Help! Any data for installing woodstoves fully INSIDE fireplaces?

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gparzych

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Jan 8, 2012
15
CT
Hi,

I've got a Jotul F3 lined up and I've painstakingly measured my existing fireplace (brand new masonry) and if I push the stove all the way to the back of the fireplace the whole stove will sit just inside the face of the fireplace, maybe 1" inside. My surround (that I friend custom built less than two months ago, before we caught the woodstove bug) is a few inches shy of the published Jotul clearances. I want the stove so we can still enjoy a fire but get some supplemental heat out of it, I do realize that it's not efficient to have the whole stove in there but it is what it is.

The question: Do the clearances still apply if the whole stove sits inside the fireplace? I've had several different installers opinions that its absolutely safe, however since jotul doesn't publish anything about it a building inspector might have a problem with it. Unfortunately I have to get it permitted b/c I have another permit open for this area of the house and it will be inspected within months.

Does anyone know of any sources or literature on this topic, besides word of mouth? I'm definitely going to bring donuts to my meeting with the Building Inspector to grease the wheels.
 
Might want to contact Jotul directly. i had the same doubts when planning for installing an Englander 13 completely in the firebox. Englander confirmed that the all brick firebox was indeed considered non-combustible and the clearances were a moot point. I needed to hear it from them and was glad to have asked. I did go above and beyond with the non-combustible/r-value surface and clearances in front of the stove, too.
 
Welcome. Yes, as described the stove will fully meet the side clearances. The downside will be that a lot of heat is going to be trapped in the fireplace, heating up the masonry and little else. To mitigate this problem a block-off plate at the lintel level will help stop heat accumulation up in the damper bell, or worse yet, up the chimney.

Considering this is brand-new, maybe there are other options? If it's any consolation, I eventually tore out a complete custom mantel and tile surround that I made and was my pride and joy. But I did it to finally get heating right. (Well, I didn't stop at the mantel, I tore out the whole fireplace. lol) A good wood stove setup is going to be for a long time. Try to get it right or you will be back next year asking about larger stoves, maybe with a blower.
 
I left a message for Jotul technical assistance today but am doubtful I'll hear back from them in time for tomorrow morning. I'm hoping the BI is fine with it and we go on our way...
 
This is a compromise setup b/w my wife and I...I don't want to go to the work of harvesting wood just to burn it in a fireplace, she wants the ambience of a fire and for her living room to look a certain way. Next winter we'll put a big one right in the center of the house venting out a different chimney...
 
The key point is "clearance to combustibles". Fireplace walls are not combustible. The inspector won't need donuts to realize that.
 
BeGreen said:
Welcome. Yes, as described the stove will fully meet the side clearances. The downside will be that a lot of heat is going to be trapped in the fireplace, heating up the masonry and little else. To mitigate this problem a block-off plate at the lintel level will help stop heat accumulation up in the damper bell, or worse yet, up the chimney.

Considering this is brand-new, maybe there are other options? If it's any consolation, I eventually tore out a complete custom mantel and tile surround that I made and was my pride and joy. But I did it to finally get heating right. (Well, I didn't stop at the mantel, I tore out the whole fireplace. lol) A good wood stove setup is going to be for a long time. Try to get it right or you will be back next year asking about larger stoves, maybe with a blower.
Click to expand...

We installed our stove completely within the fireplace, and the bricks do get quite warm.

It's not wasted heat here though, after the fire has gone out, it's like a steady heat reservoir which emits warmth for hours. :)
 
Thanks for the responses...

Good News and Good News...
1) The Building Inspector will approve my proposed installation (I ended up talking to Jotul NA as well, and they're response was interesting and helpful). HOWEVER, I had a white enamel FF3 Clean Burn lined up to buy and the seller backed out at the last minute.

2) I found a different older Model 3 and saw on the UL badge on the back that hearth mount clearances on this model were SMALLER and I could easily install on my hearth, even sticking out as much as I want, so it was serendipitous that the seller backed out...
 
Good News for sure, Post some pics when you get it all completed.
 
Sounds like you've got things under control.

Our stove is about 1/2 in the fireplace. I think we're going to get the short leg kit to push it all the way in. Being lower, it will probably let more heat out under the lintel.
 
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