Why Wood Stove Pipe Leaking Water [5 Easy Solutions]

The major factors responsible for your stove pipe leaking water and their most effective solutions are the following:

1. Storm Collar Not Sealed Or Installed Properly

Some people heavily think the reasons behind “why is my wood stove pipe leaking water. The reasoning is if your wood stove’s storm collar is not properly sealed and installed, then the water comes directly down the pipes outside.

There remains a seal between the pipe and the storm collar. When the seal becomes open for any reason or the storm collar’s installation becomes vulnerable, you experience water leaking from the stove.

Inspect the seal on the collar’s top, and having no seal means undoubtedly there is a leak in it.

Solution:

To fix the above issue, use silicone to seam up the collar’s first length. Usually, the collar and pipe are put together but there remains a 1/4″ gap between the two. Next, inspect the collar’s top, where it meets with the stove’s pipe. Then properly seal or install the top above the collar.

You can use good quality silicone or regular GE silicone II as these work fine to seal. However, first, clean the surface properly for a good bond or sealing. Then spread the silicone in both directions using your finger to seal it correctly.

Note: You can contact a professional installer and take help from him to correctly seal the stovepipe and collar.

2. Burning Too Much Moisture Wood

If you suddenly experience your wood stove pipe leaking black water, it indicates you are using too much moisture wood for burning.

The stove fails to operate perfectly if you use the unseasoned or moisture wood to burn. As a result, water is running down the furnace.

If you use wet wood for burning on the stove, the flue will never get that hot. As a result, the wood condensates steam on the cool surfaces, and on the stove wall, the water runs down.

Using a lot of damp wood ultimately causes the running of black water from your wood stove pipe.

Solution:

The only practical solution is using properly dry and seasoned wood for burning on your stove. Burning the dry wood, allow the furnace to rip it properly.

The wood should be 100% dry under the cover before using it on the stove.

3. The Stove is Operating At An Incorrect Temperature

Another reason for which you see water on the woodstove is, that the furnace is not operating at the correct temperature.

Putting the thermometer on the flue instead of the actual stove will give a misleading reading, especially when you lit the stove first.

When the thermometer reads the incorrect temperature and the stove operates at a significantly higher or lower temperature than the actual temperature, the water leaks from the stove pipe.

Mainly the stove fails to operate at the perfect temperature when you use too much moisture wood.

Solution:

Avoid using damp wood and use adequately seasoned wood on your stove. And your stove will also run on the actual temperature.

4. Condensation Is Running Down Inside the Pipe

Condensation is one of the standard formats in which the water appears on your wood stove. When your wood stove fails to function hard enough, this issue happens.

As your furnace operates at total energy or power, more quickly the fuel gas becomes cool.

And it causes condensed water in the inside of the flue wall. Ultimately this condensation seeps down into the stove. The causes of it are:

Burning wet or unseasoned wood

Lack of ventilation in the room
Chimney’s weak draw up
The furnace is not operating at total capacity

The stove system lacks ventilation when it is not in use

Solution:

To prevent your stove’s condensation issue, you can follow the solutions below:

Use only dry and adequately seasoned wood for burning

Ensure your room has enough ventilation support
Inspect the chimney and make sure there is a strong draw-up in it
Make sure your wood stove is operating at perfect and total capacity

When your wood stove is not in use, allow enough ventilation in the system

5. Rainwater

During heavy rain, leaking water from your wood stove is a common issue as the rainwater gets into the furnace.

As a result, the water starts to leak on the top of your stove’s flue where the register plate meets it. Around the flue’s top, there is a rope seal.

During heavy rain, the rainwater comes down the stove’s liner. Then potentially, through the rope seal, the water finds its way to leak into the furnace. Finally, rain settles down in your wood stove, making its way out of the chimney.

Solution:

If your wood stove is out of use for an extended period, you should occasionally light your burner. Sometimes burning the woodstove will help to evaporate the water if there remains any in it.

Your stove system will stay active, and the rust-forming risk will also reduce significantly. Also, you can fit a chimney cowl in your stove as it ensures protection against precipitation.

FAQ:

Does the stove pipe need to be sealed?

If there is any leak or hole in the stovepipe, only then do you need to seal it. Otherwise, you don’t need to seal the tube which is connected to the pellet or wood stove.

What happens if the water gets into your stove?

When the water gets into your stove, it soaks the parts and disables the furnace to ignite. As a result, the burners get wet, and the igniting attempts fail. So before igniting the stove, make sure it is dry out correctly.

Does a wood stove dry out the air?

Wood stoves can significantly dry out your house’s air, and they work in a similar way to the other type of heat. Therefore, your wood stoves cause dryness in your home by removing air.

Conclusion

In our guide, we have explored all the most common reasons behind your wood stove pipe leaking water and their solutions.

Hopefully, now you can fix your stove’s pipe leaking issue by yourself. Still, if you have any more struggles, you can let us know in the comment box. We will be happy to help you.

Note: You can also read how to fix Cubic mini wood stove problems.

Why Wood Stove Pipe Leaking Water [5 Easy Solutions]

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