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Community and Q&A

Should I insulate combustion air inlet pipe for wood stove?

Wayne M| Posted inEnergy Efficiency and Durabilityon

I have a wood stove with a combustion air intake the runs down through the floor from the rear of the stove, then ~8′ along the interior wall of the basement before poking out of the exterior wall.

Should I bother wrapping this combustion air intake with insulation before finishing the basement? Just seems like a good idea. I was planning to use simple foil backed insulation to wrap around the pipe as it’s not hot.

Our home is oriented almost directly N, S, E, W, with the stove in just about the center of the west wall so the combustion air intake runs N from the stove.

The chimney runs straight up through the 2nd floor with a slight jog to clear trusses and then exits the roof near the peak.

The stove runs fine, no problems with backdrafting or anything, even when the wind is thrashing the exposed west side of the home.

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Akos||#1

    You definitely need to wrap the pipe. The air in that pipe will be cold coming into the house, without insulation it will sweat. Make sure you air seal the insulation as well, it needs to be air tight.

    Might be simpler to pull the pipe apart and slide a flex pipe insulation sock over it.

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