Single wall vitreous enamelled stove pipe is needed for every installation of a wood burning stove. You need at least one length of stove pipe to connect directly to your log burner’s flue outlet. From this pipe, you can connect to either flexible flue liner if going directly through an existing chimner, or to twin wall flue pipe if you need to pass through a wall or ceiling or route your flue pipe externally.
Single walled enamelled stove pipe should only be used internally. If you need to pass through a wall, ceiling or if your flue pipe is running externally you should in all cases use insulated twin wall flue pipe. This is because single wall stove pipe can run extremely hot and reach temperatures of 500 degrees plus, so passing through walls etc can pose a very real fire risk. Secondly, for external use you encounter two main problems with single wall pipe. First when very hot gasses meet very cold air it creates lots of condensation inside your flue system, which causes faster corrosion with your system. Also hot air naturally rises but rapidly cooling air does not rise nearly as fast, which can lead to significant problems with your updraught. Using insulated flue pipe significantly reduces these problems.
When installing stove pipe,you must always ensure that the spigot end (the tapered or reduced diameter male end) is point downwards. Condensates in flue pipe are unavoidable and installing with the spigot end facing upwards creates ridges in your system that water can collect and sit in, which will greatly reduce the life of your stove pipe.
You should seal every joint from the back of the wood burning stove all the way up with fire cement and ensure that all seals are not leaking by testing with smoke pellets. Any leaks in the flue system can be very dangerous.
You can increase the diameter of your flue system by up to 1 inch from the diameter of the flue outlet on your wood burning stove but by no more. You can also not reduce the diameter at any point in your flue system, this is to ensure that the updraught will be sufficient for your log burner.
If you have any further questions about stove pipe, then do call us on: 0844 5876034 and we would be pleased to help.
Wood Burning Stoves and Flues
Just read your advice – very helpful in saying which way up the flue should go. Many thanks
Good to hear! Installing the first length of flue pipe is not uncommon but by doing so, will throuw the entire system out. Male ends downwards into the stove on all occassions
When I attempt to fit spigot end of flue pipe into stove it is a loose fit?
Do I require some sort of bracket?
Some connections can be looser than others as there are many manufacturers of stove pipes and many manufacturers of stoves and the chances of them all fitting together perfectly is slim. It is quite common to have a slight gap around the pipe and this simply requires filling with Fire Cement and Stove Rope:
https://www.glowing-embers.co.uk/flue-accessories-fire-cement-c-70_89_96?zenid=66ik8tspg9aj9ckdsua145ael6
https://www.glowing-embers.co.uk/stove-accessories-stove-fire-rope-and-adhesive-c-160_193?zenid=66ik8tspg9aj9ckdsua145ael6
As far as i am aware there is no minimum length given for stove pipe connecting to a flexible flue liner, Can you think of a reason why a stove manufacturer states that a 1 metre length of stove pipe should be used? I have been trying to find out from the manufacturer with little success
Flexible Chimney Liners are not designed to be connected directly to the stove outlet collar due to the heat emitted at that connection and therefore, it is advised to distance this. Typically this is done with 1000mm stove pipe to get through the register plate and into the chimney cavity.
Can the stove pipe be cut down as the gap between stove and register plate is only 350mm and cannot get further up chimney
The Easy Fit range of vitreous enamelled pipes can be cut down from the female end only as they maintain an accurate diameter for the entire length of the pipe. Please do not cut from the lower male end up though as you will lose the tapered connection. The Economoy range of vitreous pipes and any twin wall brands cannot be cut.