So you’ve just layed down $1500 bucks on a brand new wood stove. You figure you will just vent that thing into the fireplace and save the expense of adding a chimney to the house. That is possible, but you do have some very serious considerations to make…
If you’ve gotten up to date on fire safety codes you might have been pleasantly surprised to learn that according to the law, you can still shove a stovepipe through a metal plate and into the fireplace. If that is your plan, I want to strongly urge you to reconsider. I have several reasons;
The code should be updated to address a severe safety risk associated with this practice. Without connecting the stove vent to the lined chimney area, all masonry parts of the fireplace are coated in creosote and virtually impossible to properly clean. This causes a major fire hazard. At the VERY LEAST you should install a direct-connect package (pictured) to get the flue products into the chimney without coating the fireplace ans smoke shelf.
The stove may require a reduction in chimney diameter to work properly. Today’s high efficiency wood appliances are putting almost all of their heat into the home. This means stack temperatures are much lower than in an older stove. Heat powers the chimney and creates draft. Less heat means weaker draft. Whereas an old stove might have worked great with a 13 inch chimney, your new model may not work at all until you properly size the chimney to fit the appliance.
The absolute best installation for function and safety is to line your chimney from stove to cap with the proper size. Your stove will perform its best and your chimney will always remain in the condition it was in before you added the liner.
With a full reline you will never have to worry about the tolls of age on your masonry chimney. Keeping the heat and corrosives contained in the stainless-steel liner system will ensure your masonry chimney stays like new.
Chimney cleaning is much easier with a direct connect kit than with the “into the fireplace” method which is tedious and practically impossible to do right. However, if you spring for a few more bucks and install a full liner system, cleaning will be a breeze every year. In fact, with a full liner system, you could buy your own brush and rods and do the cleaning yourself saving about $150 per cleaning! Cleaning up after lesser installations will likely require special equipment and you should call a professional.
I hope this article answers a few questions you may have about relining. Remember, if your chimney is damaged or not up to code, you MUST fully reline it to be safe. Also, if you are installing a gas stove you MUST fit the stove with the proper size liner for the stove. If you have any questions or need an evaluation, you can always call on us at 828-367-0031 or shoot me an email to Jack@FireByJack.com for a quick response.
Brrr! Nothing ruins a winter morning faster than a cold draft! A little snooping usually reveals the Fireplace as the culprit.
Even though your damper is closed, the draft still persists. That’s because your old steel damper does not seal completely- it was not designed to seal. Another problem is that it is at the bottom of the chimney. Your chimney is still opened! Your current damper only slows the draft and does nothing to combat varmints, wind, or weather.
The best way to stop cold drafts caused by your fireplace is to install a gasketed top mounted damper. With a top mounted damper, you will enjoy cleaner damper opperation and a superior gasketed, air-tight seal. Plus, the damper also works as a chimney cap, keeping out water and unwelcome critters.
Opening and closing a top-mounted damper is a snap. A small aircraft cable runs down the chimney and is connected to a control handle inside the fireplace and within easy reach. No more climbing inside the fireplace to find the damper handle!
We have these dampers in our online store in a variety of sizes with FREE SHIPPING. Installation is very easy. It will take you longer to set up your ladder than to install the damper.
When installing a stove or fireplace in a home, one question that always comes up is how often does the chimney need cleaning? The answer isn’t always as simple as “every year”.
The frequency at which you will have to clean your chimney will depend on several factors such as;
~How many cords of wood you burn per season. Burning twice as much wood as your neighbor, your chimney will need cleaned twice as often.
~What is the quality of your firewood? Did you buy seasoned firewood with a moisture content of 20% or did you buy someones “cut-to-order” firewood with a moisture content of 75%? Seasoned firewood burns hot, clean, and more complete and will deposit a fraction of the creosote as wet wood. Your firewood should be split and stacked to air dry for about a year to fully season.
~Is your stove or insert properly sized? An oversized stove burned on low most of the time will deposit a lot more creosote than a properly sized stove burning hot. Don’t worry, the stove can take it. Fire that baby up!
~Is your stove or fireplace EPA Certified? An EPA certified stove, burned hot, will reburn smoke and gasses before they ever enter the chimney resulting in much cleaner chimneys.
~Are you burning an open fireplace? Open fireplaces burn very hot with a lot of dillution air. They produce very little accumulation in the chimney.
As you can see, many factors play into a seemingly simple answer. To make things simple, always have the sweep out to have a good look at your chimney. A light cleaning will cost you less and you will know that you’re ready for next season with a healthy chimney. You may find your burning habits are good and not much creosote is deposited. GOOD FOR YOU! On the flip-side, poor burning habits, wet wood, old stoves or over-sized stoves may require more than one cleaning per season. I have several customers using old stoves that need cleaning 3 or 4 times per season! WOW, add those bills up and an investment in a new stove doesn’t sound so out of reach.
Whatever your habits, always be safe with an annual inspection and cleaning if necessary. The best time to schedule is in the off season from April through July. Once July ends people start to prepare for winter so the cleaning promotions will be gone.
If you need your chimney cleaned, Jack’s Stove Shop in Black Mountain, NC can help. Just give us a call and we will set up service for you at your convenience.
This morning I was working at my desk thinking back over the years and all the products I have seen come and go. I thought about the stores that I’ve seen come and go too and it got me thinking about consumers and what makes them buy where they do.
Are consumers strictly price-driven? I mean do they just buy their products wherever they can get the best price? I don’t think so.
I think consumers are driven by VALUE. value goes beyond price. Value is what you receive in exchange for a particular dollar amount. A consultation and stove purchase from me at $1895 might be much more valuable that the same services at another dealer for $1799. I’m not saying my prices are adjusted up, I’m just saying that some places have nothing to contribute the the VALUE of the deal except the sticker price. Beware when buying from discount shops. It just may be that they have nothing else to offer you than price. What will you do next year when you need support? Don’t call me mid-season when you bought from my competitor. I must insist that my customers are at the top of the list and I do track my customers.
I will beat any deal, but understand I earn every cent of my meager profit margin on products I sell. When you buy from me, I am attached to that product for its life and will always be here for you. What is that peace of mind worth to you?
In being your fire source for the best in stoves and fireplaces, Our small Black Mountain Stove & Chimney store may not be the largest or fanciest – but we can always say we offer the most value per dollar spent. Jack’s Stove Shop contributes to value with, unsurpassed product knowledge, unmatched technical knowledge, more hands-on experience than any shop around, straight talk without the hype and sales pitch, best price guarantee, highest standards of honesty and integrity, product satisfaction guarantee and my personal commitment to help consumers make the best choices.
One of the areas where you gain value is in my experience. I have not only sold, but installed and worked on almost every product made. I have extensive experience in the following brands;
You have lots of choices, but which one is right for you?
When to choose an insert – When converting a wood burning fireplace to gas or to burn wood more efficiently. A fireplace insert is a convenient and affordable way to convert your existing wood burning fireplace to natural gas or liquid propane gas (LPG). Perhaps you still want to burn wood or pellets, but for efficient heating purposes more so than ambiance. Inserts fit into your existing fireplace and use the existing chimney. To determine the size you will need just measure the opening of your fireplace – (width x height x depth) and give Jack a call or email. We’ll help you select the correct fireplace insert for your home.
When to choose direct vent gas - When you don’t have a chimney or when you want the most efficient sealed-combustion design. A Direct Vent Fireplace is a perfect solution for homes that don’t have an existing chimney. The sealed combustion units draw outside air in for combustion and simultaneously exhaust the flue gasses out a small exhaust vent. The fireplaces can be installed in almost any room in your house*…several options and styles are available. You can have a direct-vent appliance configured as an insert, stove, or fireplace. Choices abound with direct-vent technology; the most advanced available and the target of the most agressive investment by manufacturers.
When to choose a stove – Can be used with or without an existing chimney. Freestanding stoves are an attractive and functional addition to any room. Stoves are available with multiple venting options and can go virtually anywhere in your house. Cast iron and steel stoves are admired for their esthetic beauty and are available in a variety of colors and options to suit your every need. Stoves are available in wood, gas, coal, oil, pellet and kerosene. Some gas stoves are unvented and require no chimney at all and manufactured chimney systems are available if your home has no chimney.
When to choose Gas Logs – When converting a wood fireplace to a gas fireplace to keep the fireplace look. LPG and natural gas log sets fit easily inside your existing wood fireplace providing fireplace ambiance with added convenience and less mess. No more lugging wood and dirt into the house. With a gas log set you enjoy the fireplace and robust flames while adding thermostat or remote control convenience. Jack has personally installed thousands of gas logs in fireplaces. Contact Jack to find out if your fireplace is a good canditate for conversion.
*Local building codes may prohibit installation in certain rooms.
Don’t be a sucker when you are getting firewood. Buy your firewood a year in advance of the heating season.
If you are buying wood for immediate use, call around and find seasoned firewood even if you have to pay more. If wood is still wet you won’t heat much with it no matter how hard you try.
The video below is really good and explains how to harvest, split stack and cure your firewood for the season.
So you’ve just layed down $1500 bucks on a brand new wood stove. You figure you will just vent that thing into the fireplace and save the expense of adding a chimney to the house. That is possible, but you do have some very serious considerations to make…
Brrr! Nothing ruins a winter morning faster than a cold draft! A little snooping usually reveals the Fireplace as the culprit.
When installing a stove or fireplace in a home, one question that always comes up is how often does the chimney need cleaning? The answer isn’t always as simple as “every year”.
You have lots of choices, but which one is right for you?