Sorry man, but codes don't mean much if you ain't got much money. This house was built in 59. So.... I just think ya'll are gettin worked up over nothin. I work with men that i consider "old timers". 30+ of them. Most 60-70 years of age. And most all of them burn wood. they get up in the morning, pack the heater full, damp it down, and they got fire when they come in that evening. My dad burned wood my whole life with a rather large earth stove, and i can only remember him sweeping the chimney maybe once. And he uses same practice.Our heater at the shop where i work, is 8" out the top, out the wall, and dumped into a old 12" culvert pipe for a chimney. Stove pipe held up with coat hanger wire. It has been there since my dad started in the early 80's. My bottom line is...i appreciate all the great info, but code don't really mean a whole lot anymore. I've seen some cobbled up stuff work for years on end. Most of the folks who make a lot of rules, codes, and laws have little or no experience in the field they represent. I know, for example, the CDL driving test. I just passed mine a couple years ago. And its obvious that some of the rules on that test were not written by someone that knew about trucks. Some were way too lienant, some were way in excess. Im not saying folks don't know what they're talkin about, but sometimes just use the darn thing. IMO. Sometimes its just too much. I have no doubt in my mind it will work, and work pretty good. I've saw way worse. Sorry to offend anyone but i appreciate the advice, but sometimes the "code" stuff gets to me. If it gets blocked up, i'll clean it.