Attaching 6" draft regulator to 5" flue pipe

DJD775

I'm trying to attach a 6" Field RC draft regulator to a 5" flue using the factory supplied collar. Without any modifications the fit of the collar is not tight as would be expected due to the size difference. My initial thoughts are to trim the collar to better fit the profile of the flue pipe. Does anyone out there have any advice for a better fit?

EdTheHeaterMan

The 6" collar fits just right. Follow the instructions with the Draft Control. I have done this many, many times.

The old instruction sheet showed a detail of the 5" pipe with the assembled 6" collar with assembly instructions. I cant find the instruction sheet that i'm familiar with so here is the best I can remember.
The 5" pipe has a 5"x 7" oval removed as shown in the diagram.
The oval then has 1/2" x 1/2" tabs cut into the oval as shown.
Then the collar is assembled so there is one small nut and bolt to connect the edges of the collar to form a 6" round collar.
Next the straps are attached with small nut and bolts to the round collar to form a clamp.
Finally 2 precut tabs on the opening of the collar are folded in order to form a clamp to hold the barometric draft control in place. A nut and medium length bolt are inserted thru the tabs.

It is not a perfect fit on 5" pipe. the 6" collar extends past the center point of the 5" pipe, however once the collar is clamped around the pipe AND you bend the 1/2" tabs on the 5" pipe to support the inside of the 6" collar everything starts to come together. The final step is the draft control in the collar and the 2 tabs with the medium bolt to clamp the control in place, everything fits as it should.

DJD775

The last draft regulator I installed was the same size as the flue so maybe I was expecting the fit up to be different. I only performed a test fit last night and maybe I just need to get the hole cut and tabs bent before I feel more comfortable with the fit.

EdTheHeaterMan

@DJD775, I think you will see that it is just right once the collar is fastened.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I agree with @EdTheHeaterMan it should be ok. When the tabs on the flue pipe are bent to the inside of the collar and tapped down tight with a hammer it should cover any slight gap

Steamhead

EdTheHeaterMan said:

@DJD775, I think you will see that it is just right once the collar is fastened.

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

I agree with @EdTheHeaterMan it should be ok. When the tabs on the flue pipe are bent to the inside of the collar and tapped down tight with a hammer it should cover any slight gap

This. We've done this quite often, where a chimney is tall enough that more draft control is needed.

DJD775

Thanks for all the responses. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something before I made my cuts on the flue pipe.

EdTheHeaterMan

I'm not able to sleep! I need to know how the 6" Draft control on the 5" pipe worked out! Please let us all know! Can you take a picture and post it?

DJD775

@EdTheHeaterMan Sure and sorry for the loss of sleep. I'm juggling a lot of spring projects right now so I'm probably not going to get to it until the weekend. I'll try to get you a pic of the test fit up tonight.

DJD775

@EdTheHeaterMan Fits pretty tight except for the ears on each side.

EdTheHeaterMan

That is why you bend the tabs on the inside of the 5" pipe. Any sheetmetal man worth his snips would be able to tap this with a 3/4" x 18" iron pipe on the inside to make that seal as if it was factory made.

Thanks for sharing... I can sleep tonight!