I have an inexpensive wood stove.

Yesterday I attempted to purchase a chimney that would go out the window and up. I rent, so I don't want to make a hole in the ceiling/roof.

The quote I was given was $960.77!!!

I had asked for the triple lined chimney, because that's what Gary North recommended many months ago. I asked for two feet horizontal and eight feet vertical, to take it up to the highest point (the ridge) of my roof.

Is that what a chimney should cost? Five times the price of the stove?

I would appreciate your recommendations.

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), November 25, 1999

Answers

Wow, who'd you get that quote from, the Department of Defense?

Triple lined is recommended when you go through a ceiling to satisfy the insurance company and mimimize fire dangers. If you're just going out a window, and I would guess that you would have some kind of fireproof framework where the pipe goes through the window, I don't see why you couldn't get away with ordinary 6" stove pipe if it extends beyond the house siding a foot or so and above the highest point of the roof. Just make sure it is well supported so that it doesn't get blown down in the wind. That would be my biggest fear, along with the job of taking it apart to clean it. Most of the soot buildup will be in the horizontal section before it goes outside.

Good luck.

-- woodburner (woodburner@overkill.com), November 25, 1999.

We have a high ceiling and have4 about seven lengths of single wall, then a length or two triple wall to go through the ceiling and roof. The single wall is extremely checp. The triple wall is outrageous, but it is a completely different product.

You probably know that codes call for something like two feet above the highest point within ten feet diameter. When we were in college and rented we just discussed it with the landlord and paid for the "improvement" ourselves.

Hope you like the heat. Woodfire is a great way to remember our ancestral past.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 25, 1999.

If as a renter, you go cheap and not to code, not only will you annoy the landlord, but most likely will be liable legally if you burn down the house.

That being said, however, I have (on my own property) successfully used regular stovepipe (get the heavy gauge black stuff) as the complete chimmney, inside and out. I would get replacement pipe though as it will rust out eventually. Think carefully about how you will insulate the heat to inside the pipe, particularily as it exits the window. (Don't like that idea). Maybe a small kero stove that can be better monitored would be a more realistic option for you. Good luck

Bill

-- Bill (Bill@SHF.com), November 25, 1999.

Find an Amish Hardware Store, and check the price there. They seem to be just a bit better on stove pipe and tin roofing, and a lot of other stuff.

-- && (&&@&&.&), November 25, 1999.

I'm putting in 3 wood stoves right now. Going triple wall outside to prevent creosote buildup. Price quoted is $60 for 3-foot lengths.

Bill

-- William J. Schenker, MD (wjs@linkfast.net), November 25, 1999.

We've just installed a woodstove, and were unpleasantly surprised at the price of chimney too.

We found 3' lengths of insulated pipe for $55.

We were also surprised at just HOW HOT the regular black pipe gets from the stove to the insulated pipe. I think you would be FOOLISH to think of cutting cornors in this area.

Good luck!

-- Sheila (sross@bconnex.net), November 26, 1999.

Don't you mean two SECTIONS horizontal rather than 2 feet? You want to get the stove away from the wall at least 3 feet. I would go to Lowe's, Furrow or even a hardware store. I'm sure you can buy it more reasonable than the quote you received. Then use two sections out the wall to the turn, a 90 degree turn section, and then however many sections up you need to get above the roof line. Then, as someone stated earlier, wire that pipe so it CAN'T MOVE. You will need to use some metal rods or similar to hold the pipe off of the side of the house. I think the quote you got was for installation, too.

-- cora (cjohnson@seidata.com), November 26, 1999.

YOu can get "Metalbestos" brand stainless steel insulated pipe for about $60 for three feet, also. It is the best, as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless, I highly recommend that you NOT go with single wall on the outside of the house, as the pipe will get too cool, which causes the fire to draw poorly, but even more important, it will cause rapid creosote buildup. If (when, probably) the creosote catches fire, it's called a "chimney fire". I've had one; you don't want to have one. They are very dangerous, and scary. Mine caused my single wall pipe to come apart. They are one of the leading causes of house fires. The pipes will get white hot, and set fire to any wood or other flammable material nearby. Including siding.

Talk to either the bldg. Dept :-( or your wood heater dealer. Or the fire chief. Don't cut corners on this, of all things. You don't want to wake up dead, some fine morning.

ALK

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), November 30, 1999.