What's your opinion on the box store inserts?

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And as a fie fighter i would think you would appreciate us "fire code snobs" lol
 
99% of the calls ive seen related to stoves or inserts are chimney related. Never seen someone light an adjacent wall on fire or the floor in front of the stove, or any items on the hearth. I keep the gloves and stuff under the stove. They never get more than luke warm to the touch and even if they did catch on fire it would do nothing but stink up the house. If i have one place in the house where id rather see a box of matches or firestarters accidently light it would be sitting on my hearth under my steel stove where theres really nothing to burn.

What you also cant see in that picture is that i also have a fire sprinkler plumbed in above the hearth and two in the attic and three downstairs one for my reloading bench and gun safes, one above the powder magazine, and another one above my oil burner. Theyre are also sprinklers in each garage bay. I also have an ansul system in the kitchen because we have a built in fryer next to the stove. (Like to entertain in the summer and usually its a fish fry)
 
Well i see charred wood behind or beside in front and under stoves all the time during cleaning or inspections any of which could have easily gone a little farther and caused a fire. But most of the house fires caused by stoves that i have seen have been from an improper wall pass thru. But none of that means anyone should be careless with the placement of combustible materials around stoves because they can start fires. And i am all for sprinklers but wouldn't you rather not ever have it go off.
 
99% of the calls ive seen related to stoves or inserts are chimney related. Never seen someone light an adjacent wall on fire or the floor in front of the stove, or any items on the hearth. I keep the gloves and stuff under the stove. They never get more than luke warm to the touch and even if they did catch on fire it would do nothing but stink up the house. If i have one place in the house where id rather see a box of matches or firestarters accidently light it would be sitting on my hearth under my steel stove where theres really nothing to burn.

What you also cant see in that picture is that i also have a fire sprinkler plumbed in above the hearth and two in the attic and three downstairs one for my reloading bench and gun safes, one above the powder magazine, and another one above my oil burner. Theyre are also sprinklers in each garage bay. I also have an ansul system in the kitchen because we have a built in fryer next to the stove. (Like to entertain in the summer and usually its a fish fry)


Way to argue....... And as a firefighter i'm sure you have the understanding and engineering figured out for you sprinklers, and know that they need a minimum of 60psi to function. Sooooo if you dont have a booster pump at least you should probably just use a garden hose....... Keep being contrary, it will keep your mindset static instead of being open and listening.
 
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Well sorry bob dog but residential sprinklers don't need 60psi i dont remember the pressure off hand but it is lower than 60. I still think he is being ridiculous and i am by no means defending his argument that it is a good idea to store your matches under your stove that is surrounded by combustible materials
 
Yea way to go bobdog on educating us homeowners about commercial sprinkler systems lol its a residential rapid response system from Tyco. I think my garden hose can stay coiled up. I will continue to keep my gloves under my stove and you continue to treat people like uneducated sheep and we can agree to disagree. This thread is totally hijacked at this point. The combustibles on either side of my stove are no longer there. I took the picture while I was moving all the crap. My post was trying to reassure the op that big box stoves and inserts are perfectly serviceable in most cases. I'm not advocating storing everything in the house that burns 10" from the stove. I'm simply saying that I store my gloves and matches under the stove because that is the most convenient and least combustible area in my house and thats what im comfortable with.
 
Well i agree with you about the budget stove they can work quite well i am sure many will not hold up as long but for the price they can be a good deal. But your attitude about stove safety and code compliance is irresponsible and there are many here that will call you on it.
 
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Time to throttle down the fire here folks!

Everyone (nearly) on this forum are overly safety conscious. I for one, like that. As a fireman, you ought to as well.

Glad it's been tidied up, and good to know you have a good sprinkler system. I'd love to have one for my insert and over my reload bench!

Welcome to the site Moo, I've learned a ton here already.

But expect some jabs if you post anything but safe comments/photos.
 
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Everybody rest and get back on topic. We all know how itchy my delete finger gets.

As to "budget" stoves. As to me and my house, we love'em.
 
Thanks for the thread, I have the same question, big box vs dealer..... In the market for a new one as well.
 
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Another (retired) ff/emt here. Please don't take it personally, alerting folks to potential hazards is kind of a calling here.
 
But expect some jabs if you post anything but safe comments/photos.
Exactly why I don't post many pics here. Last year I asked one question about mantel clearance when I did my install and stirred up the safety po po here. (my setup worked very well in the end BTW, mantel is still room temp even after an hour of 700* stove top temps)

This thread is totally hijacked at this point.
Back on topic, I am really irritated that I missed a sale on Drolet 1800i inserts at the local big green box store recently, they had 'em for $799! That model seems to have really good reviews.

My budget Vogelzang Defender has been working pretty well for me if anybody cares
 
Englander is the best stove maker and a company that sticks with its product, reliable and cost effective with great customer service plus made in the USA, STAY AWAY FROM US STOVE - unreliable, poorly made, horrible customer care, and made in China - I own a US stove 2500 free stander I got a tractor supply- put out heat but simply didn't last..my 2 cents
They make most of their stoves in the US.
 
Here's my US Stove 2200. It's got a small firebox but it puts out great heat. Down stairs 76 up stairs 71 right now.
 

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Cracks, broken hinges, broken door latch. All in two years.
 
One thing is that the inserts in the value stoves are on the small side.
 
Back on topic, I am really irritated that I missed a sale on Drolet 1800i inserts at the local big green box store recently, they had 'em for $799! That model seems to have really good reviews.
My budget Vogelzang Defender has been working pretty well for me if anybody cares
If only I knew I needed one then!!
 
Its a very heavy duty firebox. I also have a vermont castings at the opposite end of the house. Again not a huge box but great so far. And this was in the house before I bought it. My house was the same temp when it was frosting Sunday night at 74 to 80s while 31 outside.
 

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