Expert: James Ball - 10/22/2008

Question
i have a englander 55-SHP22 pellet stove.i want to run it up throu my fireplace.there is 2 flues one is for the fireplace the other is for my oilburning furnace..there was a 3x3 aprox.... stainless steel cap on top that got blown off that i am going to put back on...should i add a piece steel so that it divides the to flues to stop the any chance of the oil burner flue from back drafting into that flue ?  also i have a 4 inch stainless steel flex pipe to run down the fireplace flue to the pellet stove but being the fireplace is located in the middle of the house i need to figure away to run the airintake..don't want to run it down to crawl space (basement) the oilburner heater is there and don't want to have it cause negative presure to that unit. my house was builtaround the 1940's  so id say its not air tight. but there is a airintake for the oil burner in the enteryway near the door going into the living room not all that far from where the pellet stove will be located just outsided the fireplace in the livingroom. could you give me some advice on how i should run the airintake. please reply back to e-mail and share with others

Answer
Hello Dale, lets start with you must follow the manufacturer's installation instructions for that stove., the baffle you want to install in the cap is not a good idea (wind could be directed down the chimney). air intake you might be able to run in the ash trap on the floor of the fireplace (if you have one) if not its time to get creative. Can you run a second liner down the chimney?
hope this helped