Expert: Steve Tavares - 10/10/2009

Question
We have a Timberline free standing stove, built into the house, with a fireplace above.  Four years ago we had new pipe installed on the stove, and it leaks when it rains. Is there a certain way the pipe needs to be installed?  It looks like the collar on top of the stove accepts the larger end of the pipe, at least that is the way it is installed.  This results in the stove pipe being installed with the smaller end on the inside as you go up.  To me, this means as water enters the pipe and flows downward, it sets up a situation where water will naturally seek a place to leak.  When it was installed, it looks like the stove man, placed the first two pieces upside down and then from there on switched them around, making it look OK from there up to the collar at the top. Hope I am explaining it right.  What do you think??  Thanks, Ricky

Answer
A picture would sure help me out. If you can do me a favor and snap a couple of shots of the whole setup, and the pipe itself (smaller and larger end) and email to me at:  fireplaceandstoveman@gmail.com

also I would suggest a WETT certified person to come in there and inspect everything to make sure this is correct. By the sounds of this it, something doesn't seem right.

Thanks.