Newbie trying to use an existing wood stove insert inside fireplace

[gzax]

So I had to cancel the order with the local fireplace company to redo the glass panels.. They had already ordered the fire resistant / tempered glass and I had to pay for it.. Is there anyway I can get rid of it? Is someone interested in a piece of glass like that? I can put in the measurements once I pick it up.. I had to pay $175.00 for both the glass and shipping. :-(

 

[gzax]

Bholler gives great advice! As for recommendations for a new stove, what is your floor plan, open or closed? A quick diagram would be good. How good is the insulation in your home? Do you have a supply of dry wood for this year?

As for burning over 8 hours, you will need over a 2 cu. ft. stove. How much bigger will depend on the answers to the above.

sorry didn't see this reply until now.. I am trying to rip out the wood stove insert tomorrow.. Hopefully I can get it out myself.

Floor plan - The house is a contemporary cape. Living room (where the fire place is) has cathedral (tall) ceilings.. 8.5 ft tall(on one side where the balcony and stairs are - for the upstairs) and the other side goes into the roof with skylights.11.25 ft wide (which opens into kitchen and Dining area and also a small way to downstairs bedroom and bath.. 23 ft long, and runs into the stairs for the basement and stairs for second floor(bedrooms). So I think it can be called open floor plan. I believe the insulation is pretty good, the house doesn't get that cold and when heat comes on, it stays for a while until the next session begins unless during single digits. I live in MA.

Had 7 Red OAK's taken down in April of this year and that is what I am planning to burn. I have split them into smaller pieces so it dries quickly as I was told by a tree service guy and my neighbor.

Will have the measurements for the fireplace area hopefully by tomorrow once I pull out the insert.

 

[Grisu]

Put the glass doors on and offer your insert on Craigslist. With heating season coming up you should find a buyer for a few hundred.

This may help when measuring the fireplace: (broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.com/how-to-measure)
And it would be helpful if you can post a pic once the insert is out.

 

[bholler]

Put the glass doors on and offer your insert on Craigslist. With heating season coming up you should find a buyer for a few hundred.

I doubt you would get a buyer these things are really not much of a stove at all. And besides the only way they can be used is as a slammer which is terribly unsafe. I say try to sell the glass and scrap the stove. I personally feel selling it as a working heater would be unethical.

 

[gzax]

Put the glass doors on and offer your insert on Craigslist. With heating season coming up you should find a buyer for a few hundred.

This may help when measuring the fireplace: (broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.com/how-to-measure)
And it would be helpful if you can post a pic once the insert is out.

I may keep the glass and try selling it as I don't want to hold on to a large piece of hardware that is hard to get rid off, not up to code, etc. Hopefully the fireplace company coming in to install the new wood stove insert takes it back (like they do for refridgerators,etc).. Or is that my wishful thinking..

 

[gzax]

I doubt you would get a buyer these things are really not much of a stove at all. And besides the only way they can be used is as a slammer which is terribly unsafe. I say try to sell the glass and scrap the stove. I personally feel selling it as a working heater would be unethical.

I am only interested in selling the glass to recoup my expense or someone asking for a part of that. I don't want to hold onto a large piece of hardware.. bholler, I believe you mentioned earlier that you pulled out a similar one recently for a customer putting in a new one or so.. Did your company / business took the old one back so it can be scrapped or is it up on the home owner to get rid of this? Thank you again for all the replies..

 

[gzax]

I was able to slide it out, but couldn't get it off the hearth as it is a bit heavy for me to handle by myself. So far I can get the measurements of the opening and it is 27 inches(height)x 33.5 inches(wide)x 21 inches (depth).. It tapers as it goes in.. Hopefully I can get all the measurements by the end of the day when I get some additional help.. Couldn't find any free standing stoves that fit that size of an opening..

 

[gerry100]

we had a '70s style insert when we bought our house.

big issue with inserts just shoved into the fireplace is the "smoke shelf" part of your original fire box. Creosote collects there and is hard to get out.

Led to a violent chimney fire that ,combined with a shoddy chimney nearly burnt our house down.

Scrap it.

 

[bholler]

I am only interested in selling the glass to recoup my expense or someone asking for a part of that. I don't want to hold onto a large piece of hardware.. bholler, I believe you mentioned earlier that you pulled out a similar one recently for a customer putting in a new one or so.. Did your company / business took the old one back so it can be scrapped or is it up on the home owner to get rid of this? Thank you again for all the replies..

that depends if the customer wants us to take it we will but we prefer to leave it honestly scrap value is way down it hardly pays for us to haul it.

 

[gzax]

that depends if the customer wants us to take it we will but we prefer to leave it honestly scrap value is way down it hardly pays for us to haul it.

Thank you.. I realize that it may not be worth it for the installer. But for the home owner, they may have to schedule a trash disposal company to pick it up and pay for it.. For my town, the disposal rules are pretty hard.. :-(

 

[gzax]

we had a '70s style insert when we bought our house.

big issue with inserts just shoved into the fireplace is the "smoke shelf" part of your original fire box. Creosote collects there and is hard to get out.

Led to a violent chimney fire that ,combined with a shoddy chimney nearly burnt our house down.

Scrap it.

Thank you..

 

[bholler]

Thank you.. I realize that it may not be worth it for the installer. But for the home owner, they may have to schedule a trash disposal company to pick it up and pay for it.. For my town, the disposal rules are pretty hard.. :-(

we will still take them if asked to you wouldhave to check with your installer on their policy

 

[gzax]

Please see the measurements of my fireplace..

fireplacemeasurements01 - shows the entire fire place and the measurements..

Fireplacemeasurements02 - shows the opening from inside the fireplace up to the chimney with the metal door where it tapers to the top.

Please let me know if there are any questions and waiting for your replies..

Thank you..

 

[gzax]

Also your thoughts on using Red OAK that was taken down in April.. Split into pieces smaller than 6 inches thick based on the arborist and neighbors.. Do you think it will be ready for me to use this winter? I have stacked them and put a tarp on the top (sides are open for air circulation) to prevent the fall rain...

 

[blacktail]

The garbage dump closest to me takes scrap metal for free. Even items that aren't 100% metal. I've tossed a lawn mower in the scrap metal dumpster with no questions asked.

 

[DanCorcoran]

Also your thoughts on using Red OAK that was taken down in April.. Split into pieces smaller than 6 inches thick based on the arborist and neighbors.. Do you think it will be ready for me to use this winter? I have stacked them and put a tarp on the top (sides are open for air circulation) to prevent the fall rain...

I can't imagine that your oak will be ready to burn. Mine has been drying for four years, and is now around 12% (very dry). Most people say a minimum of two years, but longer depending on wind and humidity. Because oak is so dense, it takes longer than most wood to dry.

 

[gerry100]

Oak will burn with < 1 yr seasoning, but I know from experience that the heat output is significantly reduced vs 2 + yrs seasoned.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Also your thoughts on using Red OAK that was taken down in April.. Split into pieces smaller than 6 inches thick based on the arborist and neighbors.. Do you think it will be ready for me to use this winter? I have stacked them and put a tarp on the top (sides are open for air circulation) to prevent the fall rain...

Don't burn it this year, save it for the future when it's under 20% MC......

 

[gzax]

Didn't hear back from anyone in the forum regarding the floor plan. I did end up placing an order for a new fireplace insert.

 

[Smoked]

Didn't hear back from anyone in the forum regarding the floor plan. I did end up placing an order for a new fireplace insert.

What did you decide on? after seeing the numbers on the fireplace, the Insert was prolly the easier solution.

 

[gzax]

What did you decide on? after seeing the numbers on the fireplace, the Insert was prolly the easier solution.

Insert... Quadrafire Voyager

 

[gzax]

I have that pyro ceramic glass ( the one that I had to special order) for sale and it is posted here.. Let me know if anybody is interested..