Using Aspen outdoors, need chimney opinions.

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waynoXX

New Member
Oct 6, 2025
1
Vermont
I bought a used Aspen last spring. The use case is having it outdoors under a covered deck with plastic tarps around the edge to keep a little heat in and the snow and wind out. Just want a place that’s a little warmer than ambient to relax outdoors from late mid-November to whenever it gets warm. I take it all down in the spring, including the stove and pipe.

I cobbled together a stove pipe exhaust with adequate clearances, but had the stove placed where I had multiple 90 degree bends and with only single walled pipe, the draft this stove needs (if I’d done my research and knew this needed a strong draft, I would’ve got something cheaper and easier to run) made it only possible to run with the door cracked. When I opened to add wood, yeah, smoke out the door. 💨

This year, I’m planning to position it in such a way that any bends will be smoother, and mostly try to make as much of a straight shot up and out.

I used welding cloth as a tarp pass through which worked fine.

I’m guessing the best scenario would be to have insulated chimney pipe all the way from the stove to the end, but that could get pricey, even if I find decent used stuff.

I already have 5” stove pipe from a trial run with a small parlor stove I got for free that worked long enough to test the idea.

I’m almost wondering if I’d be better off selling the Aspen for a proper interior application and finding a cheap and less fussy stove that can use the 5” stove pipe I have w/o much complaint.

I’m sure I’m missing key details. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
 
Yes, insulated chimney will perform better and is required. Straight up is good.
Pictures are needed. The description makes the current setup sound like an unsafe install.