New RSF Focus 3600 install near completion, pics and questions.

[PDutro]

Finally had our Majestic open hearth ZC fireplace from the 70’s demo’d out and are in the process of having the RSF Focus 3600 installed. I am excited to start burning with it but have a couple questions:

The install company has been around a long time and does lots of ZC installs. They’ve been great to work with so far.

Our fireplace is located in the center of the house and the ICC excel chimney runs up the chase, through a roof chase, single story home. The room where the fireplace faces has 8-ish ft ceilings, but the room on the other side of the wall/enclosure where the fireplace is installed has a half-vaulted ceiling. So the chimney runs through the attic and then out the roof into the roof chase.

Install looks great, passed inspection, so I’m going to be pretty confident using this for heat.

The extra cautious side of me thinks I should have an IR gun and be able to check the wall temps around the unit and on the back wall in the vaulted room for peace of mind. We went with a clean face design, and they used cement board per the RSF install requirements.

Should I worry about a IR gun? Is it advisable to check wall temp regularly?

I have read a thread where a dude was struggling with Sheetrock temps of +200 degrees and ended up needing some one-off ventilation/insulation set up to correct. I doubt I’m going to have any issues but thought I’d ask.

I also read about overnight burns. What are some best practices for that? Seems a little iffy to build up a big fire right before you go to sleep. But then again you want the house warm, so…

Anyway, thanks for any advice to a newbie

 

[MrZiffel]

View attachment 292450
Finally had our Majestic open hearth ZC fireplace from the 70’s demo’d out and are in the process of having the RSF Focus 3600 installed. I am excited to start burning with it but have a couple questions:

The install company has been around a long time and does lots of ZC installs. They’ve been great to work with so far.

Our fireplace is located in the center of the house and the ICC excel chimney runs up the chase, through a roof chase, single story home. The room where the fireplace faces has 8-ish ft ceilings, but the room on the other side of the wall/enclosure where the fireplace is installed has a half-vaulted ceiling. So the chimney runs through the attic and then out the roof into the roof chase.

Install looks great, passed inspection, so I’m going to be pretty confident using this for heat.

The extra cautious side of me thinks I should have an IR gun and be able to check the wall temps around the unit and on the back wall in the vaulted room for peace of mind. We went with a clean face design, and they used cement board per the RSF install requirements.

Should I worry about a IR gun? Is it advisable to check wall temp regularly?

I have read a thread where a dude was struggling with Sheetrock temps of +200 degrees and ended up needing some one-off ventilation/insulation set up to correct. I doubt I’m going to have any issues but thought I’d ask.

I also read about overnight burns. What are some best practices for that? Seems a little iffy to build up a big fire right before you go to sleep. But then again you want the house warm, so…

Anyway, thanks for any advice to a newbie

View attachment 292446 View attachment 292447 View attachment 292448 View attachment 292449

I am new to this site and considering the Focus 3600 ICC-RSF to replace a heat-n-glo gas zero clearance unit. After reviewing the Focus 3600 installation manual, the third photo in the original post caught my eye. It may be hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the top standoff might not be installed exactly as the instructions show on page 10 of the (2022) manual. The instructions show the part with the rounded edges being bent back at a 45 deg angle to act as a heat shield for the double 2X4 header, in which case it would be behind, instead of in front of the header. I didn't see any other replies to this original post so someone else may have seen the same thing.

Otherwise, how is the fireplace working? Would you recommend this unit to others? Any other tips you'd recommend on installation or operation?

Thank you.

 

[PDutro]

I am new to this site and considering the Focus 3600 ICC-RSF to replace a heat-n-glo gas zero clearance unit. After reviewing the Focus 3600 installation manual, the third photo in the original post caught my eye. It may be hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the top standoff might not be installed exactly as the instructions show on page 10 of the (2022) manual. The instructions show the part with the rounded edges being bent back at a 45 deg angle to act as a heat shield for the double 2X4 header, in which case it would be behind, instead of in front of the header. I didn't see any other replies to this original post so someone else may have seen the same thing.

Otherwise, how is the fireplace working? Would you recommend this unit to others? Any other tips you'd recommend on installation or operation?

Thank you.

Good eye. Yes when that picture was taken the stand-off had not been bent, but it was later and passed inspection.

I haven’t fired it up yet. It hasn’t been too cold here and I’m anticipating the first burn or two will be very fumey. Planning to do the first burn hopefully within a week and I’ll post back.

 

[PDutro]

Updated pics:

 

[PDutro]

Still haven’t burned it in yet! We ended up needing to wait on a storm collar for the attic. Everything is good to go now (except for the new floors later this year). It’s a rainy weekend so I’ll build the maiden fire on Sunday.

Still wondering whether monitoring temps on the wall and chase with an IR gun is prudent? I understand these units can put out some heat, and are designed to convect into the room so I can’t imagine temps inside the chase and wall cavity will be a concern, but this is also my first time with a fireplace design like this one.

 

[begreen]

What is being done for hearth protection? Is the black, bench hearth extension 100% non-combustible? Is there the required right-angle spark guard where the wall meets the floor and will the floor get covered with a non-combustible like cement board?

 

[PDutro]

What is being done for hearth protection? Is the black, bench hearth extension 100% non-combustible? Is there the required right-angle spark guard where the wall meets the floor and will the floor get covered with a non-combustible like cement board?

Thanks for your response!
Hearth is 18” deep and concrete so yes 100% non combustible. Yes a spark guard will be installed so there will be no need for the floor to be non-combustible.

Thoughts on IR thermometer?

 

[begreen]

How did they get that nice black glossy finish on concrete? It looks great.

I have an ADT IR thermometer. It works well. If the installation is properly done, I wouldn't be concerned about chase temps.

 

[EbS-P]

Thanks for your response!
Hearth is 18” deep and concrete so yes 100% non combustible. Yes a spark guard will be installed so there will be no need for the floor to be non-combustible.

Thoughts on IR thermometer?

You will use it for other things. Mine has moved from the stove to the kitchen for pizza stone temps. Get one that goes over 1000 F. Accuracy really isn’t super important so don’t spend more than 50$.

 

[PDutro]

How did they get that nice black glossy finish on concrete? It looks great.

I have an ADT IR thermometer. It works well. If the installation is properly done, I wouldn't be concerned about chase temps.

The contractor specializes in concrete hearths, it’s some kind of sealant he uses. He puts a dye in the concrete before he pours it. It’s actually not very glossy but the photo enhances the appearance of the finish for some reason.

Install was done to spec and the city inspector gave it a full pass, I’ve got the paperwork in hand. I’m just really OCD… 🤪

Thanks for the guidance.

 

[PDutro]

You will use it for other things. Mine has moved from the stove to the kitchen for pizza stone temps. Get one that goes over 1000 F. Accuracy really isn’t super important so don’t spend more than 50$.

Oooh, good point thanks.

 

[begreen]

Oooh, good point thanks.

Yes, my ADT unit measures up to 1022º F. A lot of the cheap units stop at 500 or 750ºF.

 

[mgtidwell]

Still haven’t burned it in yet! We ended up needing to wait on a storm collar for the attic. Everything is good to go now (except for the new floors later this year). It’s a rainy weekend so I’ll build the maiden fire on Sunday.

Still wondering whether monitoring temps on the wall and chase with an IR gun is prudent? I understand these units can put out some heat, and are designed to convect into the room so I can’t imagine temps inside the chase and wall cavity will be a concern, but this is also my first time with a fireplace design like this one.

Hi! I realize it has been a little while, but I am curious if you have any updated on the Focus 3600? How did it do last winter? We are about to pull the trigger on ordering one, but we haven't done it yet. Wanted to see how you are liking it and if you would have any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[PDutro]

Hi! I realize it has been a little while, but I am curious if you have any updated on the Focus 3600? How did it do last winter? We are about to pull the trigger on ordering one, but we haven't done it yet. Wanted to see how you are liking it and if you would have any recommendations?

Thanks!

We only used it maybe five times before the weather warmed up. It was fantastic though, looking forward to running it in the next week or so.

 

[mgtidwell]

We only used it maybe five times before the weather warmed up. It was fantastic though, looking forward to running it in the next week or so.

Awesome! Do you have any pictures of how it turned out in the end? Also, did you get any of the "accessories"? Meaning, an internal blower, heat distribution additions, etc.?

 

[PDutro]

Awesome! Do you have any pictures of how it turned out in the end? Also, did you get any of the "accessories"? Meaning, an internal blower, heat distribution additions, etc.?

Nope, we opted to just keep it simple. Our house is one level and 1,500 sq feet. The fireplace will keep the whole house warm on its own!

Actually I am in the middle of replacing our flooring throughout the main part of the house right now. Like, I am literally sitting down to let the Henry’s 549 Feather Finish dry on the last dip in my subfloor. By this weekend the floor install should be done and I will post more pics. Our plan is to have a floating shelving unit on the wall to the right of the fireplace, and a mirror or piece of metal art or something above it. So the fireplace wall won’t be finished until then, but here’s a video of our fist fire.

 

[Rachy]

Oh wow that looks great! We are in the process of purchasing this one or the Pacific energy PF 25 or the Harman Allure 50. I want the zc and husband wants the pellet. So stressful. Do you still love your 3600?

 

[PDutro]

Oh wow that looks great! We are in the process of purchasing this one or the Pacific energy PF 25 or the Harman Allure 50. I want the zc and husband wants the pellet. So stressful. Do you still love your 3600?

Yep. Can’t wait to use it again this fall/winter
Pellet stoves are awesome, but pellets in my mind are the variable. What is there’s a pellet shortage? You won’t be able to heat your home. Never going to be a wood shortage, just might require more work to acquire it some years.

Anyway, that is one of the many reasons we went wood burning rather than pellet or gas.

 

[Superman45]

Does your focus 3600 ever get red hot by the flue?