New BK40: OAK and/or Fan kit good…or no?

[corona5k1635]

Hi all

I’m going to have a BK40 new install done by a dealer. But I need to make a few decisions first: Do any of you have the blower/fan kit on your BK? Do any of you have an OAK set up on your BK? I’m willing to put up the extra cash for these add ons… if your experiences dictate it. Please lemme me know what you think

Details of the install:
- 2400 sq ft home
- split level, open floor plan
- cathedral ceilings
- Regency 2450hi insert in lower level
- very bad insulation everywhere except attic which is sealed & R60 blown in
- I feel cold air constantly moving past me as I sit right in front of my insert and cold air is sucked in from every little crack in the house when the insert is burnin, so want the OAK for the BK so I don’t feel that there as well

I know the debates on OAKs so…

 

[kennyp2339]

I have both on my princess, fan kit to me is a must, pretty much keep it on low setting, I also bought the extended convection deck, think it’s standard with newer stoves. The oak to me is 50/50, I don’t think it would hurt as long as it’s installed properly.

 

[stoveliker]

I agree. No need for an OAK due to a tight home but it won't hurt either
Do make sure it exits below the level of the stove

Fan is useful to get more heat out (leading to shorter burn times) and spread the heat a bit farther from the stove. And you can always switch it off ...

 

[Highbeam]

So you're going to put the king in the top 1200 SF level of the home? The lower level might not feel much of the heat.

I'm an OAK fan and don't think that there is any debate. They are always better but sometimes not possible and not critical. That dirty, dry, cold air you suck in without an OAK is not ideal.

I have the fans on my princess and 99% of the time they are not used. The stove makes great heat without them and is nice and quiet. With such a large stove in such a small space I don't think you'll need the fans but they don't hurt to have just in case.

 

[Tron]

I would have installed the OAK had that been a possibility, but with the stove not on an outside wall and a concrete foundation, it wasn't.
Without it I have to make sure to open a window when I run the kitchen exhaust, and I've had reverse draft happen on not-so-cold days and a cold stove start where I forgot that the bathroom vent was running.
With a rather tight house, that filled the living room with smoke really fast...

Regarding the fans, I retrofitted them and occasionally run them when I need more heat, but they're probably not as important on a free-standing stove than an insert.

 

[corona5k1635]

So you're going to put the king in the top 1200 SF level of the home? The lower level might not feel much of the heat.

I'm an OAK fan and don't think that there is any debate. They are always better but sometimes not possible and not critical. That dirty, dry, cold air you suck in without an OAK is not ideal.

I have the fans on my princess and 99% of the time they are not used. The stove makes great heat without them and is nice and quiet. With such a large stove in such a small space I don't think you'll need the fans but they don't hurt to have just in case.

Yea, you’re right. Gonna put it on that mid-level. I’m expecting it to heat that whole level and the bedrooms above. The insert does the lowest level pretty good but will certainly be better once I insulate more down there.

 

[corona5k1635]

I am certainly interested to see how things go when both stoves are running at the same time. So hard to predict how the heat will flow. I’m hoping the OAK will help with that.

 

[corona5k1635]

I would have installed the OAK had that been a possibility, but with the stove not on an outside wall and a concrete foundation, it wasn't.
Without it I have to make sure to open a window when I run the kitchen exhaust, and I've had reverse draft happen on not-so-cold days and a cold stove start where I forgot that the bathroom vent was running.
With a rather tight house, that filled the living room with smoke really fast...

Regarding the fans, I retrofitted them and occasionally run them when I need more heat, but they're probably not as important on a free-standing stove than an insert.

Whoa, yea would like to avoid reverse draft. That does not sound fun. Though I guess anything is possible with the right conditions.

I did figure the blower was essential for the insert and not super essential for the freestanding stove, but every video that I see on YouTube of people showing off their stoves has them with their little Eco fan (or Eco fans!) to push that air forward. I wonder if people just don’t want to use the electricity to run the fan blower? I mean, I suppose I could get an eco-fan as well to avoid that issue

 

[Dieselhead]

I have my fans on right now. It really helps move heat around the house when it’s below 20 in my use case. Combustion air has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is outside. Bring it in with an oak in a controlled manner vs through other means of less desirable egress. The air you are working hard to heat will end up the flue without.

 

[corona5k1635]

I have my fans on right now. It really helps move heat around the house when it’s below 20 in my use case. Combustion air has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is outside. Bring it in with an oak in a controlled manner vs through other means of less desirable egress. The air you are working hard to heat will end up the flue without.

That makes a lot of sense to me. That’s why I’m attracted to this option. Thanks for sharing your experience with me. This is helpful. Here’s a question: 3 inch or 4 inch intake?? BK offers both options. How to choose? 4 inches allows more airflow duh,,,and larger wasp nests inside? lol no but really, which one do you use? 3”, 4”, something else?

 

[Dieselhead]

That makes a lot of sense to me. That’s why I’m attracted to this option. Thanks for sharing your experience with me. This is helpful. Here’s a question: 3 inch or 4 inch intake?? BK offers both options. How to choose? 4 inches allows more airflow duh,,,and larger wasp nests inside? lol no but really, which one do you use? 3”, 4”, something else?

4”. I believe at my short run I could have done 3” but the intake plate I got from the hardware store was 4 so I kept with it. FYI I fabbed up my own kit, did not buy one from my stove dealer.

 

[stoveliker]

If your run is long use 4" otherwise you can use 3".
What's long? 6 ft or more? And a lot of corners?

 

[Highbeam]

I use 4” and it doesn’t look too big, even on my princess.