My home has a 7 foot ceiling and only a 4 foot chimney above that but it still has good draft. Flue pipe has two slight elbow bends. It is pretty straight. I leave door open slightly until fire is going well. Window stays quite clean. With one piece of birch 5" x 6" x 17" long and one piece of fir added to hot coals it heats for a long time and still has many hot coals after 5 hours. Even after 10-15 hours there are enough live embers to easily get fire going again. Very satisfied.