Outside air kit, thoughts?

Working on getting the Keystone installed and something I have been wondering about is if ir is worth getting the OAK for it. Reading around it seems like some sites say they are a waste and some people seem to like them. In theory it seems like a good concept, giving the stove somewhere else to pull air from rather than pulling cold air into the house.

What are people's experiences here?

 

I put one in and it works.
Seems to have stopped some of the air infiltration coming into this leaky house.

 

Required equipment in WA state, but I would be putting one in anyway. My gut tells me it is better.

Greg

 

I think the outside air kit is a good idea. We had an older house and when the wood stove was burning, you could feel the cool air being pulled toward it. The wife was not fond of the draft across her feet!! The ideal steel has the OAK on it and seems to cut down on the air infiltration.

All that said I vote yes for the OAK!

Builder Bob

 

Been wondering the same thing about an OAK.

 

I have an OAK installed on a nc30. I only ran it for about two months without one, it does better with it for my house.

I think most stoves have multiple inlets for combustion air, as is the case with the 30, so even if you connect the OAK, some of the combustion air will be coming from inside the house.

 

I called Woodstock and asked them and the their thought was unless you have a very tight house it's not needed. They said the stove doesn't pull much air though so the additional infiltration would not be significant.

 

Yesterday I went to Lowes and bought what I needed for a temporary OAK.
When I got home I hooked everything up.
I want to see if my house will benefit from one.

 

Looking forward to hearing your findings.

Greg

 

Don't forget the pics too...........

 

I have an OAK installed on my Keystone, I like the theory behind it and feel every little bit helps.

 

If you have a "tight" house, that is insulated very well, I would recommend an OAK.
If you have a house like mine, well, just overheat it. There will be enough combustion air coming in!

 

Also too, if you have a well-insulated and brick house, like mine, you'd need a OAK. Heck, we ran the central A/C until October 1'st here, this house holds alot of heat in the winter time. House is TIGHT! Brick House, them good thermal pane windows, triple glass, I think they're called? new roof, which helps too.

Problem is, in this house, you really cannot run a stove, chimney is in the center of the house and no fireplace; and the water heater is gas and it's vented to it. So, a stove here is out. I love stoves and hope one day to own one; but not in this house. It cannot be done with making some big changes. I guess should also mention that this is a colonial house and that makes it much harder too. So, it is what it is.

I'll own one, one day. Just not here.

 

Interesting take on OAK at woodheat.org: A non-commercial service in support of responsible home heating with wood - Outdoor Air Supplies

 

Buy a gas water heater that vents outside. Then you can use your chimney for a real purpose

 

Or. electric.

 

Yep, could do that but I sure do like my gas water heater.

As a mason when I built my house I thought two flues in the basement would be plenty. I had the intention of using one of those combo wood/oil furnaces. The furnace people talked me out of it. Efficiency was not very good in those units.
So I have an oiled fired furnace in one flue. A wood furnace add on in the other. No hot water!!!
I went with a gas heater that vents outside. Wasn't very expensive back in those days and it's still working after all these years without any breakdowns. Good unit that gives me hot water when I ask for it.

 

Here, gas would be less expensive to run.

 

Just switched to a new propane dealer. Filled my 500 gallon tank for $1.43 a gallon. Even filled all my empty grill tanks for me.
The year before the company that bought out my old company wanted $4.99 where I had always been paying mid two dollars. The driver that had worked for the old company knew it was a ripoff. They're history on my property.