Woodstove Installation
People tend to think of the chimney and the wood stove as separate things: The stove is the heating appliance, and the chimney is there to take care of the smoke, right?
But especially with newer, high efficiency wood stoves, the chimney and the stove are really one device: the stove is where you build the fire, but the chimney is what drives the stove, making it burn efficiently.
In a nutshell: Efficient combustion requires fuel, oxygen and heat. The fire provides the heat (initially the match you light, and then the burning wood), and the wood is the fuel. We all know that. What’s new in newer stoves is how oxygen is distributed inside the stove. Newer stoves achieve their high marks for combustion efficiency by getting the oxygen to the fuel more effectively. They do this by distributing the air evenly across the inside of the stove, so there is a better mixture of fuel, oxygen and heat, or in some types of stoves, by drawing the combustion products through a heated catalytic combustor.
Both types of stoves, catalytic and non-catalytic, share a common trait: they require a sufficiently strong draft to work properly.
This is where the chimney comes into play as an essential part of the system. If the chimney doesn’t draw well enough – because the liner is too small or too large, or because the stove isn’t installed correctly – you won’t achieve the high efficiency that the stove is capable of. That, of course, means your heating cost is higher than it should be. It also means the stove doesn’t work as well as it should.
When we install wood stoves, we address the three components of wood stove heating success:
* The stove
* The chimney
* The connection of the stove to the chimney.
The stove has to be in good condition, and properly sized for the living space. The chimney has to be properly built, in good condition, and properly swept. And last but not least, the flue has to be sized properly for the stove, and the stove has to be connected properly to the chimney. The good news is that our chimney professionals are highly skilled in all three areas. We don’t just clean chimneys; we understand them.
How do I know if my chimney is suitable for a wood stove?
We will check your existing chimney, and evaluate its suitability for venting a wood stove. We will look at the condition, whether it needs to be swept, the size and arrangement of the flue(s) in the chimney, what’s already connected, and so on. In short, we will examine the entire system, and let you know what’s needed, if anything, for successful wood stove use.
What kinds of stoves do you install?
We install all types of stoves: wood stoves, coal stoves, pellet stoves ... even corn stoves and direct-vent appliances. For each type of stove, we evaluate the specific needs, and we will take the time to explain what’s needed and why.
Do you install wood stove inserts into fireplaces?
Yes, we install both full inserts – stoves that fit into your existing fireplace – and stoves mounted on a hearth in the room but connected to a fireplace flue. In either type of installation, our professional installers will run a stainless steel liner all the way up to the top of the chimney. We don’t just run a short section of pipe into an existing, over-sized chimney flue and call it good. Years of experience in fixing improperly installed stoves tell the story, that the best way to provide superior venting efficiency and superior fire safety is to provide a liner sized appropriately for the stove, all the way up.
Do you install gas-fired appliances, like direct-vent heater, gas fireplaces and gas fireplace logs?
Yes. The only part we don’t do is the hookup of the gas line to the new appliance. That part is done by a licensed plumber/gasfitter.
What if I need a new chimney?
In many cases a less costly alternative is to re-line the existing chimney. But if that isn’t feasible, we can recommend a factory-built, new chimney as an option.
Call (781) 585-5990 or Email us for an appointment.
