“I like fireplaces, but I don’t have a chimney in my house. Can’t I just make a hole in the wall, run the flue pipe outside and up the facade? That’s how it’s done with caravans and garden sheds.”
Such a solution may seem simple at first glance, but in reality one must distinguish between a normal flue pipe and a chimney.
The good news is that you can have a stove even in a house without a chimney. In many cases, an external chimney system can also be installed.
However, it is not enough to simply connect several ordinary flue pipes together and attach them to the facade.
Why can’t I use a normal exhaust pipe all the way to the roof?
The primary purpose of the flue pipe is to connect the stove to the chimney.
A conventional flue pipe designed for connecting an electrical appliance may not be suitable for long-term use as an outdoor fireplace.
The exhaust gas path on the facade is exposed to rain, frost, wind and significant temperature fluctuations.
In uninsulated pipes, the exhaust gases can cool down quickly, which can worsen the chimney draft and promote condensation and the formation of deposits.
Therefore, system-based, insulated stainless steel chimneys are frequently used for outdoor installations.
How does a stainless steel chimney work outdoors?
The external chimney can be laid along the facade of the house.
The stove is connected to the chimney via a suitable flue pipe, which runs through the outer wall and is connected to the chimney system.
The external chimney itself usually consists of multi-layered components with thermal insulation.
The insulation helps to limit the cooling of the flue gases and contributes to proper chimney operating conditions.
The system may also include support, anchoring, cleaning and inspection elements or condensate drainage devices, if required by the system.
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However, such a chimney must be constructed as a whole and must not be assembled from randomly selected pipes.
Is it sufficient to run the pipe out just above the window?
NO.
“If the smoke escapes outside, why should I build a chimney all the way to the roof?”
It is not enough to simply direct the flue gases behind the outer wall. They must be safely vented and distributed into the surrounding environment.
The height and location of the chimney opening influence the draft, the safe exhaust gas discharge, and the wind effect.
The roof shape, surrounding buildings, obstacles and other conditions must be taken into account.
There is no universally applicable rule that would suffice, for example, to lay the pipe one meter above the point where it passes through the wall.
Can a flue pipe be routed through a wooden or insulated wall?
Yes, under certain conditions a safe passage can also be created through a combustible or insulated construction.
However, it is definitely not enough to simply drill a hole and push a hot metal pipe through it.
The penetration must be carried out in such a way as to prevent dangerous heating of the surrounding materials.
Particular attention should be paid to wooden structures, insulation, vapor barriers and other wall layers.
A suitable technical solution for the penetration is used, which meets the requirements of the respective chimney system and the building structure.
Even an insulated chimney does not mean that it can come into direct contact with combustible material without additional measures.
Why does a normal pipe work for a campervan?
“A friend of mine has a pipe in his caravan that goes directly through the wall and then upwards. He’s been heating it like that for years.”
Just because a particular solution seems to work does not mean that it is safe or meets the requirements for a particular building.
A caravan, a mobile home, a garden shed and a detached house can have different construction methods and usage conditions.
It also depends on the type of device, its requirements, and the exhaust path used.
Therefore, it is not possible to automatically transfer the solution for a caravan to a single-family home.
Will the external chimney create a good draft?
If it is properly designed, it can work very well.
However, the chimney draft depends on several factors, such as the height and cross-section of the chimney, the exhaust gas temperature, heat losses and the ambient conditions.
The requirements for the oven itself are also important.
A chimney that is too short or poorly constructed can have insufficient draft. This can lead to difficulties lighting the fire, incomplete combustion, or smoke escaping into the room.
Therefore, it is advisable to consider the chimney when selecting the stove and not only after purchasing it.
Do I need a permit and an inspection for an outdoor fireplace?
Before installation, it is necessary to check which structural requirements apply to the respective building and the planned solution.
The fact that the chimney runs along the facade does not automatically mean that it can be installed without structural formalities.
The extent of the intervention, the type of construction project and the applicable legal regulations are decisive.
Before a new exhaust system is put into operation, it must be inspected by an authorized exhaust system testing technician.
It is not enough to simply install a chimney, connect the oven and test whether it burns well.
So what should I buy if I don’t have a chimney?
First, choose a suitable location for the oven and check whether safe exhaust gas routing is possible.
Subsequently, the technical requirements of the intended furnace, in particular the required chimney draft and the exhaust gas parameters, must be known.
Based on this, a suitable chimney system can be designed, including connections, wall penetrations, height, anchoring and access for cleaning.
Only then does it make sense to select specific components.
What can you take away from this?
You don’t have a chimney? That doesn’t mean you have to do without a wood-burning stove.
In many cases, it is also possible to install an insulated external chimney along the facade.
However, you cannot simply run an ordinary exhaust pipe through a wall and assume that this will create a safe and functional exhaust path.
The chimney must meet the requirements of the stove, the building structure, and the applicable technical and safety regulations.
And above all, it must be tested before being put into operation.
An oven without an original chimney is fine, but an improvised chimney made from a few ordinary pipes is definitely not.