Osburn 1600 Installation and Operation Manual
36 ______________________________________________________________________________
8
THE VENTING SYSTEM
8.1
GENERAL
The venting system, made up of the chimney and the connecting pipe between the stove and the
chimney, acts as the engine that drives your wood heating system. Even the best stove will not
function safely and efficiently as intended if it is not connected to a suitable chimney.
The heat in the flue gases that pass from the stove and chimney connector into the chimney is not
waste heat. This heat is what the chimney uses to make the draft that draws in combustion air,
keeps smoke inside the stove and safely vents exhaust to outside. You can think of heat in the flue
gas as the fuel the chimney uses to make draft.
8.2
SUITABLE CHIMNEYS
Your wood stove will provide optimum efficiency and performance when connected to a 6-inch
diameter chimney flue system. The connection to a chimney having a diameter of at least 5 inches
(Canada only) or no more than 7 inches is permitted, if it allows the proper venting of combustion
gases and that such application is verified and authorized by a qualified installer. Otherwise, the
diameter of the flue should be 6 inches.
To be suitable, a factory-built metal
chimney must comply with UL 103 HT
(U.S.A.) or ULC S629 (Canada).
8.2.1
FACTORY-BUILT METAL CHIMNEYS
These are sometimes referred to as ‘high
temp’ chimneys because they have the
special characteristics to withstand the
temperatures that can be created by wood
burning stoves. Factory-built chimneys are
tested as a system with all the necessary
components
for
installation.
The
instructions provided with the chimney by
its manufacturer are the only reliable
source of installation guidelines. To be safe
and effective, the chimney must be
installed exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Use only
components intended for the brand and
model of chimney you are using. Never
substitute parts from other chimney
brands
or
fabricate
your
own
components. The chimney must be a type
suitable for solid fuel.
