If there is one obstacle that gets in the way when installing a lovely new stove into your home, it’s usually the flue!

Yes, before you make your selection, you need to make sure you have the correct set up to properly remove any fumes or emissions from your room. This also applies to gas stoves.

When you think of a chimney, you might associate it with log burners and solid fuel fireplaces. But, gas appliances also produce fumes that often depend on a suitable flue to keep dangerous gasses from escaping.

Not sure what flue you need for your gas stove? Read our guide to find out...

Do all gas stoves need a flue?

Whether your gas stove needs a flue depends on the type of stove you buy. Each one will need a different type of flue - or might not even need one at all…

Standard gas stoves

By this we mean a typical gas stove that isn’t specified as ‘balanced flue’ or ‘flueless’ - more about these later.

A regular gas stove does need a chimney or flue. As gas doesn’t produce any heavy smoke, as a wood burning stove would, they don’t require you to have a Class 1 brick chimney - though they usually can be installed into one of these without any issues.

You will, however, usually need at least a Class 2 Prefabricated chimney. Your gas stove should specify what size diameter flue is required in order for you to install it. This is usually 5 inches, though you should always check before you buy one.

Balanced flue gas stoves

If you don’t have a suitable chimney, you may well have heard about balanced flue gas stoves.

These don’t require you to have an existing chimney, but they do require you to install their own special type of flue called a balanced flue. Some balanced flue gas stoves come with the required flue parts, while others require you to buy them separately.

In most cases, installing a balanced flue is easy. They can be fit horizontally through almost any external wall. If you only have internal wall space to put your stove against, you might still be able to fit one - it will just take some extra work.

We have a whole blog on how to have a gas stove with a balanced flue with more information.

Flueless gas stoves

There is one final type of gas stove available called a flueless gas stove. And yes, you guessed it, they don’t require a flue at all!

Rather than venting fumes through a flue or chimney, a flueless gas stove uses a catalytic converter to turn them into safe gasses. They are then filtered back into your room.

There are a few extra requirements, though. You need a minimum room size of 40m3, a permanent air vent at least 1m away from the stove, at least one other heat source present in the room (such as a radiator) and a window in the same room that can open to the outside.

Do I need a flue liner for my gas stove?

So, if you are buying a gas stove that requires a flue or chimney, the next question you have might be whether you need a flue liner for it.

For balanced flue, the answer is a simple no. These types of flue don’t require any type of liner.

If you have a regular gas stove though, then you might want to consider a flue liner.

There is a legal requirement that states that your working chimney should be in good repair, with no cracks, leaks or other types of damage that would compromise its safety.

A flue liner does not mean that you can forgo having a safely working chimney. But, a liner is still often recommended as an extra safety precaution. Gas stoves have the potential to cause deadly carbon monoxide leaks, so a liner ensures you are as protected as possible from accidents occurring.

What type of flue liner does a gas stove need?

When buying a flue liner for your gas stove, always make sure it is suitable for the fuel you are burning.

Flexible stainless steel flue liners are usually the best and easiest to install. They come in a few different grades, so it’s important that you check the one you are buying can be used with gas. Usually, a single ply 316 grade liner should be fine, so long as the temperature doesn’t exceed the stated limit.

How long should a flue be for a gas stove?

If you do need a flue for your gas stove, then it should be at least 3 metres in length. There is no maximum length.

Can you convert a regular gas stove into a flueless gas stove?

We sometimes get asked whether a regular gas stove can be converted into a flueless gas stove.

The answer is no. Only purpose built flueless gas stoves can be used as such. All other types of gas stove must have the correct flue in place before you install it.

If you are looking for a new gas stove, don’t forget to take a look at our range online today at Direct Stoves - all with free delivery and finance options available!

More buying guides and advice from the Direct Stoves blog

How Much Do Gas & Electric Stoves Cost to Run? | Gas Stoves - Everything You Need to Know | Who Should Install My Gas or Wood Burning Stove?