Santa Fe insert pellet usage

[SmokeyTheBear]

Hmmmm .... Ok .... What I know for sure is, that it has a 3" liner to the top of chimney , but it IS NOT insulated behind the stove at the old damper/ block off, plate was removed, and pipe was just sealed at the cap at the top.. Sealed tight !! I could always install some fireproof insulation around the pipe at the block off this weekend if you think that much is going up the chimney ..
-scott

I'm not there so I don't know how much is going up, but I'd bet far more than you think is going up.

Some of the heat that gets produced exits through the sides and back and in an insert that means if there is any airflow up the flue for any reason up it goes, sealing the top doesn't mean that the airflow in the chimney is no longer happening (sounds weird saying that) but frequently it does. Seals not always being as one thinks they are.

I think it is called trust but verify.

 

[Wales915]

Thank you.. I know the cap and plate are sealed with enought silicone to do 4 implants But like you said, I'm still essentially heating the INSIDE of my masonry fireplace while trying to heat 4 rooms!! Makes sense !! I'll try some batts of fireproof stuff over the weekend, and let you know how it works.. Thank you again
- Scott

 

[Wales915]

What type of insulation would be safe to pack in the area around my 4" pellet pipe? The plate was removed, and I think a lot of heat maybe going right up to the sealed cap..

 

[DexterDay]

What type of insulation would be safe to pack in the area around my 4" pellet pipe? The plate was removed, and I think a lot of heat maybe going right up to the sealed cap..

Koa Wool will fit the bill. Or any ceramic blanket material that will withstand a high temp. Dont use regular insulation. As its only safe enough to touch the thimble that the vent goes through in a freestanding stove installation.

 

[Fish On]

Have you tried letting the stove run constantly on low or med? This will keep a much better "Soak" in the house. Temps will not fluctuate and you will be more comfortable. IMO.

I have tried the T-stat on Med. But I have found on Low (24/7) my Quad heats 2,180 sq to 75*. Until it hits about 10* outside. The house is much, much more comfortable. For 3 yrs I experimented with it. I found letting it Purr all day was best (only in the dead of winter/uses just as many pellets as stat).

It takes a lot of testing and experimenting to find what works for each home. But over time, you will find what works for you.

yup mine on med all the time and it burns way better, i really think its better to just let it burn all day. 24/7 I use about 1 and half bags give or take

 

[tjnamtiw]

Plain old fibreglass insulation WITHOUT the paper backing is good for up to 1000*F. Your vent pipe should be about 160*.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/insulation-temperatures-d_922.html

 

[Wales915]

Nice ... Thank you.... Kaowool I can order for about 20 bucks and is 4 cubic feet, which will leave plenty to stuff in there , the pipe terminates at the roofline, and as someone pointed out earlier, when installed, there was no plate placed there, SOOOO, now that I think more about it, 20% of my heat is probably keeping the manonary bricks nice and warm, while the stove struggles to heat 900 feet of home Come sense, I should have thought of it (
Still learning ..
-Scott
1st year Santa Fe owner

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Nice ... Thank you.... Kaowool I can order for about 20 bucks and is 4 cubic feet, which will leave plenty to stuff in there , the pipe terminates at the roofline, and as someone pointed out earlier, when installed, there was no plate placed there, SOOOO, now that I think more about it, 20% of my heat is probably keeping the manonary bricks nice and warm, while the stove struggles to heat 900 feet of home Come sense, I should have thought of it (
Still learning ..
-Scott
1st year Santa Fe owner

You'll do just fine, just keep poking around here all of this stuff has been pointed out over and over. Come the middle of February some of us might get a might short of the fuse but so far we haven't been able to get through the wires and bite anyone.

 

[Wales915]

Once again thanks ... I see with over 5400 posts, you really know what ur doing, or really like to type !! Hahaha thanks again from CT

 

[tjnamtiw]

Once again thanks ... I see with over 5400 posts, you really know what ur doing, or really like to type !! Hahaha thanks again from CT

Smokey gets bored real quick watching his beer fermenting

 

[tomandy]

Thank you.. I know the cap and plate are sealed with enought silicone to do 4 implants But like you said, I'm still essentially heating the INSIDE of my masonry fireplace while trying to heat 4 rooms!! Makes sense !! I'll try some batts of fireproof stuff over the weekend, and let you know how it works.. Thank you again
- Scott

If the cap and plate are sealed ( like mine ) How would heated air escape? Inside the flue around the stainless exhaust flue there isn't that much space that would be heated. Mine still uses a bag and a half a day. When I press other "one bag a day" users how much they burn, it's "well maybe a bit more".

 

[DexterDay]

Thank you.. I know the cap and plate are sealed with enought silicone to do 4 implants But like you said, I'm still essentially heating the INSIDE of my masonry fireplace while trying to heat 4 rooms!! Makes sense !! I'll try some batts of fireproof stuff over the weekend, and let you know how it works.. Thank you again
- Scott

If the cap and plate are sealed ( like mine ) How would heated air escape? Inside the flue around the stainless exhaust flue there isn't that much space that would be heated. Mine still uses a bag and a half a day. When I press other "one bag a day" users how much they burn, it's "well maybe a bit more".

Using an insert without a block-off plate will cause heat to go up inside the chimney. Which means heat loss. He was talking about two different things. Sealing the cap and then sealing off the chimney with a plate or insulation.

 

[Wales915]

Exacty, I'm hoping that once I insulate the space behind the insert/ specifically directly above the insert, I will stop heating the masonry ! )

 

[tomandy]

I also have a block off plate and the top of the flue sealed real well. Let us know how you make out. I will be curious about pellet usage also.