Single Wall vs Twin Wall flue for section inside house? Pros and Cons...

[Oxbow16]

Hi 

 

Back again with a second wood stove query, if anyone would be kind enough to share their thoughts please...

 

We're planning to have a stove fitted into a single storey room.  The stove has a 5" flue.  The installers who have quoted said they think the flue will need to be a total height of 4.5m.  It will be a straight run, no bends.  If there were to be a single wall flue in the room up until where it has to change to twin to pass through the ceiling, the single wall section would be around 1.6 to 1.7m.  The rest would be twin wall, although most of it would be outdoors.  

 

We only burn well seasoned hardwoods.  

 

From what I've learnt, the advantage of single wall would be more heat to the room.  One installer said he thinks for each 1m of single wall flue you get 1kW of heat, which would be a great bonus.  I'll also admit a bias - I think the stove looks so much nicer with the single wall 5" flue.  I've only found a couple of photos online where the same stove has been installed with twin wall and to be honest I think it looks f-ugly.  Also, more space on the stove top for a kettle etc would be an extra bonus.  

 

However, I've also learnt that the advantage of twin wall is the flue maintains a higher internal heat, creating a better draw, which results in a stove that is easier to start, runs better, and a flue that doesn't block with creosote so much.  (Although I should add that some say they have none of these problems with single wall).  

 

It seems to be a very divided topic, with strong opinions on both sides.  While I want the aesthetics and extra heat to sway me to single wall, I also don't want a stove that is tough to light and doesn't run well.

 

So over to you guys for some thoughts and insights...  

 

Many thanks

[JohnMo]

We decided on twin wall all the way. We really didn't want additional heat the single flue gave, it really became a disadvantage due the possibility of overheating the room.

 

You need to understand room heating needs, so you don't melt. An additional 1kW may be too much.

 

We went stainless steel and it draws the eye less, black would just look huge.

 

Lighting the fire is easy enough.

[Oxbow16]

Thanks @JohnMo - appreciate your reply   

 

Every kW is welcome in our house, very little risk of overheating!  Also, the house is laid in a way where various doors can be opened / closed to allow heat to circulate and escape more, or be concentrated in the room where the stove is.  

 

Any further experiences or thoughts from people on single vs twin wall? 

 

Ta