What Kind of Vent Does a Corn Stove Need?

Clearance Requirements

• Before installing your corn stove, you need to ensure that the venting pipe meets all of the clearance requirements listed in your owner’s manual. For instance, venting pipe must be at least 7 feet from a public walkway and there must be a 3-foot clearance to any combustibles. Another common clearance requirement is that the vent must be at least 4 feet below a door or window or 1 foot above it.

Types

• Vent your corn stove to a 3- or 4-inch diameter type “PL” or “L” vent. Class-A chimney pipe and existing masonry chimneys with a clay liner or a stainless steel liner can also be used to vent corn stoves. L-vent pipes will vent into a Class-A chimney. Seal connections with high temperature RTV silicone, or screw connections together with 3 and 3/8-inch-long stainless steel screws.

Installation

• Vent pipe for a corn stove should be double wall, not single wall and, in spite of what some owner manuals show, it should rise above the stove instead of running out straight behind the stove. Corn stoves need a 3-foot vertical rise above the stove exhaust connection in order to ensure a natural draft. Running the pipe straight out behind the stove doesn’t provide a natural draft, which will let smoke enter the house if the power goes out. Corn stoves also need an outside air hookup for efficient burning.

Tips

• Combustible materials and insulation should be kept at least 1 inch from the vent pipe. Canadian regulations require that combustible materials be kept at least 3 inches from vent pipes. Don’t use vents that have an inside diameter smaller than the stove’s flue outlet. Don’t pierce the inner lining of the vent pipe with screws. Do not scratch the stainless steel liner by using a stiff brush when you’re cleaning it. Use a flexible steel brush or a plastic brush instead. Don’t use chemical cleaners on the vent pipe. Inspect the vent every month during the heating season.