How to Route a Flue Pipe at Home

Locate the source of gas appliances, furnaces and fireplaces. These are the points that require a flue to the outside. The gases and smoke given off during burning of wood or fuel gases are health hazards.

Locate the point where the flue will exit your home. Generally, this is a chimney or roof vent.

Route the duct path for all the exhausts towards the roof. All the generation points of exhaust must connect together on the way out of your home. Use Y connectors in place of T connections to join branches in the flue. Join two different ducts using an inverted Y connector. You may need a few of these to connect all the exhaust ducts into the main flue.

Route the flue through closets and walls that are exposed so you may gain access to the sections of the flue for future cleaning of creosote build up. Creosote is a fire hazard that causes chimney fires.

Direct the flue upward by routing the duct toward the roof vent. Hot gases and smoke rise so the pathway of the flue must always go upward.

Place an air vent in each room that contains a fireplace or gas appliance to supply fresh air for proper burning of the fuel. New air must enter the room that contains the fireplace or appliance. Without the fresh air source there is no source to create the draw of air to aid the burning of fuel.

Ensure the exit of the flue from your home is at least 2 feet above the roof and 6 feet from any ignition source to minimize the chance of an accidental fire.