Do Pellet Stoves Need a Chimney?

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How are pellet stove flues installed?

If you don’t have a traditional class 1 chimney in your home, then there are two main ways that you can install a pellet stove: 

1. Against an external wall of your home, with a flue passing through the wall and vertically up the side of your house.
2. Against an internal wall of your home, with a flue passing up through the roof of your home.

1. External wall pellet stove flue installation

Required flue type: twin wall flue system

An external wall flue installation begins by connecting the flue to the flue socket on the back of the stove. 

Once connected to the flue socket, the flue system travels horizontally through an external wall of your home. After it has exited your home, the flue system will feature an elbow. This elbow changes the angle of the flue, running it vertically up the exterior wall of your home.

The flue outlet will stop once it reaches a specific distance above the roofline (this distance is determined by the Building Regulations and local planning rules).

2. Internal wall pellet stove flue installation

Required flue type: twin wall flue system

The second way in which you can install a pellet stove is by running the flue up the inside of your home. The flue will pass through the floors of your home as well as the roof. 

Because of this, you will need to ensure you use a twin-wall flue. This is a special type of flue which features extra insulation. This means the outside of the flue doesn’t get too hot and potentially damage the surfaces it is passing near. 

Where the flue passes through a floor or the roof, you will need to ensure there is sufficient ‘distance to combustibles’. This effectively means you need to leave enough of a gap between the outer surface of the flue, and the surface it is passing through. The Building Regulations set out the distances required in specific scenarios. 

Power up!

An important thing to remember - and one that’s all too easy to overlook - is that pellet stoves require an electricity supply to work. 

So, when you’re considering installation locations for your stove, be sure to choose somewhere that has a plug socket within easy reach of the stove.

Important installation note about pellet stoves flues

It’s important to note that the Building Regulations apply to the installation of pellet stove flues. These stipulate things like the distance that the flue extends above the roofline.

Please refer directly to the Building Regulations or speak to your local authority to determine the exact rules and requirements that apply to your flue installation.

Professional installation of pellet stoves

As you’ve probably gathered, there’s quite a bit to understand when it comes to installing a pellet stove in a home without a chimney.

Most importantly, you need to ensure that the installation complies with the Building Regulations and applicable local planning guidance. 

With this in mind, it can be easier to pay a professional to install the pellet stove on your behalf. They will know exactly what’s required to ensure the installation is compliant and safe.

If you want to go down this route, then look for a HETAS-qualified installer. 

HETAS - which stands for Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme - is a national not-for-profit organisation which maintains a register of qualified, approved stove installers. 

Tip - you can find your local HETAS-qualified stove installer using HETAS’ finder tool.

Can you put a pellet stove in a fireplace? 

Yes, you can install a pellet stove in a fireplace, however it’s essential that you have a fully functioning chimney. 

Aside from ensuring the pellet stove is securely positioned within the fireplace, you’ll also need to use a flexible metal flue liner. This will stretch from the very top of the chimney down to the pellet stove. 

The image below shows how this setup works - with the pellet stove sitting within the fireplace, and the flue liner allowing gases from the stove to vent up and out of the chimney. 

Depending on the exact model pellet stove you buy, you may need to buy some adapters in order to connect the liner to the stove. 

The best pellet stoves UK

Whether you’re going to be installing a pellet stove in a home with or without a chimney, you’ll want to buy the very best value, high-quality pellet stove you can find. 

Those are exactly the kinds of pellet stoves we sell here at Direct Stoves. We stock leading brands including La Nordica, Duroflame, and Island Stoves. 

Below, you’ll find some of our most popular pellet stoves from these brands. 

La Nordica Serafina Lux Evo Pellet Stove

Shop Now

Italy’s La Nordica has been producing stoves since 1968, continually innovating and introducing new features to the world of home heating. 

La Nordica first started producing pellet stoves twenty years ago, and since then have become one of the ‘go-to’ brands for people looking for highly-efficient, eco-friendly, easy-to-use pellet stoves. 

The Serafina Lux Evo is a great example of La Nordica’s attention to detail and commitment to innovation.

With a nominal heat output of 2.4kW to 7.1kW, the Serafina Lux Evo provides enough warmth to keep medium to larger rooms (up to 203 m³) feeling comfortably warm. It’s also extremely clean burning, producing almost no wood smoke, with an A+ energy rating.

This stove can also be specified with an optional Wi-Fi module - which allows you to control the Serafina Lux Evo using your smartphone. 

But, despite all of this innovative tech, the Serafina Lux Evo also features a traditional ‘Majolica’ covering which features fine rustic-style detailing.

Island Lundy 5kW Conventional Flue EcoDesign Pellet Stove

Shop Now

Island Stoves is a British brand which began with the aim of creating pellet stoves that would recreate the feeling of a traditional log burner, but with the efficiency, ease-of-use and cleanliness of pellet stoves.

The Lundy is the result of this aim; a pellet stove that provides plenty of heat, without the noisy fans which have been traditionally associated with pellet stoves. 

Its 5W heat output and 82% efficiency rate means that the Lundy will be able to provide plenty of heat for small to medium-sized rooms, without using loads of wood pellets. 

This is also a very clean burning stove, being DEFRA-approved for use in smoke control areas (such as towns and cities), as well as being EcoDesign compliant - meaning it has minimal environmental impact.

With lever operated grate cleaning, the Lundy is not only easy-to-use, but easy to clean too. 

The Lundy can be purchased with a series of optional extras including a tube brush, leather hearth mat, and pellet scuttle. It’s also possible to buy an additional ‘stove bench’ which elevates the stove off the floor (as indicated by the orange rectangle in the picture above). 

Duroflame Carre Pellet Stove

Shop Now

The Netherlands-based Duroflame may be a relatively new name to the world of stoves - having been established in only 2014 - but the brand has already made a big impact. 

That’s largely thanks to the level of design detail that is poured into the pellet stoves by founder Aldrik Sebens. 

Mimicking the design of traditional log burners, Duroflame stoves, like the Carre featured here, combine traditional aesthetics with 21st century heating technology. 

The Carre is a prime example of this heating technology in action, with an incredible efficiency rate of 95.4% and an A+ energy rating.

This efficiency is achieved in near silence, too, with the Carre not requiring a noisy convection fan. It also has a ‘silent shut down’ feature. 

Plus, thanks to its vermiculite-lined combustion chamber and ceramic glow plug, the Carre heats up far more quickly than equivalent pellet stoves - ideal for those chilly days! What’s more, with a 6.1kW heat output, the Carre produces more than enough heat for medium-sized rooms. 

Pellet stove installation advice

If you’re looking at one of our pellet stoves, and you’re not sure if it will be suitable for your home, then our video survey service can help.

Our video survey service allows you to speak to one of our stove experts and show them the room in which you’d like to install your desired stove. They can then advise on whether your choice is suitable or not. 

To arrange a video survey, please call our sales team on 0161 376 4191.

The home of pellet stoves online

Got your heart set on a pellet stove? Then buy one from Direct Stoves. 

Not only do we have one of the largest ranges of premium pellet stoves online, but we also offer FREE mainland UK delivery, and 14-day no hassle returns.

To help you spread the cost of your new pellet stove, we offer a range of finance options, including 0% interest over 12 months. 

Buy the pellet stove of your dreams with Direct Stoves today. 

Shop our pellet stoves range now

For more stove buying guides, information and advice, read the Direct Stoves blog…

Pellet Stove Buying Guide | Log Burner or Pellet Stove: Which Is Best for Your Home? | How Do Pellet Stoves Work?

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If you want a wood-burning appliance, but don’t want the hassle of having to light fires and chop firewood, a pellet stove is a fantastic option. However, one of the most common questions people have about pellet stoves is whether or not they require a chimney. Keep reading and the Direct Stoves team will provide the answer…

The answer

Let’s get straight to the point - do pellet stoves require a chimney? 

No. 

Unlike other wood-burning appliances like stoves, pellet stoves do not require a traditional chimney. 

There is an important caveat to this, though.

They do still need to vent the very small amounts of smoke and other gases that are generated when the pellets within the stove are burned. 

Pellet stoves do this via what’s called a flue. This is a type of prefabricated metal chimney which is usually assembled from multiple components. This flue will connect to a flue socket located on the rear of the stove.

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How are pellet stove flues installed?

If you don’t have a traditional class 1 chimney in your home, then there are two main ways that you can install a pellet stove: 

1. Against an external wall of your home, with a flue passing through the wall and vertically up the side of your house.
2. Against an internal wall of your home, with a flue passing up through the roof of your home.

1. External wall pellet stove flue installation

Required flue type: twin wall flue system

An external wall flue installation begins by connecting the flue to the flue socket on the back of the stove. 

Once connected to the flue socket, the flue system travels horizontally through an external wall of your home. After it has exited your home, the flue system will feature an elbow. This elbow changes the angle of the flue, running it vertically up the exterior wall of your home.

The flue outlet will stop once it reaches a specific distance above the roofline (this distance is determined by the Building Regulations and local planning rules).

2. Internal wall pellet stove flue installation

Required flue type: twin wall flue system

The second way in which you can install a pellet stove is by running the flue up the inside of your home. The flue will pass through the floors of your home as well as the roof. 

Because of this, you will need to ensure you use a twin-wall flue. This is a special type of flue which features extra insulation. This means the outside of the flue doesn’t get too hot and potentially damage the surfaces it is passing near. 

Where the flue passes through a floor or the roof, you will need to ensure there is sufficient ‘distance to combustibles’. This effectively means you need to leave enough of a gap between the outer surface of the flue, and the surface it is passing through. The Building Regulations set out the distances required in specific scenarios. 

Power up!

An important thing to remember - and one that’s all too easy to overlook - is that pellet stoves require an electricity supply to work. 

So, when you’re considering installation locations for your stove, be sure to choose somewhere that has a plug socket within easy reach of the stove.

Important installation note about pellet stoves flues

It’s important to note that the Building Regulations apply to the installation of pellet stove flues. These stipulate things like the distance that the flue extends above the roofline.

Please refer directly to the Building Regulations or speak to your local authority to determine the exact rules and requirements that apply to your flue installation.

Professional installation of pellet stoves

As you’ve probably gathered, there’s quite a bit to understand when it comes to installing a pellet stove in a home without a chimney.

Most importantly, you need to ensure that the installation complies with the Building Regulations and applicable local planning guidance. 

With this in mind, it can be easier to pay a professional to install the pellet stove on your behalf. They will know exactly what’s required to ensure the installation is compliant and safe.

If you want to go down this route, then look for a HETAS-qualified installer. 

HETAS - which stands for Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme - is a national not-for-profit organisation which maintains a register of qualified, approved stove installers. 

Tip - you can find your local HETAS-qualified stove installer using HETAS’ finder tool.

Can you put a pellet stove in a fireplace? 

Yes, you can install a pellet stove in a fireplace, however it’s essential that you have a fully functioning chimney. 

Aside from ensuring the pellet stove is securely positioned within the fireplace, you’ll also need to use a flexible metal flue liner. This will stretch from the very top of the chimney down to the pellet stove. 

The image below shows how this setup works - with the pellet stove sitting within the fireplace, and the flue liner allowing gases from the stove to vent up and out of the chimney. 

Depending on the exact model pellet stove you buy, you may need to buy some adapters in order to connect the liner to the stove. 

The best pellet stoves UK

Whether you’re going to be installing a pellet stove in a home with or without a chimney, you’ll want to buy the very best value, high-quality pellet stove you can find. 

Those are exactly the kinds of pellet stoves we sell here at Direct Stoves. We stock leading brands including La Nordica, Duroflame, and Island Stoves. 

Below, you’ll find some of our most popular pellet stoves from these brands. 

La Nordica Serafina Lux Evo Pellet Stove

Shop Now

Italy’s La Nordica has been producing stoves since 1968, continually innovating and introducing new features to the world of home heating. 

La Nordica first started producing pellet stoves twenty years ago, and since then have become one of the ‘go-to’ brands for people looking for highly-efficient, eco-friendly, easy-to-use pellet stoves. 

The Serafina Lux Evo is a great example of La Nordica’s attention to detail and commitment to innovation.

With a nominal heat output of 2.4kW to 7.1kW, the Serafina Lux Evo provides enough warmth to keep medium to larger rooms (up to 203 m³) feeling comfortably warm. It’s also extremely clean burning, producing almost no wood smoke, with an A+ energy rating.

This stove can also be specified with an optional Wi-Fi module - which allows you to control the Serafina Lux Evo using your smartphone. 

But, despite all of this innovative tech, the Serafina Lux Evo also features a traditional ‘Majolica’ covering which features fine rustic-style detailing.

Island Lundy 5kW Conventional Flue EcoDesign Pellet Stove

Shop Now

Island Stoves is a British brand which began with the aim of creating pellet stoves that would recreate the feeling of a traditional log burner, but with the efficiency, ease-of-use and cleanliness of pellet stoves.

The Lundy is the result of this aim; a pellet stove that provides plenty of heat, without the noisy fans which have been traditionally associated with pellet stoves. 

Its 5W heat output and 82% efficiency rate means that the Lundy will be able to provide plenty of heat for small to medium-sized rooms, without using loads of wood pellets. 

This is also a very clean burning stove, being DEFRA-approved for use in smoke control areas (such as towns and cities), as well as being EcoDesign compliant - meaning it has minimal environmental impact.

With lever operated grate cleaning, the Lundy is not only easy-to-use, but easy to clean too. 

The Lundy can be purchased with a series of optional extras including a tube brush, leather hearth mat, and pellet scuttle. It’s also possible to buy an additional ‘stove bench’ which elevates the stove off the floor (as indicated by the orange rectangle in the picture above). 

Duroflame Carre Pellet Stove

Shop Now

The Netherlands-based Duroflame may be a relatively new name to the world of stoves - having been established in only 2014 - but the brand has already made a big impact. 

That’s largely thanks to the level of design detail that is poured into the pellet stoves by founder Aldrik Sebens. 

Mimicking the design of traditional log burners, Duroflame stoves, like the Carre featured here, combine traditional aesthetics with 21st century heating technology. 

The Carre is a prime example of this heating technology in action, with an incredible efficiency rate of 95.4% and an A+ energy rating.

This efficiency is achieved in near silence, too, with the Carre not requiring a noisy convection fan. It also has a ‘silent shut down’ feature. 

Plus, thanks to its vermiculite-lined combustion chamber and ceramic glow plug, the Carre heats up far more quickly than equivalent pellet stoves - ideal for those chilly days! What’s more, with a 6.1kW heat output, the Carre produces more than enough heat for medium-sized rooms. 

Pellet stove installation advice

If you’re looking at one of our pellet stoves, and you’re not sure if it will be suitable for your home, then our video survey service can help.

Our video survey service allows you to speak to one of our stove experts and show them the room in which you’d like to install your desired stove. They can then advise on whether your choice is suitable or not. 

To arrange a video survey, please call our sales team on 0161 376 4191.

The home of pellet stoves online

Got your heart set on a pellet stove? Then buy one from Direct Stoves. 

Not only do we have one of the largest ranges of premium pellet stoves online, but we also offer FREE mainland UK delivery, and 14-day no hassle returns.

To help you spread the cost of your new pellet stove, we offer a range of finance options, including 0% interest over 12 months. 

Buy the pellet stove of your dreams with Direct Stoves today. 

Shop our pellet stoves range now

For more stove buying guides, information and advice, read the Direct Stoves blog…

Pellet Stove Buying Guide | Log Burner or Pellet Stove: Which Is Best for Your Home? | How Do Pellet Stoves Work?

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