So, this is my first pellet stove, just bought an Englander PDV-25 on homedepot.com for $1000. I literally ordered it on the hottest day of the year. Consequently, I paid about 1/2 of what it seems to retail in the heating season. Anyways, the pellet stove arrived a few days ago, and while I was marveling at it's aesthetically pleasing form, I noticed up in the corner of my basement was... no way... venting pipe stuck through the wall with a gass line capped off right next to it. That part of the walk-out basement was part of an addition from the previous owners for a wrestling room, and apparently had a gas heater in there. Anyways, the vent pipe is 4" double walled pipe, and is vented straight through the wall, only about a 3 foot horizontal run, and capped at the outside, almost flush with the exterior wall. There is also a 90 degree elbow on the inside where it would have connected to the heater.
Keep in mind, I know nothing about wood stoves of any kind, chimneys, venting requirements, or drafts. The manufacturer recommends a 4-foot (I believe??) vertical run somewhere in the exhaust. How important is this to the proper function of the stove? Could I successfully buy a 3" to 4" adapter and reuse this 4" venting, or is it not recommended? Is there ANY way to reuse any of this piping to save myself some $$$, or is it not recommended to use 4" until you have 15' vertical runs, or are above so many thousand feet from sea level (which I am not- I live in Bear Valley, Wisconsin) like the manufacturer suggests? Am I looking at drafting issues and unnecessary heat loss by setting it up this way? My whole purpose is to save money on my propane bill (1300 gallons last year), so I'm looking for the best efficiency possible. Thanks in advance, and please keep in mind, I'm asking because I just DON'T KNOW.
Keep in mind, I know nothing about wood stoves of any kind, chimneys, venting requirements, or drafts. The manufacturer recommends a 4-foot (I believe??) vertical run somewhere in the exhaust. How important is this to the proper function of the stove? Could I successfully buy a 3" to 4" adapter and reuse this 4" venting, or is it not recommended? Is there ANY way to reuse any of this piping to save myself some $$$, or is it not recommended to use 4" until you have 15' vertical runs, or are above so many thousand feet from sea level (which I am not- I live in Bear Valley, Wisconsin) like the manufacturer suggests? Am I looking at drafting issues and unnecessary heat loss by setting it up this way? My whole purpose is to save money on my propane bill (1300 gallons last year), so I'm looking for the best efficiency possible. Thanks in advance, and please keep in mind, I'm asking because I just DON'T KNOW.