As with any heating system, an area is needed where exhaust gases can be expelled. These exhaust gases are formed as a result of combustion and must be removed from the outside of the house as they are toxic to humans.
One of the most important parts when installing a wood-burning fireplace is the flue. The flue is the part of the chimney that is responsible for expelling the smoke to the outside of the house.
At Panadero we want to highlight the importance of a professional chimney or wood stoves for a correct installation.
Steps to make a chimney flue
Making a chimney flue is not an easy task. It is essential to pay attention to all the details, measurements, materials and to have all the necessary tools at hand (ladder, torch, pliers, tape measure, etc.).
Guidelines for making a chimney flue:
- Measure the dimensions of your chimney pipe. The flue needs specific dimensions to work properly. Therefore, we must know the dimensions of the chimney pipe perfectly.
- Place a conical piece at the top of the chimney pipe. This piece is shaped like a hood and should be narrower than the pipe.
- Check that the flue pipe has the right extension. The flue should protrude at least one metre above the highest part of the roof and, if there is an obstacle within 5 metres, the flue should be 1 metre higher than the obstacle. We recommend that flues placed outside should be double-walled (or insulated) to avoid condensation problems. If this is not the case, soot problems can occur and the stove will clog.
- Make sure that outside air enters the room where the chimney is located. It is very important that the flue pipe reaches the outside. The pipes should be at least 3 metres long.
It is essential to clean and maintain the chimney pipes and ducts so that dirt does not accumulate. In addition, we recommend that the flue is inspected from time to time to check that it is working properly.
Smoke comes out of the chimney, what should I do?
This problem can arise for different reasons and it is important to follow certain checks in order to prevent smoke coming out of the chimney:
- Check the measurements of your chimney, as well as the installation of the chimney flue.
- Use wood that is suitable for the fireplace. When using wood that is too damp, much more smoke is generated and can be blown out of the chimney.
- Review your chimney maintenance and cleaning routine.
- Check the distance rules of the neighbour’s chimney.
- Check if your chimney can be fitted with an extractor fan.
What should a chimney flue be like?
The flue must be thermally separated. The cylinders must not be at an angle of more than 45° and must not be pressed down.
If a cylinder is reused, it is important that it is completely clean.
How to improve chimney draught
To ensure that combustion vapours escape correctly, it is necessary to clean the flue pipe to avoid soot deposits. Expert chimney sweeps should examine the inside of the chimney once a year. We recommend cleaning the flue pipe before the winter season or after the season.
In the case of using a wood or pellet cooker, make sure you use good quality, dry and resin-free wood. This will allow it to calcine quickly, obtaining high temperatures in a short time and thus, the air will leave the chimney faster.
It is necessary to evaluate the intervention with the advice of an expert technician.
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Articles of interest:
- Operation and cleaning of a woodstove
- How to install a wood stove at home?
- Bad smells when lighting the fireplace or wood stove?
- Advantages of having a wood-burning stove
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