I had this insert dealer installed about eight weeks ago and thought I would post some of my thoughts, observations and opinions. As I write this, I want to say that the stove has been running at 3/4 open on the t-stat for over two hours. Full flame and dancing flames abound. Cat is right in the middle of the active zone and fan is high. Now, the thermometer is about 12 feet from the stove on a coffee table. The temperature is 70 degrees. I expected that after spending thousands of dollars, it would be way better than this. Yup, tried lots of things. Yup, guys at Blaze King are awesome, but this stove never got my room all that hot. I was at a friends house the other day and he has a non-cat insert. His insert ran way hotter, with less wood, and a stronger blowing fan, and spent over $800 less. Both our wood came from the same guy too. Dealer thinks that the wood isn't seasoned. Ok. Maybe next year will be better, but this is kind of finger pointing. Perhaps the insert puts out lots of heat, it just doesn't seem to heat up the room. My friend complains his stove room gets too hot. Not to worry with the Princess insert, you will not be concerned with breaking a sweat. I read and reread these forums before I purchased this brand because of the high opinions of the owners. My experience is really quite different. At the end of the year I will pull out the insert and check to see if the damper bypass is shutting correctly because I can't figure out where the heat is going if it's 70 degrees in front of the stove. Speaking of the fan, the grill is as wide as the stove, yet only blows air in the middle (I guess this is normal). After spending so much money, I have drawn some conclusions…does give a long burn time, less heat output then I thought there would be, fan is louder than you think, seems there are more powerful fans in the market, bringing up wood is a lot of work for 70 degrees. It's an ok stove that i don't think it worth a premium price, hardly any heat with the fan off (hope the electric don't go out!). My house has newer windows, deep attic insulation, and insulation under the vinyl siding. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I really want to write more glowing things, but it would not be my experience.
Blaze King Princess Insert….it's just OK
- Thread starter coach0519
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
A cat stove will be more sensitive to wood not quite seasoned than a tube stove. A couple of questions, did you insulate and install a block off plate? Do you know the moisture content of the wood?
Everyone's home is different so what may work in his may not work in yours, also stoves are different so what will burn hot in his may not burn as well in yours.
Maybe we can figure out some things to help you heat better.
My stove throws out a ton of heat and gets my large family room of about 600 sf over 80 if I let it.
Everyone's home is different so what may work in his may not work in yours, also stoves are different so what will burn hot in his may not burn as well in yours.
Maybe we can figure out some things to help you heat better.
My stove throws out a ton of heat and gets my large family room of about 600 sf over 80 if I let it.
xtrordinair
Member
something is not quite right .i have installed a few of these and having only 70 degrees in front of the stove should not be all you get out of that insert.With good seasoned hard wood and the t-stat on about 2-3 range the insert temp should be 550 -600 and blowing really hot air.How big is the room its in?
sticks
Burning Hunk
BurningBrutus
Member
I have attached the house layout. The insert is installed on an interior wall. It is located where it says 28 and faces the larger part of the house. The room that it is located in is 28'x22' (616 sq ft). The entire house has 8' ceilings. What I find strange is that the hot air doesn't get too far into the room where we sit. Seems it is a bunch hotter at the ceiling. Bend the fins on the vent down? Thanks Weather guy…I know that the stainless steel liner is insulated and sealed off at the cap. It doesn't have a block off plate. If this is needed, why didn't the dealer that is wett certified and installed lots of these do it? In regards to the wood situation, I live in suburbia. I buy my wood from a seller. Sure he said it was seasoned, but ??? I don't have a good moisture meter, but so what? At the end of the day, I have to burn what I have. I might have made a big error buying cat technology if my friend's blows hot. Next year, the wood will be a year older and I guess better. Doesn't seem much hotter when I throw in bio bricks either. My opinions are as objective as can be, just wish for better results
Attachments
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
Not all installers put in a block off plate, not sure why but you can lose a lot of air up the chimney, I noticed a big difference when I put mine in. Best thing to do is buy your wood a year or two ahead of time and let it season. With your ceilings a ceiling fan would help, I have two and makes a big difference otherwise all my heat would pool at the top of the cathedral ceiling.
Weather Guy, thank you for your reply. Can you explain what a block off plate is or how to make one. Might you have a picture of one?
xtrordinair
Member
the bypass cable must be messed up or something .Unless the wood you have is just not seasoned well at all.I realize you are frustrated with the results but our store has installed lots of B.K stoves and inserts and they just dont perform like that ..
I am thinking along the same lines xtrordinare. Are there instructions on how to adjust or otherwise know if it is out of adjustment? I didn't see it in the manual. The brick wall that the insert is installed on is very warm. I cannot help but think that quite a bit of heat is going up the chimney.
Thank you…will try to make this. Looks like it will be much harder now that it is installed
xtrordinair
Member
the block off plate wouldnt hurt to try.I just cant imagine it losing that much heat if its blocked at the top and the chimney is on a interior wall.Have you been able to get the cat probe pegged to the max or seen the cat glow like the sun?
xtrordinair
Member
The cable system is kinda tricky if you get in there and mess with it make sure you take a picture of the routing even then its easy to get it mixed up.We have had a couple inserts with problems with the cables this season.if the insert is new i would have the dealer check it for proper adjustment.
Yes to both. After 5-6 hours of running the stove wide open, the room will get to 78 degrees 21' away at 6.5' height.
OK, will do. I don't want a diy project that can go bad…especially when it's cold
xtrordinair
Member
wow running it wide open ,if i tried that not only would it blow through the wood the temp would be insane in the area around the stove.
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
You should be able to get the cat well into the active zone and leave the stat at 1 and the stove should be throwing some serious heat.
We are way overdue for a pic of this stove and install. From ten to fifteen feet away.
How tall is the chimney?
This is a complaint that just isn't heard! Something is missing here. I'd put a bill on the wood being the issue here. Until you know how seasoned or unseasoned that wood is, it will be hard to track down the issue. How bout a picture of the wood too?
This is a complaint that just isn't heard! Something is missing here. I'd put a bill on the wood being the issue here. Until you know how seasoned or unseasoned that wood is, it will be hard to track down the issue. How bout a picture of the wood too?
Something doesn't add up, any modern stove when ran right with good fuel should be able to run you out of a 600sq' room. Running it wide open is pushing a lot of air through the stove and quickly, try turning it down and keep some of that heat in the stove instead of blowing it up the pipe. Start by trying the t-stat in the middle and the blower on a medium type setting.
What type of temps are you getting on the insert face? How are you running the stove? How full are you loading it and what type of fuel are you burning?
What type of temps are you getting on the insert face? How are you running the stove? How full are you loading it and what type of fuel are you burning?
thanks rust. I agree. I have tried from low to high it doesn't make much of a difference. I have the t-stat in the middle and medium fan when I go to bed on a cold night. loaded full or loaded half doesn't make too much of a difference. I do not own a thermometer that measures the temp on the insert face. I think a bunch of heat is going up the chimney.
- Status
