Sizes of Stove Vents

Common Range Size

• Stoves for kitchens require what is known as range hoods to help collect the smoke and funnel it out and away from the kitchen. The range is attached to a vent, with the most common size being 7 inches. Many ranges can go as low as 5-inch pipes for the vents, but the most common used in the average home is the 7-inch vent pipe. This provides sufficient flow to remove any cooking fumes and/or smoke.

Common Wood-Stove Size

• Wood-stove pipe vents have been used for years, long before the gas furnace came into play, and the sizes have varied over the years between 6 and 8 inches. For the most part, 8-inch vent pipe is the most common as it provides sufficient air flow for the smoke from a wood stove to vent through the pipes or into a chimney, if the house has one. Flex pipes or solid pipes can be used.

Pellet Stoves

• Since pellet stoves do not create as much smoke as a wood-burning stove due to the type of fuel consumed, an 8-inch vent pipe would be overkill. Instead, a much smaller pipe can be used for the average pellet stove. These vent pipes range in size between 3 and 4 inches; many installers prefer using the 4-inch pipe since it has a little extra room for air flow in comparison to the 3-inch pipe.

Manufacturer Recommendations

• Regardless of preference, you must use the manufacturer's recommendation to maintain warranty on the product. If you use a vent that is too small according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, you will not only void any warranty that is associated with the product, but also the installation. In addition, you will not be able to insure your house against fire damages from the stove in question since it was not installed according to the proper specifications.