A potbelly stove is often used to heat temporary buildings, garages, greenhouses, and utility rooms. But it also emits combustion products, a lot of smoke from burned wood or other fuels.
Therefore, you will need to decide how to make a chimney for a potbelly stove and where it is best to install it so that it is inexpensive and effective. Moreover, you can do it yourself. Moreover, everything is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.
To make it easier for you to understand the assembly and installation of the chimney, in this article we looked at the step-by-step process, starting with the selection of material and assembly and ending with checking the functionality of the already installed system.
Calculation of a chimney for a potbelly stove
After the stove is installed and ready for use, it is necessary to install a chimney that can function properly, retain heat in the room and at the same time prevent combustion waste from entering the air of the room where the stove is installed. To do this, you need to correctly calculate the diameter of the pipe, its length and think about how it will exhaust the smoke into fresh air.
In order for the heating system to have the highest efficiency, it is necessary that the pipe for the potbelly stove provides sufficient draft.
Expert opinion
Pavel Kruglov
Stove maker with 25 years of experience
The best ratio of pipe diameter to combustion chamber is 2.7 millimeters to 1 liter. For example, let's take a potbelly stove with a combustion chamber of 50 liters: 2.7*50=135 mm. It is this chimney diameter that will be optimal for the efficient operation of a 50-liter potbelly stove.
Once the diameter of the chimney pipe has been determined, the length of the entire pipeline should be calculated. In these calculations, it is important to take into account not only the location of the potbelly stove, but also how far from the ridge the chimney is located on the roof.
The pipe outlet above the roof should be located according to certain rules:
- The chimney is located from the roof ridge at a distance of up to 1500 millimeters, which means the pipe outlet should be located at a height of 50 centimeters above the top of the ridge;
- With a distance to the canopy of 150-300 centimeters, the pipeline outlet can be positioned at the same level with it;
- If the chimney is located near the edge of the roof, then its outlet should be slightly lower than the ridge, or at the same level with it;
The second option for the pipe exit is through the wall, and not through the roof. In this case, the end of the chimney should be located just below the top of the roof ridge.
But the main long pipe will be the total distance from the pipe outlet to the potbelly stove itself - the calculations in each individual case will be different, it all depends on what floor, in what place in the room and at what height the potbelly stove will be located.
Warm brick
A potbelly stove using wood, coal and other types of fuel can significantly increase its efficiency. To do this, it is enough to build a screen of baked clay bricks around it with your own hands. If you look carefully at the drawings of such a mini-building, you will see that the bricks are laid at a short distance from the walls of the stove (about 10-15 cm), and, if desired, around the chimney.
Bricks require a foundation. Do you want the masonry to last a long time? Then fill the base one at a time to form a monolith. It is better to take concrete as the material for the foundation, which should be reinforced with steel reinforcement yourself. It is advisable to place the reinforcement layer at a distance of approximately 5 cm from the surface of the concrete pad.
Ventilation holes are made at the bottom and top of the brickwork, which will ensure air movement (heated masses will go up, cold air flows will come from below). Ventilation also prolongs the life of the metal walls of the potbelly stove, delaying the moment of their burning due to cooling by circulating air.
Bricks laid around the stove accumulate heat and then release it for a long time, warming the air in the room even after the stove goes out. In addition, brickwork additionally protects objects surrounding the stove from fire.
If desired, you can completely lay out the stove from brick. Such a structure is advantageous in that it will last for many years without additional effort on the part of the owner. However, there are also certain disadvantages. The disadvantages of this option include the following:
- the process of laying out such a stove is quite labor-intensive and is suitable only for those people who have experience in masonry with their own hands;
- a brick stove is quite expensive, as it requires the use of fireproof materials, including fireclay bricks and special clay for mortar.
In order to get a small potbelly stove with wood, it is enough to lay out a cone measuring 2 by 2.5 bricks, 9 bricks high. In the combustion chamber, rows 2-4 are laid out of fireclay bricks. An ordinary fired clay brick is suitable for a chimney, into which you must remember to insert a stainless steel sleeve.
Whatever the method of making a miniature stove or potbelly fireplace with your own hands, whether you make them according to a drawing or by eye, the main thing is that at the end you get an effective heating device, and in an expanded configuration also a hob for cooking. Look around for suitable materials (barrels, sheet iron, etc.) and go ahead to your own homemade stove or even a potbelly stove!
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Materials and their quantity
The list of materials required for the construction of a chimney varies depending on what kind of pipe structure it is decided to install. If the exit will be directly through the roof, then fewer corner bends will be required.
A standard size chimney will require the following number of pipes:
- 1 elbow 120 cm long, 10 cm in diameter;
- 2 elbows 120 cm long, 16 cm in diameter;
- 3 butt elbows 16*10 cm;
- Tee with a diameter of 16 cm and a plug for it;
- Fungus – 20 cm;
- Sealant.
In addition, for the construction of various chimney structures, other parts may be needed: an anti-spill canopy, a passage glass, thermal insulation materials.
Expert opinion
Pavel Kruglov
Stove maker with 25 years of experience
A huge role is played by what kind of pipes for the stove chimney it was decided to purchase, since the number, size and types of bends will depend on what kind of structure will be installed. If it was decided that the smoke exhaust system will be located outside the room, then it will no longer be possible to install it inside the building, since then a different set of parts will be required.
Second life of a gas cylinder
A good idea for a small stove is to reuse containers that can withstand high heat. We have already talked about barrels, but how do you like, for example, a potbelly stove made from a gas cylinder or even two? These containers are good because they allow you to make your own stove for a country house or garage, both vertically and horizontally.
To create such a potbelly stove you will need the following tools:
- welding machine;
- grinding machine with wheels;
- drill with drills;
- brush with metal bristles;
- tape measure and construction pencil for marking;
- hammer, chisel, pliers.
The materials you need to make your own stove are:
- 1 or 2 gas cylinders;
- Metal sheet for the ash pan and hob (thickness must be at least 3 mm);
- cast iron doors (old ones, for example, from a wood-burning stove, or ones made by yourself from sheet metal, will do);
- chimney pipe;
- thick metal fittings for making legs and grate.
Before starting work on a gas cylinder, open the valve and leave it in this state for at least 12 hours to ventilate the container. Another way to clean a bottle is to fill it to the top with water and then empty it completely.
For a vertical stove-stove, the gas cylinder is placed in its standard position, the neck is emptied and markings are made for the future firebox and vent. The marked pieces are cut out with a grinder. The grate is made separately - for this, fittings cut to the required dimensions are welded in the places marked at the bottom of the cylinder.
Hinges are welded to the cylinder on which the doors are hung. Next, latches are installed, which are designed to protect and increase the efficiency of the potbelly stove. A smoke exhaust pipe is welded on top or on the side of the cylinder.
For a horizontal potbelly stove-stove, the cylinder is installed on the “legs” sideways. A square hole is cut in it for the door and a round one for the chimney pipe. Instead of a grate, a series of holes are drilled at the bottom, and a rectangular container for collecting ash is welded below the cylinder. The stove is almost ready, all that remains is to hang the door with your own hands and install the chimney.
If desired, the set of vertical and horizontal stoves made from gas cylinders can be expanded by adding a hob made from a sheet of metal attached to the top.
Tools
You only need cutting tools: grinder, jigsaw, knife. All work is carried out manually and does not require special equipment.
Installation diagram
There are several types of chimneys; the most suitable type of design is selected individually.
Installation methods
It is important to take into account the collection of condensate in the system, so it is necessary to have a plug, a condensate drain and a container for collecting condensate.
If the potbelly stove is installed through a wall from a pipeline located on the street, then it would be advisable to lead the chimney through a window so that you do not have to prepare a hole for the pipeline in the ceiling.
The outer part of the chimney is insulated using thermal insulation and covered with protective material. A fungus is installed at the end of the pipe, which will protect the chimney from debris, rain, various small animals and foreign objects.
Floor preparation
The chimney pipe for a potbelly stove is most often installed in such a way that it passes through the ceiling, therefore, before installing and fixing the pipeline structure, it is necessary to make a hole for it in the ceiling: using a jigsaw or other cutting tool, having a diameter suitable for the passage of a glass for elbows of the internal chimney.
Example of a hole for a chimney pipe
Pass-through glass
The passage glass is installed in the hole before the chimney for the potbelly stove is assembled. The diameter of the glass should be selected according to the diameter of the inner pipe, although sometimes the joint is made before the chimney passes through the ceiling. It should be understood that it is important to secure the glass tightly - it serves as a retainer. But in addition to this, the pipeline must also be attached to the surface of the wall.
If installed incorrectly, the following consequences may occur:
If there are easily flammable materials, insulation or wooden parts in the ceiling, then they must be removed so that they do not come into contact with the passage glass.
Once the pipe has been inserted, the whole thing needs to be sealed with a fire-resistant material, such as heat-resistant sealant or special fire-resistant wool.
The following stages of work are shown in the photo:
Sealing
Pipe outlet to the roof
Roof work
At the last stage you need to put a deflector on the pipe
Tips for working
- The pipes used in the structure are located exclusively in a vertical position; to fix them, it is best to use special brackets with dimensions corresponding to the elbows of the system. To save money, you can make the brackets yourself using a metal corner.
- All connections must be treated with sealant so that there are no holes through which smoke can escape into the room air. There is a large selection of sealants on the market that are suitable for sealing pipeline seams for smoke exit:
- High temperature sealants;
- Heat-resistant sealants;
- Heat-resistant sealants;
- Heat-resistant sealants;
High temperature and heat resistant sealants are used to seal areas that reach temperatures of 350 degrees Celsius. Since the chimney for a potbelly stove heats up to higher temperatures, these types of sealants are only suitable for parts outside the piping system.
Heat-resistant and heat-resistant polymers can withstand enormous temperatures, up to 1500 degrees Celsius - they are the most suitable choice for a potbelly stove chimney.
Connecting the chimney to the stove
The chimney coming out of the potbelly stove, called internal, is connected to the street, external pipeline, in the attic or in the under-roof part of the roof. The beginning of the internal chimney is the segment coming out of the stove pipe, which is joined at the elbow to the ceiling.
When installing an internal chimney, it is important to correctly connect the pipe to the stove pipe - since if this is done incorrectly, smoke may escape into the air in the room, which will make it impossible for the heating system to function properly.
Expert opinion
Pavel Kruglov
Stove maker with 25 years of experience
The chimney is connected to the potbelly stove using a heat-resistant seal and a special clamp. It is important to make a completely sealed structure, since any breakthrough of gases can lead to poisoning of those inside the room.
Chimney connected to potbelly stove
Which one is better to choose?
Factors:
- type of potbelly stove;
- volume of the furnace section;
- method of connection to the structure;
- indoor location;
- the need to carry the stove;
- chimney material;
- requirements for pipe design.
In fact, the chimney is selected for a specific type of stove, and not vice versa. Otherwise, the heating system will not operate properly. This especially applies to the requirement for a minimum pipe diameter.
If you have experience, you can make the required type of chimney yourself. But all basic rules for calculation and design must be strictly observed. If there is no experience or it is not enough to fully comply with all manufacturing and installation conditions, then it is better to order.
It is worth considering that installation work with existing material also has its own nuances and features.
The choice of material depends on the stove itself, as well as their availability. The choice of material is based on the required design features and the nature of the heating system, that is, whether it is stationary or mobile.
Stone or brickwork is used for permanent installations. A cheaper material would be a galvanized pipe, which has improved properties compared to ordinary sheet metal. It is this material that should be used for collapsible design options, as well as when it is necessary to conveniently replace segments.
The cheapest material is considered to be ordinary tin. There is a nuance here in the form of a requirement for the size of the wall. The pipe must be thicker than 0.5 cm, since otherwise it cannot be installed indoors according to fire safety regulations.
Drawing and diagrams
A drawing is a preliminary diagram in the form of a drawing. But it must indicate the actual required dimensions, which will help to carry out the correct installation based on all the rules and instructions. The drawing is made in any form before installation begins. It is required for installing a chimney according to the regulations of a mini construction project.
The entire system is built on the basis of a proportion of 1 to 2.7, since this is a prerequisite for full traction.
The volume is multiplied by 2.7 and we get the result in millimeters. Example: the oven has a volume of 50 liters. We multiply 50 by 2.7 = 135 mm. For convenience, you can add up to 5 mm, that is, a pipe diameter of 13.5 to 14 cm is suitable.
Installation features
Among the installation, there are several features that are taken into account when working. Rules:
- installation begins from the lower sections;
- the passage through the walls is treated with insulating materials until the pipe is installed there;
- the regulations for the location of joints relative to the walls and ceiling are observed;
- one diameter is used for the pipes of the entire chimney.
The main rule of installation is full compliance with all construction work and safety regulations.
Failure to comply with all regulations for the construction and arrangement of the heating system is also considered a problem. All these miscalculations affect the final result.
Is it worth covering the pipe with bricks?
A metal chimney pipe for a potbelly stove does not require special protection from external influences, but due to the visual effect and possible contact with a hot pipe, enterprising owners often line the pipeline with bricks.
Expert opinion
Pavel Kruglov
Stove maker with 25 years of experience
But the construction of a chimney using brickwork is prohibited - such structures are not suitable for this heating system; only a galvanized pipe for a potbelly stove is suitable for this role, it will provide good draft, it is easy to clean and check for defects. Simplicity of installation and easy maintenance are the main advantages of this hood.
Is there a universal chimney?
How to calculate a chimney for a fireplace and other heating systems? Is it possible to install a channel that would correspond to any type of fuel if its material is always selected exactly in accordance with the type of specific fuel? At the moment, such a universal mechanism has not been invented. There are some systems that work quite well with some fuels. However, they are far from quality.
Internal section
Calculation of the chimney cross-section is a mandatory requirement for the quality of the exhaust system.
Cylindrical shape. The heating of a gas heating system occurs unevenly, because of this, the movement of smoke through the pipe occurs in a spiral. Therefore, the optimal pipe shape will be cylindrical. It is this that will provide ideal traction.
If you design a square-shaped chimney, turbulence will not be able to form due to the lack of draft, and the smoke will collect in the corners. And the quality of the exhaust system and your health depend on the speed of the exhaust force.
Also, the cylindrical shape of the smoke exhaust duct is suitable for new generation boilers (stop-strat).
Watch the video, calculating a square chimney:
The operating principle of such heating devices is created taking into account the high-speed heating of the heating system.
Care and cleaning
The overall quality and efficiency of the heating system directly depends on the condition of the chimney, so periodically attention should be paid to its systematic care.
Every year it is necessary to conduct a complete inspection of the pipeline to detect cracks, burnouts, rust and other defects that can lead to unpleasant consequences. During the inspection, the entire chimney structure should be simultaneously cleaned of soot - this can be done by burning aspen wood in the stove.
Layout nuances and factors influencing chimney parameters
To design an impeccable option, it is unimaginable to make do with only calculations and diagrams. The flue intersects with important structural parts of the house, which means that it certainly affects the plan. In the case when the owner wants to install it closer to the ridge, he may encounter many difficulties. Therefore, it is better to place the chimney at a great distance.
The height should be selected taking into account the design features:
- Apartment design;
- chimney geometry;
- number of residential floors;
- ease of installation of chimney ducts;
- potential accessibility for maintenance work on the boiler unit and smoke ventilation unit;
- type of building material used during the construction of partitions and rafter systems;
- the number of heat sources connected to a single chimney.
It is necessary to indicate that, in accordance with the standards for the installation of heat supply systems in individual dwellings, only one boiler is allowed to be connected to one gas duct. In special cases, it is allowed to exhaust boiler gases through one chimney from 2 units. For proper functioning of heating equipment, a cut must be placed in the middle of such a structure. Furnaces in multi-storey buildings up to 3 floors are placed one on top of the other, and their smoke ducts are placed in a similar manner so that the flue gases have the opportunity to escape through one shaft.
The vast majority of designers prefer the use of channels that are installed during the construction of building walls in brickwork - they can significantly save money on building materials.
A chimney that cannot be installed in a main wall, install smoke ventilation ducts as close as possible to the ridge girder.
The construction of a wall chimney is carried out using a displacer template, lined with brickwork on all sides. It is made in the form of a wooden box, with a cross-section equal to the diameter of the chimney. Having reached the top of the template, it is moved higher, after which it is covered again. The process continues until the construction of the load-bearing wall is completed.
Often, brick pipes are placed on the inside of the main walls; in this case, the most efficient heating of the cottage can be organized, with low specific heating costs. Sometimes smoke ducts are placed in external walls, but this method will be the most expensive and will require significant effort when servicing the smoke ventilation ducts. In the option of installing a smoke ventilation system in an external wall, the width of the pipe wall is larger.
Impeccable calculation of the chimney increases the efficiency of the home heating source and guarantees the safe operation of heating sources. Otherwise, toxic gases can enter the living space and harm the health of residents.
Conclusion
Installing an exhaust pipe for a potbelly stove is not a complicated process and can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists. The main thing is to follow fire safety rules, not allow the chimney to come into contact with easily flammable materials and monitor the tightness of the structure.
With a responsible approach to the installation of the potbelly stove and the installation of the chimney, as well as proper operation, no problems will arise when using the heating system. If the entire system is installed incorrectly, then like a boiler or fireplace, a potbelly stove can cause a fire.
The need to install a heat exchanger
If the stove pipe through which hot gases pass becomes excessively hot, you can cool it by installing a heat exchanger . In this case, excess heat will be used rationally. Such a device can operate in two modes. In the first case, a container filled with cold water is connected to it. As a result of the formation of a temperature difference, condensation occurs, which helps to warm up the device with steam. In this mode, the pipe walls heat up to 100 °C.
Another option for the heat exchanger to operate is to avoid steam condensation and increase the heating temperature of the pipe. According to the recommendations of experts, the heat exchange device in this case should function as a register for heating the liquid.
