Chimney question?

beaverman · By: **beaverman** On: Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:07 pm

Hello everyone.

Here is my situation. I installed an Alaska stoker last year with a power vent.

I am considering using an existing chimney in my house this year instead of the power vent. The chimney is an unlined double brick chimney that is as old as the house. The house was built in the 1930's. The chimney runs up through the middle of the house. The mortar is solid and looking down through the chimney it looks like its in great shape. I also have a gas steam boiler that currently vents into the chimney. I would like to disconnect the boiler and use the flue for the coal stove.

Do you think an unlined brick chimney would be O.K. to vent my stove? I am concerned about getting enough draft. I really do not like the power vent setup, its noisy and I got a few complaints from my pain in the butt neighbors.

Berlin · By: **Berlin** On: Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:18 am

burning coal, you will be fine, go for it, as long as the mortar is fairly solid i would have no problem with it at all. you don't really want to do that with wood due to flamable creosote leaching through mortar joints in unlined chimneys, so as long as your primarily burning coal you will be fine. as far as the draft, i'm guessing the flue is roughly 8x8 ? if so being an interior chimney you have a perfect setup.

beaverman · By: **beaverman** On: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:07 pm

O.K. Thanks for the reply Berlin

Here is another question regarding the flue.

Last winter I needed my gas boiler for maybe five or six nights when the outside temps dropped below zero to help keep my house at 70 degrees. Do you think I could hook up my gas boiler to the same flue as the stoker, with a T connection? The gas boiler would only run for a few days every winter. Would this be a problem?

I was thinking that with a good draft from the coal stove that the boiler would also draft along with it. Both flue pipes would enter into the chimney at the same connection. I was thinking of putting a damper in the gas boiler flue pipe and only opening it when the boiler needs to operate?

Sportsman03 · By: **Sportsman03** On: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:34 pm

beaverman can i ask why you wnat to switch? Im in the process of installing a new system with a power vent. thanks
ERIC

beaverman · By: **beaverman** On: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:51 am

The power vent served me well last winter.
The things I did not like:
1. The power vent was noisy
2. You MUST clean the vent, and stove pipe once a month to keep it operating safely.
3. I believe the vent decreases the efficiency of the stove by pulling more heat out of the stove.

Some may disagree with #3, but that is my opinion I have nothing to measure or compare the efficiency to.

WNY · By: **WNY** On: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:24 am

We are moving to a new older victorian house (Hopefully in a couple of months) with and old chimney that looks really good that currently vents the gas furnance. Could be more difficult to keep the power vent hooked up (Due to space in the living room), the chimney is on an inside wall and can't find a good place to run the stove outside. soo....

I would like to do the same thing with my Keystoker, it is a direct vent and would like to disconnect the power vent and hook to my existing chimney. My dealer said no problem, but mine has the exhaust on the bottom of the stove in the back, and not the top like regular stoves, would this be a problem? The dealer also said I may have to increase the stoker timer (add a couple of tabs) to keep it burning more, since the draft will be a bit less. Do I need a barometeric Damper? Can I put it on in the basement, and not by the stove? I may not have enough room.?