Woodstove Insert Advice

[cropdusting]

I have an EPA rated insert and put it into my "can" fireplace. It produces A LOT of heat even without the blower but I got the blower attachment as well. It is made by Avalon (I think is part of Travis Industries) If it is a good location in your house and it sounds like it is I would go for it. One thing that you will notice is with the high efficentcy models (like mine at 88%) it burns hot (it is easy to over fire on start up if you don't watch it and control your combustion air) and fast and depending on your existing fireplace dementions the fireboxes can be on the small side at around 18 inches length. But to demonstrate the efficentcy I can put my hand on and remove the spark arestor with a hot fire burning with litterally no smoke. I installed mine myself

I also have a multi-fuel pellet stove as primary heat. This and the gas forced air are the secondary/backup.

 

[EE_Bota]

I forgot to mention...I have a masonry fireplace, so I installed a insulated SS liner withing the existing masonry for my stove.

 

[lockhaven]

I forgot to mention...I have a masonry fireplace, so I installed a insulated SS liner withing the existing masonry for my stove.

Hey EE how difficult was getting the SS liner in? i will be doing that shortly

 

[EE_Bota]

Hey EE how difficult was getting the SS liner in? i will be doing that shortly

Harder than I wished....

First, I want to point out I used a flexible chimney liner...such as what these folks sell...
Rockford Chimney Supply Buy Chimney Liner Insulation Kits, Chimney Insulation


The big challenge (and in most installations, I gather) is getting it past the restriction that is typically found in the top of most fireplaces. I had the residuals of a cast iron damper system (to turn off a fireplace) that I had to cut out. Fortunately, once I cut a big chunk of that out...I didn't have to knock out any masonry.

Other than that, the biggest problem in my installation was bending the SS liner enough to hook to my freestanding stove.* Both me and my buddy did both of our houses...and hooking it to the stove was a bear for both of us....since it emerges from above straight, but must be turned quickly to connect to the stove. But all of this depends on the height and position of the stove.

He did not have enough room in his chimney for the SS liner and the liners insulation structure so he did not insulate. I did have enough room, so my liner is insulated on the outside. I feel it makes it draw a bit better, and also lowers, at least somewhat, accumulation of creosote.

*Imagine a typical old school fireplace...my stove sits on the hearth, not back in the fireplace box. At the top of the chimney, I pounded some to the mineral insulation very tightly around the pipe to try to eliminate any air leakage (since from that day forth, my fireplace will be forever open, that area must stop air, and I depend on the airtightness of the stove itself to seal the pipe, if you know what I mean.)

 

[MarkV]

I would suggest you check the noise level of the blower unit when buying. Our place came with a "Buck Stove" insert which works OK but the blower is so load we almost never use it.

MarkV

 

[Natureboy]

I purchased an Avalon Ranier with blower insert 8 years ago, professionally installed with a stainless chimney insert. Heats my 1400 sq. ft. house very well. Clean the chimney once a year after heating season, only end up with about half a bucket of chimney grime from a 12' chimney.

 

[EE_Bota]

I installed my own because I was in a hurry. A professional installation is a good idea because it can square many things with an insurer...and a wood stove is a particularly difficult chunk of heaviness to move around.