Pellet Vent Parts Checklist: Every Part You Need

A pellet vent order is a list of small parts, and missing one of them can stop an install halfway through. The pipe is the easy part. The tees, wall and ceiling pass-throughs, flashings and caps are what get forgotten, and a forgotten firestop or storm collar is usually something an inspector picks up.

This is the checklist we use when we put a pellet vent order together. Work through it in order, from the stove outward, and tick off each part your run needs. Every part listed is from our Ventis PelletVent range, so the whole run stays within one listed system. If you are still budgeting, our guide to what pellet stove venting costs prices four complete installs.

Before you start: four things to confirm

• Your stove's installation manual. It sets the vent diameter, the maximum equivalent vent length and where the termination is allowed to go. Everything below follows from it.
• 3-inch or 4-inch. Add up your equivalent vent length, including elbows and tees, and compare it with the manual's 3-inch limit. Our venting guide explains how.
• The route. Straight out the wall, out the wall and up, or up through the ceiling and roof. Sketch it, and count every wall, ceiling and roof the pipe passes through.
• Your stove's outlet. Most pellet stoves have a standard 3-inch outlet. Some Harman models need a dedicated collar adaptor.

1. At the stove

• Stove adaptor or adaptor tee. This connects the vent to the stove outlet. A stove adaptor tee (VP-SAT03) combines the adaptor and a clean-out tee in one part. If you are stepping up to 4-inch pipe, use the 4-inch to 3-inch adaptor tee (VP-SAT43). For a plain connection, there is the stove adaptor (VP-SA03).
• Harman collar adaptor (Harman stoves only). Check your model's manual for the Harman stove adaptor (VP-SA03HARM) or Harman collar adaptor (VP-HARM2).
• Fresh air intake, if required. Tight homes and mobile homes usually need outside combustion air. The fresh air intake kit (FAI-3) runs it to the stove.

2. Tees and clean-outs

• Tee with clean-out cap. Fly ash settles at the bottom of every change in direction, and the clean-out cap is how you empty it each season. If you did not use an adaptor tee at the stove, add a tee with cap (VP-T03) where the run turns upward.
• A second tee for an outside rise. On a wall exit that turns up the outside of the house, the outside turn needs its own tee with cap.

3. Pipe and elbows

• Straight pipe. Lengths run from 6 to 48 inches, for example the 36-inch (VP-0336) and 48-inch (VP-0348). Measure each section of the run and choose the fewest lengths that cover it.
• Slip section. An adjustable slip section (VP-0306SL) fills an awkward gap between fixed lengths without cutting pipe.
• Elbows. Use 45-degree (VP-EL0345) or 90-degree (VP-EL0390) elbows as the route needs. Each one adds to your equivalent vent length, so use as few as you can.
• Black or galvanized. Black pipe is for the visible section indoors. Galvanized is fine everywhere else and costs less.

4. Through the wall

• Wall pass-thru. Every exterior wall penetration needs a listed wall pass-thru (VP-WPT03) to keep the required clearance to the framing.
• Wall pass-thru with fresh air intake. If you need outside air as well, the combined pass-thru (VP-WPTA032) handles exhaust and intake in one wall opening.
• Wall supports. Any pipe running up an outside wall needs a wall support (VP-WS03) at the base, and straps along its height at the spacing your manual gives.

5. Through the ceiling and attic

• Firestop. Each ceiling or floor the pipe passes through needs a firestop (VP-FS03). Two floors means two firestops.
• Ceiling support. A square ceiling support (VP-CSS03) carries the weight of the pipe above it on longer vertical runs.
• Attic insulation shield. Where the pipe passes through an insulated attic, a shield keeps insulation away from the pipe. In 4-inch, that's the VP-AIS04.

6. Through the roof

• Roof flashing to match your pitch. Choose 0/12 to 6/12 (VP-F0306), 6/12 to 12/12 (VP-F0312) or flat roof (VP-F03F).
• Storm collar. The storm collar (VP-SC03) sits above the flashing and sheds rain off the joint. It is one of the most commonly forgotten parts.
• Roof support or brace. Taller sections above the roofline need a roof support (VP-RS03) or an adjustable roof brace (VP-RB03).

7. The termination cap

• Horizontal cap for a straight wall exit: the horizontal rain cap (VP-HC03).
• Vertical cap for a roof or outside-rise termination: the vertical rain cap (VP-VC03), or the jet cap (VP-JC03) where the manual allows it.
• Clearances. Check the manual's minimum distances from windows, doors, air intakes, decks, corners and the ground before you fix the cap position.

8. Using an existing chimney

• Masonry chimney. A masonry adaptor (VP-MA036) makes the transition at the fireplace opening. The pellet vent or an approved liner must then run the full height of the flue to a cap. Have the chimney inspected first.
• Existing Class A chimney. A Class A adaptor (VP-CA036) connects pellet vent into a 6-inch Class A system.

9. Things not in the box

• High-temperature silicone, if your stove or vent manual calls for sealing the joints
• Exterior-grade sealant for the wall pass-thru and flashing
• Screws suitable for metal-to-metal joints and for fixing supports to framing
• A non-combustible floor protection pad, if the stove's manual requires one
• A permit, where your local authority requires one

The most commonly forgotten parts

• The tee with clean-out cap
• The storm collar on a roof termination
• A firestop for every ceiling, not just the first
• Wall straps on an outside rise
• Fresh air intake in a tight or mobile home

REMEMBER

Your local authority having jurisdiction may enforce building codes that differ from the manufacturer's instructions. Follow your stove's installation manual for vent size, length, clearances and termination location, and use a qualified installer for any work you are not comfortable doing yourself.

Send us your stove model and a sketch or photos of the vent route, and we will build the parts list and check it against the manual before you order. Browse the full range of pellet vent pipe and components.

By Matthew Murphy