would end up about 18" down. Of course, I don't know anything about masonry, which is why I'm asking.

 

[Rory]

I think they suggest mounting the draft fan on a horizontal section of the smoke pipe.

This would definitely involve moving the boiler, as the chimney just doesn't have any room to move.