Things I wish I had done when I installed my new Pellet Stove...

[Kensington88]

First of all, everyone should hire an experienced professional to do the installation...

Now that's out of the way, I'm going to install this myself.
Some history: I'm a well-experienced installer and technician and have been at the tools for a few decades. My experience includes several home renovations, including two bathrooms, a kitchen, a newly shingled rooftop and now, a detached two-car garage.

I have contacted an advanced Pellet Specialist in our area and questioned him over the phone and through email. I feel as though I have enough information from him, in the manuals and through online sources to get this job completed to pass inspection and to safely provide warmth to the newly renovated garage as long as I'm still here and beyond.

Before I cut holes through the exterior stucco for the exhaust and intake vents - let's see if any timely "didya do this?" comments cover anything that I may have missed.

I know you're all at home watching the TV (after you've voted) so maybe you'll have a moment to respond?
Thanks in advance and Happy Election Day!

 

[EbS-P]

Are you venting the stove to a clean out T? Do you need one next to the stove given your install?

Are you getting some vertical heigh of the pipe inside or out?

 

[Kensington88]

Are you venting the stove to a clean out T? Do you need one next to the stove given your install?

Are you getting some vertical heigh of the pipe inside or out?

From the back of the pellet stove, I have a 3 to 4inch adapter and then a T with a clean-out on the bottom. Going up, inside, is about 5-6 feet to a 90, out through the 2x4 wall thimble, another 12" pipe and then the end snout.
Minimum rise has to be 5 feet, in or out. In Canada, our vents usually rise inside to hang on to a bit of the heat first.
Great question - thanks!

 

[ARC]

Does Edmonton Alberta have special rules for a garage install? Some codes forbid wood and pellets stoves in attached garages. Some require stove be elevated at least 18" from floor. Some require a barrier in front of the stove if it is in line with the vehicle path.

 

[johneh]

Your vent sounds good just be aware of your clearance
floor sides, top and back. Leave enough room all the way
around for maintenance and cleaning

 

[Kensington88]

Does Edmonton Alberta have special rules for a garage install? Some codes forbid wood and pellets stoves in attached garages. Some require stove be elevated at least 18" from floor. Some require a barrier in front of the stove if it is in line with the vehicle path.

Yessir. This is a detached garage and I have the ignition point of the stove (the belly) at 19 inches above the floor level. I'm going to design a bollard/cage to surround the front of the stove for a protection barrier.

 

[Kensington88]

Your vent sounds good just be aware of your clearance
floor sides, top and back. Leave enough room all the way
around for maintenance and cleanings

Yes, John. The extra height will make the clean-out a lot easier. The feet of the stove are on a stack of bricks to raise the ignition point up above 18 inches. The vent pipe is at least 1 inch away from the wall as the strapping allows. The back of the stove is 12 inches away from the wall where a minimum of 9.4 inches is req'd.

 

[johneh]

It looks like you have it covered pretty well.
I would recommend because it is in a Garage
an OAK should be installed to make it a closed-loop
system less chance of vapours getting to the burn pot

 

[Kensington88]

It looks like you have it covered pretty well.
I would recommend because it is in a Garage
an OAK should be installed to make it a closed-loop
system less chance of vapours getting to the burn pot

Yessir, I have one at the ready. I'm looking for some insulation for the 2 inch flexible metal hose - both for protection and to keep the condensation down.

 

[Kensington88]

Install update
Levelled the stove in position and added bricks to widen the platform so the feet aren't so close to the edge. The four feet have about two inches of thread to adjust the level. I kind of wish that they came with locking bolts but that would add another layer of fiddling.

I cut the first 2-1/2" hole through the stucco for the outside air intake and marked the center of the inner hole in the drywall. I wanted to be sure the hole position was slightly lower than the stove intake so any condensation could run out instead of in.
The stove came with a kit which included a length of 2" flexible metal hose, a hose clamp and a nice outside vent cover. There was also a metal adapter to change the size of the hose to match the stove intake from 2" to 1-1/4" but, for some reason, the adapter doesn't fit on the stove. I tried a few things: lightly grinding the inner diameter of the adapter, heating the adapter with a heat gun...nothing worked.
So, I'm stuck until I get an answer from the manufacturer. Trouble is, I have to wait until Monday to call.
What the heck?

 

[johneh]

Remember to use a good surge protector
and pictures or it didn't happen (lol)

 

[Ctwoodtick]

when I had my pellet stove installed I told the installer I wanted an extra inch or 2 from the walls than the minimum for clearance. I’m glad I did bc when I sweep it out I need every inch to get to the T-clean out (basement install). I wish I had asked for another couple inches actually.

 

[Kensington88]

Remember to use a good surge protector
and pictures or it didn't happen (lol)

I installed a GFCI in the power circuit, so ground fault protection is there at least. Didn't consider a surge protector - will have to look into that.
Here's graphic proof of the project with reference to the adapter that is supposed to connect the 2" air intake hose to the the smaller diameter intake on the stove. (see img_4117 and 4118)
So, until I find a solution, I'm at a standstill until I call the folks that made this thing tomorrow.

 

[Washed-Up]

Fair warning, some stoves don’t work well with a GFCI

 

[EbS-P]

I prefer panel mounted whole home surge protection.

 

[Kensington88]

Air intake update: I called the folks at Enerco Group for tech support on this adapter quandary. (Cleveland IRON Works is a subsidiary)
After putting me on hold twice (2nd time to speak to a "senior tech") she said she'd "never heard of this one before" and suggested rather than fitting the adapter over the port on the back of the stove, just putting the pipe next to it and taping it securely.
I'm rather speechless atm.

 

[ARC]

Could you go to local auto parts store and get a exhaust/muffler adapter of the correct size or if they lend tools see if they have a muffler pipe expander and just expand the adapter you have. My outside air is just that a muffler adapter with foil old type air breather hose attached nothing special.

 

[Kensington88]

Could you go to local auto parts store and get a exhaust/muffler adapter of the correct size or if they lend tools see if they have a muffler pipe expander and just expand the adapter you have. My outside air is just that a muffler adapter with foil old type air breather hose attached nothing special.

View attachment 331768

That's an idea worth considering. It's only a couple thousandths of an inch that's required. Might be a possibility?
I was about to grab the adapter and head out to Home Depot after lunch and start wandering through the plumbing area first. Maybe Princess Auto is a second option.

 

[EbS-P]

What material is the adapter?

 

[Kensington88]

What material is the adapter?

It's powder-coated sheet metal, I'm guessing about 3/32nd thick, maybe a bit more.

 

[EbS-P]

I’d cut it tape it and hose clamp it. It’s not high pressure it just needs to not fall off.

 

[Kensington88]

I’d cut it tape it and hose clamp it. It’s not high pressure it just needs to not fall off.

I'm assuming that, because it's metal and not plastic, pvc or abs, there's some heat back there that could create a problem with that.
After the phone in tech support request went pretty much nowhere, I sent an email direct to Cleveland Ironworks from their website and got a response. I'll be sure to ask if the air inlet pipe gets hot or not? We'll see!

 

[Kensington88]

Could you go to local auto parts store and get a exhaust/muffler adapter of the correct size or if they lend tools see if they have a muffler pipe expander and just expand the adapter you have. My outside air is just that a muffler adapter with foil old type air breather hose attached nothing special.

View attachment 331768

Looked into this and found one but it's too big for this size of pipe. Good suggestion, though.

 

[EbS-P]

I'm assuming that, because it's metal and not plastic, pvc or abs, there's some heat back there that could create a problem with that.
After the phone in tech support request went pretty much nowhere, I sent an email direct to Cleveland Ironworks from their website and got a response. I'll be sure to ask if the air inlet pipe gets hot or not? We'll see!

By tape I meant use aluminum tape. It won’t get very hot.

 

[johneh]

There is little to no heat at the air intake my OAK connector
is plastic and after 22 years it shows no sign of heat in fact
on very cold days it is ice-cold