What things do I need for a typical woodburner flue installation?

If you're buying a wood-burning stove, your woodburner flue installation will be a key part of the process.

There's a lot more to installing a log burner than simply the stove. To fully enjoy all of the many benefits of a wood-burning stove, you will need to make sure that your flue installation is carried out correctly.

Why is woodburner flue installation so important?

Your woodburner flue installation is just as important as the stove itself. That's because the flue is essential to the stove's operation. The flue:

• Draws air into and through the stove to light and maintain a fire
• Acts as an exhaust for gases produced during the burning process
• Pulls air upwards to stop smoke from coming into the room

This may seem a bit complicated if you’re new to woodburners or have never given much thought to how a stove system works. In this article, we'll explain exactly what you need for a typical woodburner flue installation.

As you'll see, much like a good story, a typical woodburner flue installation needs a start, middle and end. Let’s explore each of those sections in more detail.

Start: Connecting your flue to your stove

At the start of your woodburner flue installation, you need a flue pipe connector. This is a part that connects your flue to the wood-burning stove.

The key consideration here is that your flue pipe connector is the right diameter for your stove’s flue exit and the same diameter as your flue pipe. If it’s not, you’ll need a flue adaptor to make the appropriate connection. See our range of flue pipe connectors.

Middle: The main length of woodburner flue

The middle section of a woodburner flue installation is the run of the flue itself, as well as any load-bearing support needed to keep it in position.

The main body of a typical woodburner flue installation will usually be either an appropriate length of flexible flue liner or sections of twin wall flue.

Flexible flue liner can be easily dropped down a chimney to line the chimney, creating a better draw and a more efficient burn. Twin wall flue is more suitable when the flue system needs to run through flooring or up the outside of a property.

Woodburner flue height and diameter considerations

It's important that your woodburner flue is the correct height and diameter to operate correctly. The woodburner flue needs to be tall enough to draw the air upwards and through the flue system.

If the flue is too short, you might find that the stove:

• Is difficult to light
• Burns inefficienctly
• Allows smoke to seep into the room

The required height depends on the type of stove, the pitch of the roof and other factors. In any circumstances, it should be tall enough to achieve efficient and consistent performance.

For a woodburner to operate properly, the flue must be the correct height and diameter. These factors play a key role in how effectively the stove draws air and removes smoke and gases.

The flue diameter will usually be guided by the diameter of your stove's flue exit. Whenver possible, it is best to maintain a consistent internal diameter across the full length of a woodburner flue.

Unnecessary decreases in flue diameter within the system can restrict airflow and impact the stove's draw. Increases in flue diameter can also reduce the draw and result in poor combustion.

End: The top of your woodburner flue 

The end of your typical woodburner installation – known as the flue terminal – is the fixtures and fittings where your flue meets the outside world.

Usually, this will include:

Cowl

A chimney cowl can serve several purposes at the terminal of your flue system, such as:

• Fixing the top of your flue in place
• Stopping birds from getting into your stove system
• Preventing downdraught that could cause an efficient burn or result in smoke coming into your home
• Keeping rain out of your flue and stove

Different chimney cowls are designed to meet various needs. To find the one that's best for your home, see our range of chimney cowls. 

Flashing

Flashing around the flue terminal helps to seal your roof, ensuring that rainwater can't drip into your home via any gaps around the terminal. Explore roof flashing.

The legal requirements of a woodburner flue installation

In this article, we've focused on the parts and practicalities of a typical woodburner flue installation. It's worth keeping in mind that – like every aspect of your stove installation – the flue must be installed in compliance with the relevant legal requirements.

Woodburner and flue installations in the UK are covered by Approved Document J of the  Building Regulations. This document sets out the rules for installing all solid fuel appliances and flue systems safely.

The regulations cover key aspects of woodburner flue installations, including:

• Minimum flue sizes and heights
• Required distances between flues and combustble materials
• Acceptable ventilation and air supply
• Correct positioning of flue terminals
• Safe discharge of combustion gases

Your woodburner flue installation must meet these requirements. This applies whether you're lining an existing chimney or installing a new twin wall flue system.

Certifying your woodburner flue installation

If your woodburner flue installation is carried out by a professional stove installer, who is registered with a competent person scheme, they will be able to self-certify their work.

This means they will notifiy your local building control office that they have completed the work and that it complies with the Building Regulations.

If you install a woodburner flue yourself or your stove installer is not part of a competent person scheme, you will need to infom that building control office before work begins. They will then inspect and sign-off the installation once it is completed in accordance with the Building Regulations.

Start planning your woodburner flue installation

With a better understanding of what a typical woodburner flue installation requires, you can start deciding what will work best for your home.

If you've still got questions about which parts you need, feel free to get in touch. We'll be happy to talk through the specifics of your flue installation.

If you now have a clear idea of what you need, you'll find a full range of woodburner flue parts in our store.