Without looking I think the code says two feet higher than any part of the roof or building within ten feet.

Some chimneys now days are 100 yrs old and the original flashing just ain't gonna last. Thank God for modern power tools!

2 ft above the ten foot parallel

You can recover more heat from a horizontal run of pipe than a vertical run, but it will not draft as good. It kind of becomes a balance of your damper for draft or holding heat.

If I remember correctly, NFPA 211 states you need to be three feet above the peak if you pass through the peak or two feet above anything within a ten foot plain. That's national code, local code can be more stringent.

An outside chimney is cold to start with and does not draw so well when starting a fire. Because colder than an inside one an outside chimney promotes more creosote accumulation also. Inside chimney heats ur house better too all the way up with that warm chimney.

Have had both and inside wins. Put ur top 2' higher than the house ridge line to draw better.

So does it have to go higher than the peak if u go out the side wall?

Yes. Drafting properly is very important. As most stated , 2-3 feet is code , but a little taller is better. More draft , less chance of back drafting when you get high winds.




I seen this cobbled together setup in a house I was working in. They must have had a drafting issue. Not recommended IMO.

Not necessarily. By code it should be two feet higher than any part of the roof or building within ten feet on a horizontal plane.

I have had both and prefer through the roof. I had a custom stainless flashing made at a local sheet metal shop. No leaks, no bends to slow the flow or clog, easy to clean, and I have high ceilings so cheaper less tripple wall, and it the hot pipe heats inside instead of outside.


I still own the house with through the roof but at the farm I went with option 3. Outdoor wood fired boiler. I burn a lot more wood but no mess, smoke, or fire /safety hazard in the house. Very little splitting and a lot less cutting to length with the 2 foot by 2 foot door and 36 x48 inche for box. It also heats my domestic hot water saving around $250 in electricity a year. O and unlimited hot water. Nice and toasty even if your 5th in line to get a shower. It is also large enough to heat a 30x40 shop if I get one built.

It was expensive up front but the old farm house had limited options and those had high expenses to put in a wood stove. It's old draft and after 4 years of what my propane cost would have been the outdoor wood stove will have paied for its self.

Sometimes weather conditions makes it very hard to get a draft going. I've had to open windows, doors, and even put an electric heater inside the stove to warm the pipe up to get a draft started.