How to make the right chimney for a potbelly stove with your own hands: step by step instructions

Types of chimney pipes

Various materials are used for the manufacture of a smoke exhaust pipe.

Initially, depending on the material of manufacture, there are 2 options:

1. Take finished pipes manufactured at the factory;
2. Make pipes from stainless steel sheets or other sheet metal.

The cheapest way is to make pipes yourself

Here, the undoubted advantage is that the pipe will be of the desired diameter, which is especially important for home-made stoves

The second advantage of homemade pipes is the cost.For their manufacture, you can use improvised material, or purchase metal sheets with a thickness of 0.6 mm or more. And better in 1 mm.

Elementary assembly option chimney for potbelly stove involves the use of prefabricated steel pipes and a corner element. A smoke channel is assembled from them and welded to a homemade stove:

1. A branch pipe is welded to the top of the stove, built from a used gas cylinder. The inner diameter of the pipe must be equal to the outer diameter of the pipe installed in it
2. According to the design dimensions, a smoke channel is assembled. The assembly uses a 108 mm pipe and an elbow, the components in the example are connected by welding
3. An assembled chimney is installed on the stove-potbelly stove. Through a hole in the wall, connect the outer part of the pipe and weld it to the main

The outer part of the pipe is assembled from separate links, taking into account the standard height. The pipe must be at least 50 cm above the roof, located near tall buildings or trees.

Step 2: Assembling the smoke channel

Step 3: Taking the chimney out of the potbelly stove

Step 4: Construction of the outer part of the pipe

Among the most common materials are the following:

In addition to these options, the market offers many other products. So, you can find pipes made of heat-resistant glass, from which it is quite possible to build an exotic chimney. But this is done extremely rarely - skill is needed to install and connect individual structural elements to each other.

Quite often it happens that the chimney pipe heats up to incredibly high temperatures.

This entails a danger, since the risk of fire increases several times!

In order to minimize it, first of all, you need to isolate all combustible elements nearby.

Next, the insulation is laid around the chimney pipe.

This must be done without fail, because without a high-quality thermal insulation layer around the chimney, you risk your life and health every day.

So, let's look at the main causes of the problem:

• The chimney is made of a single-walled metal pipe without a heat insulator, which is completely unacceptable. It is mandatory to replace single-layer chimney sections with sandwich pipes, or simply supplement them with a heat-insulating layer;
• There may be errors in the design of the sandwich pipe. It should be remembered that this design is installed in such a way that the condensate formed inside cannot get on the outer surface of the chimney.

Pipes for the chimney system can be made by hand or purchased at a specialized store. The main advantage of hand-made pipes is low cost. In addition, it becomes possible to make a pipe of the required diameter, which is perfect for any home-made stove.

For manufacturing, you need a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.6-1 mm. A sheet of metal is folded into a tube and fastened along the seam, using rivets and heat-resistant sealant. However, it is much easier to purchase a finished product. Chimney pipes made of various materials are on the market:

• become;
• bricks;
• ceramics;
• vermiculite;
• asbestos cement.

You should not opt ​​for inexpensive asbestos-cement pipes, since asbestos-cement is not intended for use at temperatures above 300 ° C.A pipe made of this material is very heavy, which will cause inconvenience when assembling the system. In addition, the asbestos-cement product absorbs condensate, due to which the functionality of the chimney may be impaired.

The construction of a brick chimney will entail significant costs. Doing the right laying of a chimney for a potbelly stove with your own hands is very problematic, so you will need to contact specialists. The brick structure has a considerable weight, which will require additional reinforcement of the foundation.

For the device of a potbelly stove, metal pipes made of stainless steel or alloy steel are best suited. Metal products have a number of advantages:

• light weight;
• ease of assembly;
• long service life.

Do-it-yourself chimney connection for a potbelly stove

In order for the heating system to have maximum efficiency, not affect the indoor air quality and be able to work for a long time, it is necessary to think about how to correctly remove combustion waste, namely smoke, to the open air. Installing a chimney is an important part of the installation of a stove-based heating system, but it is quite simple to perform and can be done by hand.

Calculation of a chimney for a potbelly stove

After the potbelly stove is installed and ready for operation, it is necessary to install a chimney that can function properly, keep the 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 bring smoke to fresh air.

In order for the heating system to have the highest efficiency, it is necessary that the stove pipe for the potbelly stove provides sufficient traction.

After the diameter of the pipe for the chimney is 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 outlet of the pipe above the roof should be located according to certain rules:

1. The chimney is located at a distance of up to 1500 millimeters from the roof ridge, which means that the outlet of the pipe should be located at a height of 50 centimeters above the top of the ridge,
2. With a distance to the visor of 150-300 centimeters, the outlet of the pipeline can be placed on the same level with it,
3. If the chimney is located near the edge of the roof, then its outlet should be slightly lower than the ridge, or on 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 exit to the potbelly stove itself - the calculations in each individual case will be different, it all depends on which floor, where in the room and at what height the potbelly stove will be located.

Materials and their quantity

The list of materials required for the construction of the chimney varies depending on which pipe design it is decided to install. If the exit is made directly through the roof, then fewer corner bends will be required.

A standard size chimney will require the following number of pipes:

• 1 knee length 120 cm, diameter 10 cm,
• 2 knees 120 cm long, 16 cm in diameter,
• 3 butt elbows 16*10 cm,
• Tee with a diameter of 16 cm and a plug to it,
• Fungus - 20 cm,
• Sealant.

In addition, for the construction of various chimney designs, other details may be needed: a spill-proof visor, a passage glass, heat-insulating materials.

Do-it-yourself chimney connection for a potbelly stove Connecting a chimney for a potbelly stove with your own hands

Work begins with the preparation of the walls:

1. Behind the potbelly stove and the pipe, along its entire length, the wall must be lined with an asbestos sheet with a thickness of at least 10 mm, covered with a metal screen or other heat-resistant material.

2. Depending on the method of flue gas removal, a hole is made in the wall or ceiling, taking into account that it will need to be further insulated.

3. Wooden walls should be separated from the pipe by a metal box (apron) with a hole in the center.

The minimum diameter of the opening of the duct must be approximately 15 mm larger than the diameter of the chimney. The empty space of the box, which is filled as tightly as possible with refractory material, must separate the structure from the wooden wall with a space of at least 150 mm. If the chimney is removed from the masonry, then a passage glass is usually mounted in the hole.

The chimney is mounted before the ceiling or wall:

1. The lower section (a tee with a hole for condensate removal) is put on a branch pipe with a gasket made of a heat-resistant seal and is fixed with a special clamp to completely prevent gas breakthrough.It should be noted that the pipe at the base must be equipped with a damper to close the chimney at the end of combustion.

2. If the chimney is brought out of the wall, then its next section can be a knee made at the right angle. Thus, the structure is built up to the very overlap.

3. If the chimney passes through the ceiling, it will be necessary to install a straight pipe so that its end is about half a meter from the roof or rises 30-40 cm above the ceiling.

Further work will be carried out either outside the premises or in the attic space:

1. A hole is made in the roof for the chimney, from the side of the attic it is sheathed with a metal panel.

2. Outside, the hole must be carefully waterproofed, for example, with a special block (flash), which is easily laid on the roof of any geometry and attached to it with a sealant.

Assembly preparation

Before you install the stove in the country with a pipe exit through the wall, you need to prepare. For work, overalls and gloves are required. If cutting metal products, it is advisable to wear goggles.

Selection of tools and materials

The following tools are required to complete the job:

• drill, equipment for cutting material;
• heat-resistant sealant;
• riveter;
• clamps, dowels, corners;
• foil construction tape;
• screwdrivers;
• level, plumb;
• knife;
• ladder;
• when working with concrete walls, a puncher is required.

Chimney accessories

Of the materials, a steel pipe is required, with the help of which the horizontal fragment is connected to the boiler.You also need a tee for connecting pipes, an elbow (with its help, the structure goes up), a support console. For fastening products on the wall, brackets and dowels are used. The connection of several pipes is carried out by means of clamps. You also need heat-insulating material, a protective cap.

Choice of accommodation

The house has central and side walls. The second is located on the side of the slopes and under the roof overhangs. Liquid gets into this part during rain (if the drainage system is not fixed). There is a small roof ledge above the central walls, so the risk of liquid getting from the roof is minimal.

It is better to mount the smoke exhaust structure on the front wall. It takes into account that there should not be windows or balconies on it along the line of the chimney. If you have to mount the pipe through the overhang, then a high-quality fire protection is provided.

Choosing a place for the chimney outlet through the wall

Chimney Height Calculation

Since it is possible to correctly bring the chimney through the wall to the street in a wooden house only if the technical requirements are met, the first parameter that is taken into account is the height of the structure. It depends on the height of the building. If the height of the building does not exceed 5 m, then the minimum height of the structure is 5 m. If this value is neglected, the structure will smoke in the house, the draft will deteriorate, and the performance of the heater will decrease.

If the pipe is too long, fuel consumption will increase. With a building height exceeding 10 m, its ridge is considered the main reference point: it should be 0.5 m lower than the chimney. The specified characteristic is affected by the cross-section of pipes and the power of the heating equipment.

Chimney height

Pipe diameter calculation

The internal diameter of the structure must correspond to the dimensions of the branch pipe. Any narrowing of the internal volume of the pipe affects the formation of thrust. The presented value is affected by the power of the equipment: the higher it is, the larger the internal diameter. You need to be guided by standard building rules:

power, kWt	Internal section, cm	Minimum diameter, cm
up to 3.5	14×14	15,8
3,5-5,2	14×20	18,9
5,2-7	14×27	21,9

If we take into account all the technological features of installation, the design will stand for decades without significant problems.

How is the chimney

The chimney has a standard device for most types of potbelly stoves, which are a portable heating system. A pipe with an outlet to the chimney is fixed at the back of the stove. A pipe-type section is attached to this output. The device has collapsible sections that are convenient to replace. The number of sections depends only on the point of exit of combustion products from the room.

For output through a wall or through a ceiling, only two or three sections are required. If the conclusion is made through the roof or the pipe must be stretched through the entire garage, then the number of sections increases significantly. The output, included in the design of the stove, carries out heat exchange and is cut off from the rest of the pipe using a damper or dampers.

Principle of operation

When burning solid fuel, a number of exit products, including smoke, are removed. Fresh air with oxygen enters the stove. To save heat, the device is blocked at the bottom with a damper. This principle of operation is regulated for all small-type heating systems.With the help of smoke removal, combustion does not stop, and the room is cleaned of residual products.

Types and designs

There are several types of device. However, the design is different. Most often, it all depends on the materials that are used for the outlet device. Main types by materials:

• from brick;
• solid pipe;
• segment tubular arrangement.

You can often find mixed options in places with a full-fledged stove installation without further carrying. In such places, solid pipes or brickwork are often used. There is also an option using a metal pipe, which is lined with bricks.

Segment pipes are used in places that need a portable version of the stove, as well as where it is difficult to equip a direct exit.

The chimney itself, according to its design features, can be straight, knee or angular. For the knee option, which is considered one of the warmest, as it retains heat for a longer period, galvanization and ferrous metal are used.

There are also homemade and purchased options of various types. The main requirement will be the implementation of all installation and safety regulations.

Categories of chimneys are divided into several types according to certain characteristics:

• material;
• structural features;
• purchased or homemade option.

The correct choice is regulated only by the combination of the chimney with the stove itself, as well as with the parameters of the room.

What can a chimney be made of?

To use the potbelly stove, you will need to take care of the removal of smoke. To do this, you have to build a chimney, choosing the best material.

To carry out the work, you can invite specialists, or you can do everything on your own - especially since the amount of work is small.

Types of chimney pipes

Various materials are used for the manufacture of a smoke exhaust pipe.

Initially, depending on the material of manufacture, there are 2 options:

1. Take finished pipes manufactured at the factory;
2. Make pipes from stainless steel sheets or other sheet metal.

The cheapest way is to make pipes yourself

Here, the undoubted advantage is that the pipe will be of the desired diameter, which is especially important for home-made stoves

The second advantage of homemade pipes is the cost. For their manufacture, you can use improvised material, or purchase metal sheets with a thickness of 0.6 mm or more. And better in 1 mm.

Moreover, it is possible to make an insulated pipe for the chimney by making 2 pipes of various diameters from sheets. Or take ready-made metal of different diameters. In addition to self-manufacturing chimney pipes, you can stop at a simpler and faster option - buy finished pipes from the right material.

An elementary option for assembling a chimney for a potbelly stove involves the use of finished steel pipes and a corner element. A smoke channel is assembled from them and welded to a homemade stove:

Among the most common materials are the following:

In addition to these options, the market offers many other products. So, you can find pipes made of heat-resistant glass, from which it is quite possible to build an exotic chimney. But this is done extremely rarely - skill is needed to install and connect individual structural elements to each other.

Recommendations for choosing a pipe for a potbelly stove

To make a chimney for a potbelly stove, it is not necessary to build pipes from metal sheets with your own hands. This will require some skill and time.

After all, the sheets will first need to be rolled into a tube of the desired diameter, and then tightly fasten the seam using rivets and heat-resistant sealant. It is much easier and faster to buy the right products produced at the factory.

As for the material, it is not worth taking cheap asbestos-cement pipes for these purposes - this material will not withstand if the temperature during the furnace rises above 300 degrees Celsius. And the pipe itself is quite heavy.

It will also absorb condensation. And making a hole for cleaning soot or removing condensate will be problematic.

To make a chimney for a potbelly stove out of brick is an unreasonably high expense. Firstly, rarely any of the home masters knows how to do the right masonry. And secondly, it is a bulky structure that requires additional strengthening of the foundation. A potbelly stove is a temporary heating equipment.

A metallized corrugation can serve as a temporary substitute for a stationary metal pipe, however, for permanent use it must be replaced with a metal pipe:

Tools

You will only need cutting tools: a grinder, a jigsaw, a knife. All work is carried out manually and does not require special devices.

Mounting diagram

There are several types of chimneys, the most suitable type of construction is selected on an individual basis.

Mounting methods

It is important to take into account the collection of condensate in the system, therefore, it is necessary to have a plug, a condensate trap and a container for collecting condensate.If the potbelly stove is installed through the wall from the pipeline located on the street, then it would be advisable to bring the chimney through the window so that you do not have to prepare a hole for the pipeline in the ceiling

If the potbelly stove is installed through the wall from the pipeline located on the street, then it would be advisable to bring the chimney through the 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 with thermal insulation, covered with a 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 for a potbelly stove is most often installed in such a way that it passes through the ceiling, therefore, before starting the installation 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 passing a glass into it for elbow of the internal chimney.

Example of a hole for a chimney pipe

Passing 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 chosen according to the diameter of the inner pipe, although sometimes the joint is made before the passage of the chimney through the ceiling

It should be understood that it is important to firmly fix the glass - it serves as a fixative. But besides it, the pipeline must also be attached to the surface of the wall

Improper installation can result in

If there are flammable materials, insulation or wooden parts in the ceiling, then they must be removed so that they do not come into contact with the through-hole glass.

After the pipe has been inserted, the whole thing must be sealed with refractory material, such as heat-resistant sealant or special refractory wool.

The following stages of work in the photo:

Sealing

Conclusion of the pipe to the roof

Roof work

At the last stage, you need to put a deflector on the pipe

Work Tips

• The pipes used in the construction are located exclusively in a vertical position; for their fixation, it is best to use special brackets, with dimensions corresponding to the knees of the system. In order to save money, you can make brackets yourself using a metal corner.
• All connections must be treated with a sealant so that there are no holes through which smoke can escape into the air of the room. There is a large selection of sealants on the market that are suitable for sealing the seams of the pipeline for smoke exit:

1. High temperature sealants;
2. Heat-resistant sealants;
3. heat-resistant sealants;
4. Heat resistant sealants;

High-temperature and heat-resistant sealants are used to seal places 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 withstand enormous temperatures, up to 1500 degrees Celsius - they are the most suitable choice for a potbelly chimney.

Connecting the chimney to the potbelly stove

The chimney coming out of the potbelly stove, called internal, is joined to the street, external pipeline, in the attic or in the under-roofing part of the roof. The beginning of the internal chimney is a segment coming out of the stove pipe, which is joined by an elbow to the ceiling.

When installing an internal chimney, it is important to correctly connect the pipe to the potbelly stove nozzle - because if this is done incorrectly, smoke may escape into the room air, which will make it impossible for the heating system to function properly. Expert opinion

Expert opinion

Pavel Kruglov

Baker 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 stove

Features of the care of the chimney

The presence of any of these defects should be a signal for the immediate replacement of the damaged section of the chimney. Left unattended, sooner or later it will turn into a source of danger for the residents of the house. In the best case, smoke will seep through the cracks, in the worst case, the burned-out pipeline may simply collapse.

It is equally important to take care of the inner surface of the chimney, on which soot and ash will invariably accumulate during operation. The presence of a thick layer of soot can have several negative consequences at once:

• The traction is reduced.
• The normal smoke removal is deteriorating.
• The design of the chimney is heavier.

Ordinary aspen firewood has almost the same effect. It is desirable that the aspen smolder a little, and not burn out quickly.

We invite you to familiarize yourself: Sealing a pipe on a corrugated roof: how to seal a chimney, sealing, finishing a chimney, how to seal

In structures equipped with additional elements, it will be enough just to cover the blower.

But traditional cleaning methods (metal brush, core, ruff, high temperatures) will not work here, since thin iron may simply not withstand it.

Chimney Requirements

You can mount a metal chimney for a stove with your own hands, the main thing is to do it right, otherwise, due to incorrect calculations, the load on the heating system will increase, the room will smoke, etc.

We have previously written about chimney materials and recommended bookmarking the article.

The first thing you should pay attention to when buying a chimney is its shape. Masters recommend the use of cylindrical pipes, they are better than others for the removal of exhaust gases and smoke. Most often, steel pipes are used to equip the chimney of the furnace.

Compared to a brick chimney, they are much easier to lay.

Most often, steel pipes are used to equip the chimney of the furnace. Compared to a brick chimney, they are much easier to lay.

The size of the chimney directly depends on the size of the heating structure (stove). To correctly determine the height of the structure, you need to seek help from documents on building codes. Errors in the calculations lead to a decrease in traction and the appearance of traces of soot in the room. In order not to be mistaken with the diameter and length of the pipes, you can use a suitable ready-made project with dimensions from the Internet.

The table shows the recommended dimensions of the furnace in centimeters for a chimney height of 5-10 meters

Basic requirements for metal chimneys:

• Pipes must be well insulated.
• Before installing the chimney, you need to make the right calculations and prepare a project.

We advise you to study the material on installing a heat exchanger on a chimney with your own hands on our website.

Compliance with these rules will allow the chimney to function without such consequences as smoke in the room, soot settling, carbon monoxide, etc.

Parts for a metal chimney (pipes, elbow, tees, fittings, etc.) can be purchased from specialized stores. If there are no skills in the construction business, you can always turn to professionals.

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Special requirements for the installation and operation of chimneys in garages are associated with the need to ensure fire safety.

When connecting and testing the chimney of a garage potbelly stove, pay attention to the following points:

1. Effective functioning of natural ventilation or the presence of a forced air supply system in the garage room. This is necessary for uninterrupted combustion of fuel in a potbelly stove, for the combustion of which air must enter the furnace through an ajar blower.
2. The absence of objects prone to ignition near the chimney and the body of the heating device. The possibility of ignition as a result of an increase in temperature during testing and further operation of the furnace should be excluded.
3. Location of storage areas for flammable liquids, fuels and oils. They should be at a sufficient distance from the stove-potbelly stove.