Specifications
Solution 1.8 Installation and Operation Manual  37 
There are two reasons why the 
chimney in the house at right will cold 
backdraft when it is cold outside and 
there is no fire burning in the stove. 
First, the chimney runs up the outside 
of the house, so the air in it is colder 
and denser than the warm air in the 
house. And second, the chimney is 
shorter than the heated space of the 
house, meaning the negative 
pressure low in the house will pull 
outside air down the chimney, 
through the stove and into the room. 
Even the finest stove will not work 
well when connected to this chimney. 
8.5  Supply of Combustion Air 
In Canada, wood stoves are not required to have a supply of combustion air from outdoors (except 
in mobile homes) because research has shown that these supplies do not give protection against 
house depressurization and may fail to supply combustion air during windy weather. However, to 
protect against the risk of smoke spillage due to house depressurization, a carbon monoxide 
(CO) detector/alarm is required in the room where the stove is installed. The CO detector will 
provide warning if for any reason the wood stove fails to function correctly. 
8.5.1  Combustion Air Supply in Mobile Homes 
Only a wood stove certified and labelled as ‘mobile home approved’ may be installed in a 
mobile home. This Solution 1.8 stove is ‘mobile home approved’ only with the pedestal option. 
Wood stoves installed in mobile homes must have a ducted supply of combustion air from 
outdoors. This air supply should be routed down through the house floor into the vented crawl 
space under the mobile home. The air supply duct should be non-combustible aluminum flex duct 
with a screened weatherhood on the outside end. 
Note: Fabric duct may also be used, provided it is suitable for HVAC use and meets the 
requirements of ULC-S110 or UL-181 Class 1 standards. It must have a non-combustible 
insulation and be corrosion resistant. 
Where a mobile home has been converted to a standard house by mounting it on a permanent 
basement foundation, the supply of outdoor air is not required. 
8.5.2  Air Supply in Conventional Houses 
The safest and most reliable supply of combustion air for your wood stove is from the room in 
which it is installed. Room air is already preheated so it will not chill the fire, and its availability is 
not affected by wind pressures on the house. Contrary to commonly expressed concerns, almost 
all tightly-sealed new houses have enough natural leakage to provide the small amount of air 
needed by the stove. The only case in which the wood stove may not have adequate access to 
combustion air is if the operation of a powerful exhaust device (such as a kitchen range exhaust) 
causes the pressure in the house to become negative relative to outdoors. 










