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Dutchwest Non-Catalytic Convection Heater
30003849
if the chimney flue has a cross-sectional volume much 
larger than the stove outlet. 
Steel Chimney
Most factory-made ‘Class A’ steel chimneys have a 
layer of insulation around the inner flue. This insulation 
keeps the smoke warm and protects the surrounding 
structure from the high flue temperatures. Because the 
insulation is less dense than masonry, the inner steel 
liner warms up more quickly than a masonry chimney; 
this makes the steel chimney support a good draft more 
quickly than masonry does. Steel chimneys are not as 
attractive as masonry, but they are very durable and 
generally outperform masonry. 
Indoor/ Outdoor Location
Because the chimney’s function is to keep the smoke 
warm, it is best to locate it inside the house. This loca-
tion uses the house as insulation for the flue and allows 
some radiant heat release from the flue into the home. 
Since an interior chimney doesn’t continuously lose its 
heat to the outdoors, less heat from the stove is re-
quired to get it warm and keep it warm.
Flue Sizing 
The flue size for a controlled-combustion appliance 
should be based on the cross-sectional volume of the 
stove flue outlet. In this case, more is definitely not 
better. Hot gases lose heat through expansion; if a 
stove with a six-inch flue collar [181 sq. cm (28 square 
inch area)] is vented into a 254 x 254 mm (10” x 10”) 
flue, the gases will expand to over three times their 
original volume. As gases cool with expansion, draft 
strength decreases. If an oversized flue is also outside 
the house, the heat it absorbs will be conducted to the 
outdoor air and the flue will remain relatively cool. 
It is common for a masonry flue to be oversized for the 
stove. Such a chimney can take quite a while to warm 
up and the stove performance will likely be disappoint-
ing. The best solution to an oversize flue problem is 
the installation of an insulated steel chimney liner of 
the same diameter as the appliance flue outlet. The 
liner keeps the exhaust gas warm and the result is a 
stronger draft. An uninsulated liner is a second choice 
- although the liner will keep the exhaust restricted to its 
original volume, the air around the liner will require time 
and heat energy to warm up.
Check your local codes. You may be required to install 
a flue liner in any oversize or masonry flue.
Pipe & Chimney Layout
Every bend in the flue will act as a brake on the exhaust 
as it flows from the firebox to the chimney cap. The 
ideal pipe and chimney layout is straight up from the 
stove through a completely straight chimney. Use this 
layout if at all possible as it will promote optimum stove 
performance and simplify maintenance.
 If the stovepipe must elbow to enter a chimney, locate 
the elbow about midway between the stove top and 
the chimney thimble. This configuration lets the smoke 
speed up before it must turn, keeps some pipe in the 
room for heat transfer, and allows long-term flexibility 
for installing a different appliance without relocating the 
thimble. 
There should be no more than eight feet of single-wall 
stove pipe between the stove and a chimney. Longer 
runs can cool the smoke enough to cause draft and 
creosote problems. Use double-wall stove pipe for 
longer runs. 
Single Venting
Your stove requires a dedicated flue. Do not connect 
the stove to a flue used by any other appliance. Chim-
ney draft is a natural form of energy and follows the 
path of least resistance. If the stove is vented to a flue 
that also serves an open fireplace or another appliance, 
the draft will also pull air in through those avenues.
The additional air flow will lower flue temperatures, 
reduce draft strength and promote creosote develop-
ment; overall stove performance will suffer. The effect 
is similar to that of a vacuum cleaner with a hole in the 
hose. In some extreme instances, the other appliance 
can even impose a negative draft and result in a dan-
gerous draft reversal.
Fuel
Even the best stove installation will not perform well 
with poor fuel. If available, always use hardwood that 
has been air-dried (“seasoned”) 12-18 months. Soft-
wood burns more rapidly than hardwood and has a high 
pitch content that can result in creosote. Decayed wood 
of any type has little heat value and should not be used.
Unseasoned (‘green’) wood has a high moisture con-
tent. Much of its heat value will be used to evaporate 
moisture before the wood can burn. This significantly 
reduces the amount of energy available to warm your 
home, as well as the intensity of the fire and tempera-
ture of the exhaust gas. Incomplete combustion and 
cool flue temperatures promote creosote formation and 
weak draft.
You can judge the moisture content of wood by its ap-
pearance and weight or use a commercially available 
moisture meter for an exact measurement. Unseasoned 
wood will be a third heavier than dry wood. Also, look 
for cracks (“checking”) in the ends of the log that result 
from contraction as the wood dries. The longer and 
wider the cracks are, the dryer the wood is.