Who uses fireplace inserts?

[Wood Doctor]

Federal Airtight 288

Do you consider this to be a fireplace insert?

Unbelievable heat.

 

[Joe Whalen]

I just put one in our house a few weeks ago and love it. We went with a Quadra Fire 5100i. The actual dimensions were bigger than what was on their spec sheet so it took some work to get it in but it works nice. It's been heating our house really nice. I faced the old brick fireplace with Stone and put a 2 3/8" thick hearth stone and mantle on and they seem to help hold some heat. The fan is a bit noisy but does move the heat out of the room.

 

[msvold]

We went with a Hearthstone Homestead woodstove insert. We have a large brick wall fireplace. We originally tried to find a fireplace insert that would both fit and since the fireplace is a gathering or conversation piece, one that my wife liked the looks of. Took a few weekends and internet searches and quote from a dealer to custom make a fireplace insert and we decided to go with Homestead. It was installed just this last Nov and the whole family is very happy with it and said numerous times why didn't we do this sooner. Pic is attached.We added a large 60 inch ceiling fan in the same room to circulate the heat for our 2200 sq ft side to side split house with all bedrooms upstairs. Wife keeps the hearth room at 75 degrees and it keeps the bedrooms at 68-69 degrees for good sleeping.

 

[tuneshop]

Whatcha waitin' on? Christmas?

Get out your big checkbook and get one installed.Buy some wood this year ,and start getting next years wood cut and split. you're burnin' daylight

 

[atvdave]

I have a insert in my ranch style home (1600 sq ft) and use it as my main source for heat. I also have a gas furnace as a back up if wee need it. I now use 2/3's less gas than I did back when I just used the furnace.

 

[Wood Doctor]

What is the Rule?

When does a fireplace insert become a stove and a stove become an insert?

I have a feeling that the Federal Airtight series of woodburners defined that 25 years ago and that solution has not even been replicated since.

Just MHO.

 

[bmarleyzq8]

Well I dont think the insert is going to work. My fireplace is actually just an insert as it is. Its one big unit that can essentially be removed from the wall. Im not sure what to do? I really would like to use this location as it already has a chimney/stove piper there. Here is a picture of what I'm talking about. Not the best pic but its the only picture i have of it.

<a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/bmarleyzq8/?action=view&amp;current=pictures2010015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/bmarleyzq8/pictures2010015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[msvold]

Hey what did Santa leave in the hard plastic orange container?

I think you should give a local woodstove dealer a call and find out what they recommend. I'm no expert, but I would think either option of fireplace insert or woodstove insert would require a chimney liner, and some slight modifications, but I'm sure there are options for you.

Currently in KS it's 10 degrees outside and a toasty 74 inside with the hearthstone homestead.

 

[Wife'nHubby]

Insert install pictures: ********** Page 1 of Fireplaces Picture Gallery

Woodstove install pictures: ********** Page 1 of Wood Stoves Picture Gallery
(lots of fireplace hearthmounted woodstove examples)

Shari

 

[bmarleyzq8]

Hey what did Santa leave in the hard plastic orange container?

I think you should give a local woodstove dealer a call and find out what they recommend. I'm no expert, but I would think either option of fireplace insert or woodstove insert would require a chimney liner, and some slight modifications, but I'm sure there are options for you.

Currently in KS it's 10 degrees outside and a toasty 74 inside with the hearthstone homestead.

Ya I think thats my next step for sure. I just dont want to end up dumping a fortune into a setup. I know quality doesnt come cheap but it doesnt hurt to want it too. Hopefully I can get something figured out. Oh yeah the case was holding a shinney new MS290

 

[msvold]

You must have been a good boy this year.

 

[Fronty Owner]

I run an insert too and it does "ok".
My house is "T" shaped and its at the bottom on the "T" and a couple feet lower than the rest of the house. it does an OK job of keeping the attached rooms warm, but the extremities get cold.
sounds like I have an airflow problem and the blower doesn't move alot of air.
Im open to suggestions?

 

[Wife'nHubby]

I run an insert too and it does "ok".
My house is "T" shaped and its at the bottom on the "T" and a couple feet lower than the rest of the house. it does an OK job of keeping the attached rooms warm, but the extremities get cold.
sounds like I have an airflow problem and the blower doesn't move alot of air.
Im open to suggestions?

1. Do you have a blockoff plate where the damper was?
2. Is your chimney SS lined?
3. If your insert is designed for a 8" liner, do you have an 8" liner, or, if your insert is designed for a 6" liner, do you have a 6" liner? (Either answer is correct as long as your insert & liner are the same diameter.) What you don't want is a 'slammer install' ("slammer install": insert shoved into a fireplace opening vented through a clay tile lined chimney)
5. Is your liner fully insulated?

Now, if yes to 1,2,3 & 4 above, then:

6. Have you tried blowing cold air toward the stove room? I'm NOT saying blow cold air onto the face of the stove, just a gentle air flow towards the stove room. We use a very small desk top style fan (6" diameter) set in our bedroom hallway blowing cooler air towards our stove room.
7. Do you have any ceiling fans? If yes, set them to draw air UP from the room - NOT blowing down.

Shari

 

[Fronty Owner]

1. Do you have a blockoff plate where the damper was?
2. Is your chimney SS lined?
3. If your insert is designed for a 8" liner, do you have an 8" liner, or, if your insert is designed for a 6" liner, do you have a 6" liner? (Either answer is correct as long as your insert & liner are the same diameter.) What you don't want is a 'slammer install' ("slammer install": insert shoved into a fireplace opening vented through a clay tile lined chimney)
5. Is your liner fully insulated?

Now, if yes to 1,2,3 & 4 above, then:

6. Have you tried blowing cold air toward the stove room? I'm NOT saying blow cold air onto the face of the stove, just a gentle air flow towards the stove room. We use a very small desk top style fan (6" diameter) set in our bedroom hallway blowing cooler air towards our stove room.
7. Do you have any ceiling fans? If yes, set them to draw air UP from the room - NOT blowing down.

Shari

1. There is a block off plate at the top of the fireplace. close it and no smoke goes up the chimney.

2. Stainless steel flue is the same sized inside at the top and bottom about 6".There is also about a 10" stainless shell around the inner flue. the "chimney" itself is siding and other than some bracing straps, doesn't come near the steel flue.

3. same sized top and bottom.

4. if there is any insulation, I would be surprised.

5. One door and one window from the kitchen into the den with the fireplace. Ive set up a fan to draw warm air out of the den, but its usually in the way.

6. Yes, ceiling fan in the den blowing up. ceiling in the den is about a foot lower than the ceiling in the kitchen.

The fireplace has a blower, but even on high, very little air comes out of it. couple years ago, I replaced the siding around the chimney and back wall, I didn't see any places the blower could be loosing air, but its only two small 4-1/2" fans.

 

[Wife'nHubby]

My responses are in blue:

1. There is a block off plate at the top of the fireplace. close it and no smoke goes up the chimney.

You need a blockoff plate at the bottom of the chimney - which blocks heated air from tunneling up the outside of your liner. You are losing heated air otherwise.

You also need a block off plate at the top. Both of the blockoff plates I mention are positioned around the circumference of your 6" liner. Here is an example of what I am talking about: Making a Sheet Metal Block-Off plate for a Masonry Fireplace

2. Stainless steel flue is the same sized inside at the top and bottom about 6".There is also about a 10" stainless shell around the inner flue. the "chimney" itself is siding and other than some bracing straps, doesn't come near the steel flue.

Sounds like the 6" is not insulated and it should be.

3. same sized top and bottom.

Fine.

4. if there is any insulation, I would be surprised.

Since this is an exterior chimney you definitely will benefit by addition of insulation around your 6" liner (not the 10" liner). Not just 'any' insulation. Check with your stove shop to get the proper type.

5. One door and one window from the kitchen into the den with the fireplace. Ive set up a fan to draw warm air out of the den, but its usually in the way.

Don't try to draw "warm air out"- you want to draw "cool air in" - yeah, sounds counter intuitive but it works. Cool air is near the floor, draw this cool air into the stove room. Hot air rises and will exit near the ceiling = natural convection: you just want to 'encourage' natural convection.

6. Yes, ceiling fan in the den blowing up. ceiling in the den is about a foot lower than the ceiling in the kitchen.

Sounds good here.

 

[Fronty Owner]

my insert.
I dont really have an opening like a masonary fireplace.
The firebox is supported inside another metal box that where the blower is housed.

 

[Joe Whalen]

Fronty Owner,
I'm new to wood burning but that doesn't look to safe. It doesn't look like you're meeting the non combustible clearances in the code I read.
With the open doors on the front of your fireplace it would be hard to heat your house.

 

[Wife'nHubby]

my insert.
I dont really have an opening like a masonary fireplace.
The firebox is supported inside another metal box that where the blower is housed.[/QUOTE]


You have a zero clearance fireplace - not an insert.

Shari

 

[Fronty Owner]

You have a zero clearance fireplace - not an insert.

Shari

ok, whats the difference? I bought the house 10 years ago, Ive lived in the neighborhood for about 18 years and I think the addition with the fireplace was done in the mid 80s

 

[Wife'nHubby]

You have a zero clearance fireplace - not an insert.

Shari

ok, whats the difference? I bought the house 10 years ago, Ive lived in the neighborhood for about 18 years and I think the addition with the fireplace was done in the mid 80s

Basically, you answered your own question when you said:

my insert.
I dont really have an opening like a masonary fireplace.
The firebox is supported inside another metal box that where the blower is housed.

A zero clearance fireplace is a pre-fabbed item. To install it you create a hole in the wall, place the zero clearance item, run up a chimney (EDIT: usually just a SS liner) and enclose the chimney in a chase.

A masonry fireplace is constructed of a masonry product (cement block or brick), faced with brick, stone or tile; has a cement block or brick chimney lined (or not lined) with clay tile.

The typical masonry chimney is slightly 'staggered' forward inside to include an offset smoke shelf with a damper at this offset location which can be closed when the fireplace is not in use. This smoke shelf/damper area is typically about 3-1/2'+/- above the floor of the firebox, above the lintel (face) of the fireplace opening.

Because of the weight of masonry construction there is typically additional support underneath (in basement or crawl space) to 'hold up' the weight of the masonry fireplace.

A firebox in a masonry fireplace can be all firebrick or it can have just a firebrick floor with a steel liner comprising the vertical walls. Typically there is also an ash dump in the masonry firebox down to an ash pit or cleanout somewhere below the fireplace.

As example of a masonry fireplace, our fireplace is centrally located in our home and has stone on 3 sides. Our fireplace is around 8' wide (exposed face & exposed back) x 5' deep. Downstairs we have an ash pit that is around 8' x 5' from floor to ceiling.

Shari