Proper ventilation for your stove, chimney, fireplace, or furnace is a must. This is done to ensure any smoke and/or gas is safely directed away from your home. This thought should be kept in mind with single and double-wall stove pipes. In short, no, single-wall stovepipes are not designed for outdoor usage.
If you want to make a shift to outdoors, using insulated thimbles, you will need to use what is known as a Class A Chimney. This will have the proper insulation for not only efficiency but in terms of safety, as well.
Let’s break down exactly why you shouldn’t use single wall stove pipes outdoors under any circumstances.
Why Can’t I Use Single Wall Stove Pipes Outdoors?
To reiterate, a single-wall stove pipe should NOT be used outdoors.
Why? In simplest terms, it comes down to functionality, being as safe as possible, and making sure you meet all necessary wall stove pipes codes.
There are a few other potential issues with using these stovepipes outdoors that you’re going to want to keep in mind:
- The integrity of the wall stove pipe itself diminishes as time goes on.
- Eventually, toxic creosote buildup will cause even greater damage to your pipe.
- Lacking proper ventilation, the smoke your wall stove pipe is supposed to be directed away from your home won’t be going anywhere. Some refer to this as Old Hearth Syndrome.
For these reasons, you’re going to need to start looking at Class-A chimneys.
What Exactly Are Class A Chimney Pipes?
If you have a chimney in your home that burns wood, you’re going to need to start looking into Class A chimney pipes. These are also known as double or triple-wall chimney pipes, all fuel pipes, or insulated chimney pipes.
Made using stainless or galvanized materials for the outer walls, Class A chimney pipes are best installed inside the house. This ensures you can enjoy its many benefits.
Any system installed outdoors will eventually have to continue with the building up of toxic materials. Not only will drafting dramatically suffer but increased amounts of creosote will be created. This is the Cold Hearth Syndrome we touched on earlier.
Facts About Cold Hearth Syndrome
If your fireplace or chimney is completely outdoors, or simply sharing an exterior wall, the need for proper insulation is essential. If the average outdoor temperature drops lower than your home, backdrafts begin pushing smoke back inside your home. No one wants this.
If you don’t know what creosote is, understand that these darkish brown oils come from coal tar. Among other things, you can find it being used as a wood preservative.
Any direct exposure to creosote, even for a brief period, can damage the body. This damage can manifest itself in various ways, including rashes/severe skin irritations, chemical burning to the eyes, convulsions, mental fogginess, kidney/liver problems, and more.
Continued exposure can lead to individual losing consciousness, or worse.
You also don’t want to forget that Cold Hearth Syndrome can damage your chimney or even the entire home with fire.
Pay Attention To Manufacturer Guidelines
The high temperatures and potentially hazardous smoke are two factors that should tell you to follow all guidelines established by the manufacturer in no uncertain terms. Once more, proper ventilation is vital. Your manufacturer should have clear instructions to that end.
You can apply these thoughts to any appliances that utilize coal, oil, and of course, wood.
Class-A pipes are the foundation of a safe, functional ventilation system. There is no viable option for ensuring exhaust is directed away from your home. Because the chimney pipe is UL-listed, it can be used with a wide assortment of different vent pipes.
Do you have a fireplace? A stove? Boiler? Is there a furnace in the basement instead? All of these appliances require a proper exhaust pipe system.
Furthermore, unless the manufacturer implicitly permits you to mix different Class-A chimney brands is NOT a good idea. Generally speaking, each brand of pipe should only be used with the system it has been designed for.
If you plan to use an adapter, which is essential sometimes, make sure the manufacturer in question has approved it.
What Are The Different Types Of Chimney Pipes (Class A)?
Thankfully, there are only two different Class-A chimney pipe types that you need to keep in mind.
The first one refers to solid-packed chimneys. Made from ceramic or even fiberglass insulator materials, this particular type has a small inner diameter/insulation and can be found in double and triple wall options.
The second choice is known as air-cooled chimneys. The inner diameter will be noticeably larger here. Because the pipes work with air that circulates from within, no insulator materials will be found. Their design is ideal for keeping your outer walls cooled down.
A Complete Overview Of Stovepipes
Also known as chimney connectors, a stovepipe is an essential component of your wood-burning stove. If you’re going to keep the stove inside your home, a stovepipe is what you’re ultimately going to want.
As the ventilation setup gets to your ceiling or wall, Class A chimney pipes will be responsible for adequately converting your piping to the next essential stage of its purpose.
While this is a critical part of adequately venting the stove, there are a few other aspects to go over.
Potential Issues With Single-Wall Stovepipes
A large draft is an important part of most of the wood stoves you will find. Single wall stovepipes will create too much of a draft, as they will give up too much heat.
No stove pipe should be made to go through your wall or ceiling. These pipes are not designed for such use in any form or fashion. This is the point where you will want to get the right Class A Chimney pipe for your needs.
How To Install A Stovepipe Into A Chimney
To maintain the proper safety guidelines while also ensuring everything will work as it should, you will need to follow the proper steps to shift woodstove pipes to become chimney pipes:
- Through Your Ceiling: Is your system running vertically through your ceiling? If you answered yes, your first step will be to get a ceiling support box. These function as transition points. Round ceiling supportive pieces can also be used when it comes to going from your stovepipe to your Class-A chimney pipe. Once you have your piping going to your attic or perhaps to your ceiling support box, the next step will involve roof flashing.
- Through Your Wall: Do you need to use a thimble for any ventilation system running horizontally through your wall? Yes. It will run to wherever the appliance in question is situated. Six inches is considered ideal for double-wall products, while single-wall choices work best with eighteen inches.
A Closer Look At The Chimney Termination Cap
Along the tops of many different residential homes, you’re going to find what is referred to as the chimney termination cap. They are designed to be connected to the top of your pipe, which will then come through your roof. This is pretty simple in itself, but it’s important to be sure you understand precisely why this cap is so important.
For example, if you purchase a Class-A chimney pipe, one of the first things you will probably notice is the presence of its unique termination cap. There will also be unique rules relevant to the pipe size in question, so make sure that you follow all of these instructions to the letter.
Single-Wall Stovepipe FAQ
As we wrap things up, let’s cover a few final questions about single-wall stovepipes and similar concerns that you may want to dig deeper on.
How Long Can I Expect My Single-Wall Stovepipe To Last?
The best examples you’re going to find will have the ability to last anywhere from fifteen to even twenty years. So for this reason alone, if you can afford it, it is much preferred to opt for quality over saving a little money.
Simply because low-quality flue liners are only going to be reliable for two, maybe three years. These are okay for a very temporary situation, but relying on them isn’t a good idea.
How Big Do I Need This Stovepipe To Be?
The size of your flue should ideally be twenty-five percent bigger than your stovepipe. For example, six-inch diameter pipes should have an eight-inch flue. On the other hand, if the pipes are eight inches in diameter, use a ten-inch flue.
What Temperature Causes Creosote To Ignite?
At anywhere between 1200 and 2000F, you are in danger of creosote igniting. Of course, it doesn’t need much in the way of sparking to catch fire, either.
The Perfect Stovepipe
It is crucial to find the right stovepipe for your particular situation.