How to install stovepipe in the correct direction for Coal

This seems to be a subject overlooked by many and google searches will surly have you configuring the stove pipe for wood stove installations because evidently coal is not popular enough for google even though Coal is SO much better in every way. This thread is to help newer Coal Stove folks to understand the stove pipe should be installed differently for a Coal Stove vs. a Wood Stove and I'll explain the reason why that is below...

Wood Stoves should have the crimped edge of the stovepipe face the stove (so in the event of a chimney fire the flaming hot creosote lava does not pour out the pipe onto your living room carpet/floor).

Coal Stoves should have the crimped edge of the Stove Pipe face the chimney (So that when gases are flowing through the pipe gases do not weep out each connection point into your living room, FYI... One of the 1000 benefits of coal burning over wood burning is that Coal does not create creosote or cause chimney fires EVER!).

again, this is for new coal stove people to give them a proper answer when they google this in the years to come, so don't laugh at me for trying to give some basics that most my friends here already know

I believe it's been OVER discussed & the outcome was, as I personally believe, it don't matter. If your pipes are put together properly & screwed together. You're all set. Ya line up 10 experienced, old school coal burners & I'd bet 50-50 will go either way.

Yeah I agree with Fred.. If you already have the pipe with the male end towards the stove (configured for wood), I don't feel it necessary to tear it apart and turn it around for coal. Mine is male end (crimped end) towards the stove.

dcrane wrote:when gases are flowing through the pipe gases do not weep out each connection point into your living room

As long as any negative pressure whatsoever is maintained in the pipe (which is easily read on a manometer), carbon monoxide cannot escape the joints no matter what direction the pipe is going.. If the pressure in the pipe goes positive (draft failure - or down draft from a blast of wind) it still ain't gonna matter what direction the pipe is going.. CO is gonna get out.

Personally, I don't feel pipe direction matters for coal.. But might be important for wood, due to the creosote running down the outside of the pipe.

freetown fred wrote:I believe it's been OVER discussed & the outcome was, as I personally believe, it don't matter.

Amen Where ya been

you would all be incorrect then regarding proper coal stove installation... but that's OK... this thread was made for those who are not as competent as you regarding their draft pressures and manometer's don't come included with any stove I'm aware of and a new coal stove user may not even know what one is. You cannot control the atmosphere and we certainly cant know ever persons chimney, draft or set-up... this is why on Coal Stove Installs it makes wise sense to use the standard I've just explained (may or may not be necessary, but its the "right" way to do it and you two are living proof its overlooked)

Anyone who has experienced an impressive puff-back with a hand-fed stove will tell you what happens if the crimps face the stove and the joints aren't sealed...the flyash blows out every seam and creates one hell of a mess. Of course a little furnace cement and Fred's advice of properly fitting and screwing the pipes goes a long way.

If the stove is dedicated to burning coal, I see no reason not to follow Doug's recommendation and face the crimps towards the chimney.

Rob R. wrote:If the stove is dedicated to burning coal, I see no reason not to follow Doug's recommendation and face the crimps towards the chimney.

I agree partner.. New install - face the male end towards the chimney. BUT hand fed? Its hard to say I'll NEVER burn wood in it.. and I wouldn't tear it apart to turn them around. I never had a puff blow fly ash out of the joints.. But anything is possible

I would say proper pipe direction is "politically correct" at best hahaha

Where's SMITTY?

Lightning wrote:

Rob R. wrote:If the stove is dedicated to burning coal, I see no reason not to follow Doug's recommendation and face the crimps towards the chimney.

I agree partner.. New install - face the male end towards the chimney. BUT hand fed? Its hard to say I'll NEVER burn wood in it.. and I wouldn't tear it apart to turn them around. I never had a puff blow fly ash out of the joints.. But anything is possible

I would say proper pipe direction is "politically correct" at best hahaha

Where's SMITTY?

Wooot...I got a kinda sorta maybe "OK" from my boy Lightning!

In all seriousness though, even though we use this site as a social site theirs 100's of others who simply use it to find info on the subjects of coal or stoves and all I could find was either misinformation or unknown information regarding it. This is Information that was always included in most true Coal Stove manuals but seemed to get lost over the years so now its here forever more! I didn't mean it to be for my good forum bro's to debate it and bash me upside the head with it you know i love you guys

Lightning wrote:... Where's SMITTY?

Plowin' ...shovelin' .... and blowin' snow for the past 13 hours .. ...



Stovepipe direction ..... yeah ... as long as the pipe takes the stink outside, it's all good.

And yes, gaps will blast flyash everywhere during a puffback. Ask me how I know this ...

dcrane wrote:I didn't mean it to be for my good forum bro's to debate it and bash me upside the head with it you know i love you guys

I'm sorry man, I shouldn't have a few drinks and then get on here and run my mouth ..

Me to dc, I keep forgettin how sensitive you Ma guys are

thats OK... you guys can buy me some drinks at the meet to make it up to me

dcrane wrote::x thats OK... you guys can buy me some drinks at the meet to make it up to me since im the one has to pay $287.00 in gasoline

...any coal fired cars out their

dcrane wrote::x thats OK... you guys can buy me some drinks at the meet to make it up to me

I would be happy to