Single vs double wall pipe?

[Aeneas61]

Building a small cabin out in the backwoods. We have about 13 feet from the top of a brick masonry heater/cookstove to a cathedral ceiling where we have a ceiling support box installed and connected to Class A insulated triple wall pipe going up and outside the roof.

The question I have is regarding the pipe going from stove up to the support box. Woodland direct want to sell me 500 bucks of double wall pipe since I have more than 8 feet of pipe going to the ceiling.

Is this really necessary, or can single wall pipe work? If it is, why? in our case code is not an issue, just a stove that works.

I have heard of folks using single wall in tall barn ceilings, they seem to be doing fine. Heck, some just use old solid steel pipe from a construction site, why is a house physically so much different?

 

[Babaganoosh]

It helps to keep the chimney clean. Especially with a cat stove. If you have no clearance issues then you can save money and go with single wall.

I like an adjustable piece in there to make hook up and cleaning easier.

 

[kennyp2339]

We have about 13 feet from the top of a brick masonry heater/cookstove

Which is it?
The reason I ask is if its a true masonry heater (with all the up down, in and out passages for the flue gasses) you may want to spend the extra coin on the double wall being that the flue gasses will already be pretty cool leaving the unit.
If its a traditional cook stove then either or can work but I would lean towards the double wall dvl pipe due to keeping the flue gasses hotter keeping the chimney cleaner / more efficient

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

If it's the kind of high mass masonry heater designed to burn short, hot fires, then I would go single wall. If it's the kind of cook stove that you want to be able to throttle back and burn at a lower level for hours, then go with the double wall.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

As mentioned above, you'll want to keep your flue gasses warm enough that the water vapor doesn't condense and form creosote. We aren't sure what you are burning, so it's hard to give a straight answer.

 

[Sprinter]

Heck, some just use old solid steel pipe from a construction site, why is a house physically so much different?

Because people live in houses.
You gotta do it right and safe. I vote double wall for most home installations. The stove will last for years. A couple hundred more is cheap for years of use.

Even if your clearances are fine with single wall, double is best for most applications, mostly for the creosote issues mentioned above. The longer the pipe, the cooler it gets and the more hardened creosote can form. Creosote gasses condense at about 250F which is pretty cool. Be sure to get an appropriate flue thermometer whether double or single.

I'm sure there are some exceptions, like for a greenhouse or something, and some here will chime in with those. Whatever you do, be sure to follow the manufacture's manual and you should be fine. So far it sounds like you're doing good and asking the right questions.

 

[byQ]

I'm trying to imagine what your masonry heater/stove looks like. You say the pipe comes out of the top. Is it like this?

 

[Ashful]

Low-efficiency stove answer: You only need double-wall if your clearances require it. Flue gasses will be hot enough that the performance differences between the two are not a factor.

High-efficiency stove answer: Double-wall pipe will help keep your already-cool flue gasses warmer, provide maximum draft, and help to prevent the condensation of creosote in your chimney. The number one complaint of folks switching from old pre-EPA stoves to modern efficient stoves is that their draft is lacking, so do not ignore this factor.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

In my cabin, which gets heated from ambient temperature every time I go up in the winter, I chose single wall as every extra bit of heat you can get into a cabin that's 6°F is appreciated. Single wall radiates lots of heat.

My worry is that the OP has a huge block of masonry mass that will take a day or 2 to heat up.