When a heating system generates heat, it also generates a number of byproducts that need to move out of your home (unless it’s an electric system). Smoke, carbon monoxide, and other contaminants need to be contained in the chimney so they can vent away from your home. A chimney is a necessity when you install a wood stove or fireplace, but if you don’t have a chimney already in place, it can still be retrofitted into your home so that you can get all the benefits of a wood-burning comfort system.
What Type of Chimney Is Best?
When it comes to a new wood stove in a home without a chimney already in place, you might have to abandon the idea of the classic fireplace and chimney look. Some things to keep in mind about your wood stove include:
- Sizing
- Positioning
- Type of lining
The size of your chimney is important because it needs to correlate with the sizing of your wood stove. In that sense, it actually makes more sense to size the chimney flue after you purchase the stove.
You might not be able to place the stove and chimney against the wall, as you need some clearance around the stove. Besides, it’s more efficient to center the chimney. Instead, it makes more sense to position your chimney towards the middle of the home, with a chimney or flue that goes straight up and out of the home. The fewer twists and turns in the chimney, the better. You can have only the metal flue, or you can choose a somewhat more traditional masonry look with a metal lining.
You’ll need the help of a chimney expert to figure out the right configuration for your home.
