Wood Stove Installation Using Window Opening

[clinchscavalry]

Last spring we installed a Vermont Castings wood stove in the coldest room of our house, located downstairs about in the center. The idea was to heat the cold room, save money by reducing run time on the central heat, and to locate the stove so that heat would readily go up the staircase to the second story. Here in GA, it doesn't get cold by the thermometer but it's a raw, humid cold that can make it feel much worse than it is.

The installation took some head scratching, but we finally came up with a pretty good solution, if I do say so myself. We intalled wood panels on both inside and outside of the house in a top window opening by simply lowering the window. This installation can be removed without damaging anything, and the window can be restored to it's original condition.

A Buck Stove is located almost directly above the new stove, and I thought I could "tee" into the existing stove pipe but the dealer told me that was a bad idea. So we went up outside the house, through a deck, through the deck overhang and through the roof. I probably erred on the side of caution and added one section of triple wall that was not really necessary, but it draws good and we're really happy with the outcome.

We only used it a few times last spring on cool mornings, but now it burns pretty much 24/7. Here are a few pictures.

 

[A. Stanton]

Looks like a neat install.

 

[ericjeeper]

Looks a whole boatload better than what I was expecting to see.. Ought work just fine.

 

[dingeryote]

I have seen that done up here.

But never as neatly.

Nice Job!!

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[Echo6 Sierra]

Looks a whole boatload better than what I was expecting to see..

+1 on that!

 

[loadthestove]

A+++ Like the way it can be completely removed and leave no trace.

 

[Baldman]

That is sweet! Great job!!

 

[Techstuf]

It's always nice to see someone wrestle some pennies away from the energy cartels. Great install. A sheet of "Reflectix" on the wall behind the stove will protect the wood/finish from warping or cracking, while reflecting IR back into the room. It's cheap and efficient. You will be able to put the back of your hand on the sheet at any time, no matter the stove temp.


Blessings in Yeshua

 

[clinchscavalry]

I appreciate the compliments. I just walked downstairs to check the fire, and the woodbox was showing about 450 deg. while the catalytic unit was over 1150. It's really cooking tonight ! I opted to use double walled stovepipe on the inside due to all the wood paneling, and it turned out to be a good move. The decorative wood that the pipe goes through is just a little warm, and there's a metal heat deflector on the back of the stove. It's not even warm, much less the wall behind it and under the window

I am still in awe of the catalytic converter. When it's fired up and at proper temperature there is not a bit of visible smoke coming out the top cap, just heat waves. That's amazing to me

 

[nassin2]

I have to agree with everyone else. That's an awfully pretty install. Had to rep you for that one. :greenchainsaw:

 

[tibikedad]

Beautiful woodworking. Great job making it pleasing to the eye as well as functional.

 

[Guarddog1]

When I read the title I said oh boy cant wait to see this. BUT NICE JOB looks great A++++ on that one.

 

[Rookie1]

Very nice job. Your work looks top notch. I like the design you put on the inside panel.

 

[clinchscavalry]

Very nice job. Your work looks top notch. I like the design you put on the inside panel.

Since no one has guessed what inspired that design I might as well confess. It's supposed to look like the Confederate Naval Jack/ St. Andrews Cross. I wanted to put some walnut "stars" on it originally but thought that might be just a touch tacky not to mention the fact that I didn't have the know-how or equipment to do it.

That walnut came from a very big specimen (for these parts) that had fallen on a tract we were managing a timber sale on. The sapwood was starting to rot, but the heart was sound. My BIL and I loaded it at the log deck after our friendly loggers skidded it up the hill, then we cut it up and loaded it on a trailer. After milling, it air dried for probably 8 years in an old house and then I left it inside until the moisture content stabilized with that of the house.

The ash was cut on a neighbor's place just down the road from us. I suffer from HLAD meaning I have stacks of hardwood lumber in my backyard from about every species we have around here. Like a total moron, I didn't build a pole shed first, and the boards are out in the weather covered only by some tin. Some of the oak is getting powder post beetle damage and the uncovered pine is rotting away

I guess my "collection" will be gone soon if I don't get a shed built, but "live and learn".

 

[November Wolf]

Very nice job you done there.

 

[clinchscavalry]

Wow, November Wolf, that looks like some serious engineering ! Uh, what is it ?

I assume it's a steam heat system, but there's nothing like that in these parts. Heck, we need a wood burning A/C around here. Wish someone would invent it.

The area around your house looks very nice, beautiful view. It's very "Christmassy" looking, especially to a sub-tropical dweller like me.

 

[November Wolf]

Wow, November Wolf, that looks like some serious engineering ! Uh, what is it ?

I assume it's a steam heat system, but there's nothing like that in these parts. Heck, we need a wood burning A/C around here. Wish someone would invent it.

The area around your house looks very nice, beautiful view. It's very "Christmassy" looking, especially to a sub-tropical dweller like me.

HI clinchscavalry, I have hot water heat inside my home. My outside boiler transfers the heat to my inside boiler with a 40 plate water to water heat exchanger. It works really good and saves me quite a bit of money.

I live on 60 acres up on a hill out in the country. We have about 3-4 inches of snow on the ground right now and it is looking alot more like christmas around here. Thanks for the compliment.

 

[MarylandGuy]

Since you have been burning for a while, there is probably little chance the decorative wood would catch on fire. Especially with the double wall pipe. But it is a scarey thought if it ever did start to char next to the pipe.

What a great looking setup!

 

[clinchscavalry]

Since you have been burning for a while, there is probably little chance the decorative wood would catch on fire. Especially with the double wall pipe. But it is a scarey thought if it ever did start to char next to the pipe.

What a great looking setup!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm very satisfied with the performance of the stove and the installation so far. The decorative wood barely gets warm and neither does the wood paneling. The heat deflector on the back of the stove and the distance from the wall has worked out very well. That double wall black pipe is also a good idea near all the wood work.

The only thing we have to be careful about is making sure chairs or other furniture are kept a safe distance from the front and sides. The new stove has been burning basically 24/7 for quite a while now, and the only problems have been wet wood from the constant rain we've had this fall. Maybe that problem is now solved since we just finished our first ever "wood shed". After 30 years of burning firewood you'd think we would have had a way to cover it up. Oh well, better late than never.

 

[Richard_]

that looks nice , but is that legal , I thought you couldn't put it within 48" of a window ?