Excessive heat behind insert

[bholler]

The members who have woodstove inserts in exterior masonry chimneys know these things. No fan moving hot air equals very little heat in the living space.

That depends on the install and the insert. there is allot that goes into a good insert design. And allot of it is how to get that heat out of the fireplace. How much insulation and what type of radiant reflector do you have around the insert? How much insulation above the block off plate? I think allot of it also comes down the the stove you have as well

 

[rwhite]

Do you have a pic of your setup? If it is that hot how is it not melting the fan? Hot to the touch isn't always that hot. Can you hold your hand on the brick? It would take a heck of a fan to keep the surround and brick from conducting heat. They are going to get hot no matter what you do.

 

[DanCorcoran]

And I also have a fan on the floor blowing at the face of the woodstove.

No way you can get that fan to blow air beneath the stove, rather than just on the face? If it goes up behind the stove, from beneath, it will force a lot of hot air out the top.