PELLET STOVE INSTALLATION AND VENTING

When installing your pellet stove there are several things that you should keep in mind and consider before you actually begin the installation.  Taking care to install your pellet stove correctly will ensure that you, your family, and your home are safe.  In addition, properly installing your pellet stove guarantee that you get the most efficient performance from your stove and help to prolong the life of the individual stove components.

Keep the following things in mind when you plan your installation:

1. It is always best to have a minimum of 5' of vertical pipe, and we actually recommend 7' or more.
2. Check with local building or fire officials for any additional installation or permitting requirements.
3. Use only quality materials from known manufacturers and distributors.
4. It is best to have the unit vented on the low pressure side of the house.  This is the side opposite of prevailing winds.
5. Flex pipe is only approved for use inside of a masonry fireplace.
6. Eliminate as much horizontal pipe and elbows as possible.
7. Use the same size pipe diameter for your entire exhaust system.
8. Do not plug the stove into a GFCI socket or circuit.
9. Always use a quality surge protector.
   

VENTING

The choices you make when determining how your pellet stove is vented are very important and will have an impact on the performance of your stove.  In order to get the best performance from your pellet stove we highly encourage you to follow all installation directions in the owner's manual, our installation brochure , and this website.  It will save you a great deal of time and trouble if you properly install your stove.

VENT PIPE DIAMETER

Prior to purchasing your pellet vent pipe (type L) you should plan your venting scenario in order to determine the diameter of vent pipe that you should use.  Pellet vent pipe comes in 3" and 4" diameter.  You can never go wrong using 4" diameter pipe, however, you can save yourself a few dollars if your venting situation allows you to use 3" diameter pipe.

In order to determine if you can use 3" diameter pipe, you need to calculate your EVL (Equivalent Vent Length).   To properly calculate your EVL you should make a simple sketch of your planned installation.  Then use the figures below to determine your EVL:

• 90 degree elbows or cleanout tees count of 5' of pipe
• 45 degree elbows count as 3' of pipe
• Pipe running horizontally counts as 1' of pipe for 1' of pipe
• Pipe running vertically counts as 1/2' of pipe for 1' of pipe

Use the above figures to calculate what your planned EVL will be.  If your EVL is less than 15' you can use 3" diameter pipe.  If your EVL is 15' or more you should use 4" diameter pipe.  If you need to use 4" pipe you should have a 3" to 4" transition right off the back of the unit and then use 4" diameter pipe throughout the entire exhaust system.

SPECIAL NOTE:  If above 3,000' in elevation, you should use only 4" diameter pipe.  In addition, if installing the unit in a corner and going out a sidewall, we highly recommend that you use 4" pipe regardless of your EVL or elevation.

CORNER INSTALLATIONS

When installing a pellet stove in a corner, special attention needs to be paid to the exhaust configuration.  If installing the stove in a corner and then running the exhaust flue out a side wall you should ALWAYS use 4" diameter pipe regardless of your actual EVL.

1.  Have a minimum of 6" of horizontal pipe off the back of the unit before you install an elbow to go out the side wall.
2.  It is even more important that you have 6' to 8' of vertical pipe in the exhaust system once you get outside.    Especially with the Tahoe Pellet Stove (P2000) and the Mojave Pellet Stove (P2700) units it is critical to a clean and efficient burn.

HORIZONTAL PIPE

You should do everything possible to reduce the amount of horizontal pipe you have in exhaust configuration of your pellet stove.  The more horizontal pipe that you have the harder your combustion blower will have to work.  You will also need to clean your exhaust pipe more frequently, and in some cases your unit will function very poorly if at all.

It is best to always have vertical pipe following horizontal pipe.  This will help to offset the restriction created with the horizontal pipe.

MULTIPLE ELBOWS

A common mistake made by people is to use too many elbows in the exhaust system.  You never want to have more than two elbows in an exhaust if it can be avoided.  Depending upon your exact exhaust configuration you may be able to use three elbows.  You should always avoid using four or more elbows.

You also want to avoid having elbows too close together.  Ideally any elbows in the exhaust configuration will be separated by 3' or more of straight pipe.  If the elbows cannot be spaced at least 3' apart you should use 4" diameter pipe to help reduce some of the restriction created by having elbows spaced so closely.

SPECIAL NOTE:  You should ALWAYS avoid having two 90 degree elbows right next to each other. Having two 90 degree elbows right next to each other will create an "S" curve that creates a tremendous amount of restriction in your exhaust system resulting in extremely poor stove performance.

INSTALLATION BROCHURE

Feel free to download this additional installation brochure .  This brochure is not intended to be the sole source of information for installing your unit.  Instead, it is just a supplement to the information that you will find in your owner's manual.