Home or Pro Chimney Pipe System?

  Choosing your installer is one of  the most important decisions you'll make when considering the right chimney pipe system. Woodland Direct offers both the double-wall option, which requires professional installation, and the triple-wall option, which may be installed by the homeowner or whomever you wish with no certification required. Let's take a look at these systems and make a decision that is right for you.

    Our triple-wall chimney systems exceed chimney standards and can be installed by the homeowner or uncertified installer. Triple-wall systems are dependable and protected with a lifetime warranty. These systems may be used with a variety of stoves and fireplaces, including wood stoves, furnaces, boilers, stoves, ranges, water heaters, or other appliances fueled by wood, oil, coal, or gas. These systems offer an additional 2" clearance of air space, which guarantees the fire code clearances. This design will also stay cool on the outside and provide a hot draft on the inside, boosting efficiency and providing for a fire-safe design that protects both the chimney and the building. The triple-wall chimney features two insulating layers, a ceramic blanket and air space to eliminate hot spots. Not only is this a safe option, but you also can save money by not having to pay an installer. 

     Our professional chimney systems are a double-wall system and meet all chimney standards. The big difference between these and the triple-wall systems is that double-wall systems must be installed by a professional. With professional installation, this product is also backed by a lifetime warranty. Triple-wall systems are all-fuel chimney systems. They may be used with wood stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, boilers, ranges, water heaters, or other appliances fueled by wood, oil, coal or gas and zero-clearance fireplaces that are factory-built. Our professional systems feature lightweight insulation, twist-lock fittings, support boxes with factory installed starter sections, elbows with 360° swivel base, select black finish pipe lengths, and five foot length pipe sections. The sleek 1" wall design ensures optimum safety and performance, keeping the outer wall of the chimney cool and the flue gas temperature high for superior draft performance. The double-wall option can be the more cost effective of the two if you are planning on hiring a professional to install your chimney system.

How to Select the Correct Chimney Brush Size

In order for a chimney brush to successfully clean a chimney it must be the correct size.  While a chimney brush that is too big could potentially be trimmed to fit, a chimney brush that is too small will not reach the sides and essentially will be rendered useless.  Rather than waste money on a brush that is too small or spend valuable time trimming one that is too large, it is best to take a little time up front to ensure you select the correct size for your chimney.

To determine the chimney brush size you need you will have to get the interior length and width of your chimney.  To do this you’ll most likely need to climb up on your roof and measure the inside of your chimney.  While you’re up there, be sure to note the shape of your chimney since you can purchase chimney brushes in various shapes including round, square, oval, and rectangular.  

Homeowner grade brushes are usually available in a range of sizes from 5” in diameter to 12” in diameter. If the brush you need happens to be an odd shape or size you can always trim a round brush or have a brush custom made.  Ideally, you want to choose a brush that is as close in size to the diameter of your chimney as possible.  A brush that is too wide could get lodged in your chimney while a brush that is too small won’t reach the chimney walls and could leave dangerous creosote behind.

Of course, if you’re still unsure what size to purchase you can contact an authorized distributor.  These skilled professionals can help you determine exactly what size is right for you and ensure you don’t end up with a poor fitting brush.

Proper Chimney Venting

Making sure your chimney system is set up to properly vent is crucial to increasing its efficiency and for keeping it safe. An improperly installed or damaged system can lead to risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires.

Having the correct sizing when installing your chimney system is critical in order for proper venting. If an oversize vent is installed, your chimney will not allow the heat to warm up your home before leaving the chimney. This will severely decrease the inefficiency of your heating unit and can increase your heating cost. If you have an undersized vent, it will not allow the air to properly rise and can cause the smoke to back up into your home. Proper vent sizing plays an important role in having a reliable and efficient chimney system.

It’s also important to remember that a certain amount of heat is necessary in order to provide the draft that makes the venting system work, and to keep the chimney walls warm enough to prevent condensation of the exhaust gases. If your flue temperature drops too low there are two different problems that can occur – improper drafting and water condensation. Improper drafting can lead to hazardous gases backing up into your home. Water condensation can lead to creosote build-up and then to the eventual corrosion of your chimney. Creosote buildup can lead to blockage and corrosion of the flue or even a chimney fire. It also will reduce the performance and the life of your chimney system.

Other symptoms that could point to a venting system problem include:

• Damp patches on interior or exterior walls
• Peeling wallpaper
• Blistered paint
• Stains on the ceiling around the chimney
• White stains (efflorescence) on the outside of the masonry chimney
• Eroded mortar joints
• Crumbling bricks

Why Sizing Your Liner is Important

Making sure that you have the right size liner is very important. The ideal size for a liner will depend on what type of appliance it is being hooked up to. Generally, for woodstoves, wood furnaces, and wood inserts, it will be the same diameter as the exhaust collar of your appliance. You NEVER want to use a liner that is smaller than the exhaust pipe of your appliance.

Size is one of the most important aspects to having a well functioning chimney pipe. You need to be able to fit your liner down the chimney as well as be able to match the exhaust size of your appliance. If your liner is too small, it might not allow the necessary exhaust volume that is needed for efficient operation. If the liner is too big, it may draft too slowly and develop too much updraft when it heats up.

Making sure that you measure the inside diameter of your chimney is equally important. You will need at LEAST a 1 inch space for the inside dimension bigger than the size of the reline pipe you plan on using. It’s important that the chimney maintains that clearance all the way down to where you will come out to the appliance with the liner. The more clearance between your chimney and the liner the better – more insulation can be used to fill the space.

If you are planning on lining your fireplace chimney, then you will want to measure from the top of your chimney to the top of the smoke chamber to figure out the length that is needed. To determine the length of liner needed for a wood stove, you will need to measure from the top of the chimney to where you will be connecting your stove.

When looking to size a liner for an oil appliance, you will need to determine the GPH (gallons per hour) of the unit. If you are using a gas appliance you will need to determine the max BTU input of your appliance to help determine the size liner you need.

The advantages of having a properly sized chimney liner are improved draft, hotter core temperatures, easier cleaning, improved safety, and longevity, keeping your chimney safe for many years to come.

Difference Between Liners – Rigid vs Flex

So you’ve been wondering – what kind of chimney liner do I need for my home? Well, there are a number of different factors that you will need to keep in mind that will help you on the way to making your decision. The chimney liner is usually the ultimate solution to many problems that plague a chimney. There are two different types of liners on the market – rigid and flex liners. While you will be able to find different sizing and types of these liners, these are the two main categories that they will fall into.

Let’s start off by discussing rigid chimney liners. You are able to use a rigid liner if you have a nice, straight chimney. These liners are thick, durable, and very easy to clean. Rigid liners come in separate sections that are usually round in shape. Generally made from stainless steel, rigid liners most commonly have a wall thickness of 24 or 22 gauges. The rigid liner pipes will come in separate sections that you join together using different crimps, pop rivets, and stainless steel screws to help secure the joints. Many times screws can work themselves loose, which is why pop rivets come highly recommended. These screws can become loose during the expansion and contraction of the liner due to heat.

Flexible chimney liners work in the same way that rigid chimney liners do, however, they work best if your chimney is not perfectly straight or has any jogs or offsets. This type of liner is the most cost effective for relining your chimney. Flexible liner comes in different thicknesses – some are lighter and heavier than others. All flex liners have some sort of ribbing, and are available in a number of different lengths. The great thing about flexible liners is that they allow for both top and bottom support because any expansion is absorbed by the liners flexible ribbing. Some flex liners can easily be bent by hand, while more heavy duty liners will require tools.

Overall, it all really boils down to the functionality and cosmetics of your chimney. Is it straight? Does it have any offsets? These are the big questions that will help you on your way to discovering the right chimney liner for you. Good luck!

Why Line or Re-Line Your Chimney

Re-lining or lining your chimney may not seem like the easiest DIY project, but it really can be. A great reason for it to become a project on your to-do list is the important safety benefits that your home will realize.
There are many different reasons for lining or relining your chimney. Two of the most common reasons would be to repair a damaged or compromised chimney, or to connect a new heating appliance to an existing chimney.  The  causes for a damaged chimney could be from a chimney fire, your home settling, lightning, and even hurricanes.
Chimney relining is one of the most practical and affordable ways for you to repair a damaged or deteriorated chimney. Older chimneys may be unlined or their original clay tile liners may have deteriorated over time.  Deteriorated or missing liners may allow smoke, creosote, or even condensation to seep through your chimney walls causing more extensive damage.  In case of a chimney fire, cracked or missing liners provide easier access for the fire to spread to nearby combustibles.
Another reason you may want to reline is to prevent any creosote buildup in your chimney.  Creosote buildup is more likely to occur when venting a woodstove or wood insert into an existing masonry chimney.  Excessive creosote buildup puts your chimney at a higher risk for fire.  Connecting a chimney liner from the heating appliance through the chimney provides a safe continuous passage way for the hot flue exhaust and helps protect the existing masonry chimney.  If you are using a wood burning or multi-fuel stove, lining your chimney will create a continuous smooth area with fewer  surfaces for soot and tar to stick too. Any tar that does form on the walls of the liner can flow directly back to the stove and be re-combusted instead of building up in the crevices of a masonry chimney.
When relining your chimney it is important that you properly insulate the chimney liner.  By insulating the liner, you will help keep the temperature of the flue gases hot, improving the draw of the chimney since warm air rises.  Also, in most cases a liner will need to be insulated to retain its rating as a UL listed liner system.  Insulation is provided with most relining systems.
A new chimney liner is an effective way to keep carbon monoxide, moisture, smoke, creosote, and other products of combustion from seeping through the bricks and mortar of your existing chimney and leaking into your home. As you can see, a secure lining system is an important part of a safe and functional chimney system.

Stove Pipe Source – Your Complete Resource for Chimney Systems and Stove Pipe

The Stove Pipe Source is your complete online resource for stove pipes and chimney systems. It will be your step-by-step guide for stove pipe and chimney system installation. We will have a number of product reviews and “how-to” informative blogs. A lot of great tips will be featured to help make your DIY project as easy as possible.

Stay tuned for the latest news and updates!