Wood Stove Installation Guide


Installing a Stainless Steel liner or a wood stove it must always be done according to the manufacturers instructions and follow all building codes and any fire codes in your area.

How to Install a Stainless Steel Chimney Liner.

** Be-sure and watch my second … “Ask The Chimney Sweep “ video *”Chimney Fires” at the bottom of this posting!

That being said, this guide can give you insight as to the basics on how you would go about installing a wood stove to see if it is a task you are willing to take on for yourself. One of the most important factors in installing a wood stove is making sure that you have a chimney that is suitable to vent whatever type of stove you elect to purchase. If you have an existing masonry chimney you will need to be sure that it is in good working order and properly sized for the new appliance.

Have your chimney sweep video inspect the interior of your chimney to check for cracked flue tiles or missing mortar joints. If the chimney is not safe to hold the products of combustion or properly sized you will need to install your wood burning stove with a stainless steel liner. Remember that stainless steel chimney pipe cannot pass through a wall, window, etc. unless a professional is consulted and UL listed equipment is utilized. The least amount of creosote buildup is obtained by having an insulated stainless steel chimney pipe vent your wood burning stove.

Installing a wood stove into an existing masonry chimney that is cleared for use still requires pipe to be installed although it does not need to go through the entire length of the flue system according to NFPA 2:11.

Your local building codes may require the whole flue to be lined.  Five feet of chimney liner pipe must be installed from the back of your stove up through the smoke chamber. This is the least efficient option and my company rarely operates on this technique. Generally speaking installing an insulated, stainless steel liner up through the entirety of the chimney is the best way to go. We always recommend the entire flue system be lined.

How to Install a Stainless Steel Chimney Liner detailed information on installing a stainless steel liner into your chimney, please visit my chimney liner section of this blog. In short, you must first wrap the necessary length of stainless steel liner pipe in insulation. This insulation will actually help to reduce creosote buildup by keeping the flue system warmer.

Connecting your liner to the stove or installing the stove into the chimney without a liner can be dangerous. 

After insulating your stainless steel liner you will drop it down the chimney to be connected to the wood stove or wood stove insert.
After insulating your stainless steel liner you will drop it down the chimney to be connected to the wood stove or wood stove insert.

The stovepipe itself can be single walled or double walled and come in varying thicknesses. Single walled stovepipe have a greater clearance requirement than double walled and double walled stove pipe is generally more efficient than single walled. If you are having a tough time achieving necessary clearances you may want to check out different manufacturers of stovepipes to see if there are any double walled stove pipes that will fit in with the clearances that you have currently.

This stove pipe is going to connect to your existing liner or be inserted up through your chimney. A Liner kit will come with termination kits that will actually attach to your existing stovepipe and form a rigid, tight seal. Usually three screws are needed for every connection.

Check with your *insurance company before tackling a project like this; some insurance companies do not cover damages caused by a stove that was not installed by a professional and often manufacturer’s warranties are void if the product is not installed professionally. Check with your local fire department or chimney professional to determine what firebox clearances are required in your area. Floor protectors are needed in some cases

Chimney Fires

 

https://youtu.be/c4UmhJV_OBA

Clay Lamb

Clay Lamb is a Cincinnati Chimney Sweep contractor and the executive producer of the YouTube channel, podcast, and blog Ask the Chimney Sweep. He is also an award-winning educator and public speaker in the chimney and fireplace industry. AsktheChimneySweep.com….Educational Videos AmChimney.com….American Chimney Cincinnati, OH We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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