My efforts at frugal living

[Kaleva]

16. I have an illegal (according to code) setup as far as the woodstove is concerned.

Last edited Tue Sep 11, 2012, 09:13 PM - Edit history (1)

My gas water heater is vented into the same chimney as the woodstove would be. I currently don't have a flue from the woodstove to the chimney.

Insurance companies will cancel one's fire insurance if they do find such a setup and it's also a violation of code.

So I'll be only using the woodstove on the very coldest days and I'll be removing the flue pipe and reinstalling the cap in the chimney opening when I'm not using the woodstove.

But for those who can and do burn wood during the winter, you're suggestion is an excellent one.

Edit: For me to use the woodstove, I have to shut off the gas water heater, remove the 3" flue and cap the hole in the chimney with a 3" cap I already have on hand and then hook up the flue from the woodstove to the chimney. When I'm done burning wood and/or need hot water, I have to let the fire die out completely, remove the 6" flue pipe and cap the 6" opening in the chimney and then reattach the 3" flue from the water heater to the chimney. The insurance company doesn't care if I use the same chimney for venting the woodstove and gas appliance just as long as both are not done so at the same time.