To install Or Not To Install A Flue Damper

[HDRock]

I am going from Smoke Dragon to EPA stove ,New stove is installed but , it wouldn't be hard to put in a damper
It just seems like a damper would give more control if U need it
When Left wide open would it restrict draft at all ?
What say ye ?

 

[Heatsource]

its for the Lopi 1750?
how tall is the chimney? any offsets?

typically not needed, but wont hurt anything to install one

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Not sure why so many folks want a damper. We've been pretty happy to not have one and haven't used one for well over 30 years. One less thing to monkey with especially when it comes to cleaning time.

 

[HDRock]

its for the Lopi 1750?
how tall is the chimney? any offsets?

typically not needed, but wont hurt anything to install one

Yes Lopi 1750, 6" stove pipe to ceiling box, 8" chim. 15' total straight up

 

[HDRock]

Not sure why so many folks want a damper. We've been pretty happy to not have one and haven't used one for well over 30 years. One less thing to monkey with especially when it comes to cleaning time.

Wasn't thinking about cleaning, probably good enough reason right there not to put one in

 

[Heatsource]

Wasn't thinking about cleaning, probably good enough reason right there not to put one in

dont let that bother you, the first couple feet of pipe aren't likely to be dirty anyways

 

[HDRock]

We've been pretty happy to not have one and haven't used one for well over 30 years.

Really ! not even on the old stoves ? I don't think I could have controlled my old stove without one

 

[pen]

With only 15 feet of chimney, and it being 8 inch to boot, I highly doubt you are going to need one as that's not very tall and that's wider than the stove requires. Actually, I hope that chimney gives you enough draft to operate at full potential!

Being straight up, you should be fine, but in warmer weather, things might be a bit sluggish for you.

Definitely forgo the damper for now. If operation of the stove shows a problem (overdraft which is highly unlikely) then you'd consider one.

pen

 

[Highbeam]

With only 15 feet of chimney, and it being 8 inch to boot, I highly doubt you are going to need one as that's not very tall and that's wider than the stove requires. Actually, I hope that chimney gives you enough draft to operate at full potential!

Being straight up, you should be fine, but in warmer weather, things might be a bit sluggish for you.

Definitely forgo the damper for now. If operation of the stove shows a problem (overdraft which is highly unlikely) then you'd consider one.

pen

Yes, but that's 15 feet of chimney plus the interior pipe. Maybe another 4 feet. Way over the minimum and with this being a non-cat the minimum is quite adequate. I remember having an oversized flue and while it was harder to get going, once it did start drafting it would pull harder than the normal size. Runaway material.

With a non-cat on that chimney, I'd be putting in a damper.

 

[pen]

Yes, but that's 15 feet of chimney plus the interior pipe. .

Ok, I was thinking him saying 15 foot total meant from stove to sky.

I'd still wait and try things out first though. I have one on my stove, and wish I could go w/out it as it would make cleaning easier.

 

[Oldhippie]

It just seems like a damper would give more control if U need it When Left wide open would it restrict draft at all ? What say ye ?

You're absolutely right.. it will provide some control and could be helpful if you have a strong draft and need to dampen down some from the fully closed position that will still allow a certain amount of airflow in an EPA stove.

You may not use it, but for the $10 it'll cost you, why not?

 

[HDRock]

Ok, I was thinking him saying 15 foot total meant from stove to sky.

I'd still wait and try things out first though. I have one on my stove, and wish I could go w/out it as it would make cleaning easier.

It is 15' total stove top to cap, straight up

Yes, but that's 15 feet of chimney plus the interior pipe. Maybe another 4 feet. Way over the minimum and with this being a non-cat the minimum is quite adequate. I remember having an oversized flue and while it was harder to get going, once it did start drafting it would pull harder than the normal size. Runaway material.

With a non-cat on that chimney, I'd be putting in a damper.

Chimney is about 9'6"
What's the minimum ? Edit: manual says 15' minimum ,floor to cap

 

[webby3650]

dont let that bother you, the first couple feet of pipe aren't likely to be dirty anyways

The connector pipe is usually the dirtiest part of the system, including the first few feet.

 

[webby3650]

A lopi on a 15' system? You will never have a problem controlling it! With the 8" flue you are more likely to have draft problems than anything. It'll work just fine, you won't need a damper.

 

[HDRock]

A lopi on a 15' system? You will never have a problem controlling it! With the 8" flue you are more likely to have draft problems than anything. It'll work just fine, you won't need a damper.

Ok, I could add another 30" of chimney pipe now with a damper or without
OR Just see how it goes just the way it is, first, and go from there

 

[BrotherBart]

Wait and see. Cleaning the pipe with that thing in it is a pain in the ass and the holes on the pipe sides of the thing are just draft leaks. When I had one the shiny stuff was always just above those holes.

 

[bag of hammers]

especially when it comes to cleaning time

Cleaning the pipe with that thing in it is a pain in the ass

+1

I picture poly brush colliding with damper, trying to reverse the brush mid way in the pipe, etc.

I have a mangled temp probe to remind me of past brain fart (forgetting to pull the pin before pushing the brush down).

 

[Huntindog1]

HDRock,

I will chime in here also, as I mentioned to you in a PM, that your feeding a 8" main chimney with some length of 6" pipe from stove to the main 8".

I ran into problems there as it seemed at the time the 6" was having trouble feeding the larger flue. Plus with you having a shorter flue 15' , mine is more like 25'. So I would have more draft than a 15.

So a damper will most likely not be needed. Like they said wait and see you can always add it later unless it looks like it would be too difficult.

But I will attest to that once that larger flue gets heated it does pull pretty hard with my 25', so I do have a damper in my system.

If you do put it in you dont have to use it.

I helped my situation by putting an adapter right on my outlet of the stove and ran 8" pipe all the way to my main chimney.
I think having the larger volume of air there at the hottest part of the stove , the top of the stove, made it all work better.
Some kind of draft voodoo going on there.
I just couldnt get the 6" pipe running to my main chimney working good.

Here you can see my adapter on the top of the stove outlet.

 

[Heatsource]

The connector pipe is usually the dirtiest part of the system, including the first few feet.

not in my experience, and i clean a couple hundred chimneys a year- and have for over 15years

 

[HDRock]

Well, It got down to 44 the other night , from a cold stove it took about 30 min to start a fire and get to 450 STT, secondary's going , ran it up to 620 ,had the air out just a little , seemed to be drafting fine , at 44 outside was very easy to control.
So far, I think It's going to work fine just like it is

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah, some cold night it will give you pause to reflect for a little bit but you will be fine with it.

 

[HDRock]

Yeah, some cold night it will give you pause to reflect for a little bit but you will be fine with it.

A couple of things I searched and read here ,that really helps with this epa stove , don't choke down to soon and then wait 5-10 min for fire to stabilize before the next increment

 

[BrotherBart]

Took me a long time after I made the change. It still gives me moments of excitement every season. And that was eight seasons ago.

 

[HDRock]

Took me a long time after I made the change. It still gives me moments of excitement every season. And that was eight seasons ago.

Man, this stove puts out a lot more heat to the front and holds the heat a lot longer than the old one.
I think I am going to Enjoy heating with this stove , and the cost was not bad, old stove came with the house sold it for $175 ,used lopi w blower,$450 , door gasket, pipe, paint, etc. about $80
Huntindog : I Used more wood and more kindling for start up

 

[HDRock]

Took me a long time after I made the change. It still gives me moments of excitement every season. And that was eight seasons ago.

No doubt I still have some learnin ahead of me , but with the help, It's going pretty well , thank U all