Clearance questions on a new stove - with pictures!

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Wilbursan

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Jan 29, 2014
114
Upper Alabama
I figured I'd get more views if I put "pictures" in the subject line. :)

I started my first stove fire of the, well ever. New house, new stove. I just started a small fire to check for leaks and see that everything worked right. The stove is a Quadrafire 3100 Millennium.There is a double wall stove pipe and a Class A chimney. There are (or should be) a couple of pictures attached that show how close the stove pipe comes to an A/C vent and a recessed light. The closest the light fixture comes to the support is 9" and the closest to the stove pipe itself is 15". The vent is 16" and 22", respectively. Is this enough room? I would think if it's enough for the drywall it should be enough for the light fixture and vent.

Now in the attic - there is blown insulation right up against the chimney. Is this acceptable? The insulation looks about 18" or so deep there. When the fire was burning I dug down into the insulation and measured the chimney and the hottest I saw it get was 81 degrees. Just above the insulation line it was only 75.

I never did let the fire get very hot. The hottest temps I measured were 240 on top of the stove and on the stove pipe right right where the two meet. So I don't know how hot it will get if I get a good burn and just let it run.

IMG_20141108_160510207.jpg IMG_20141108_220416535.jpg IMG_20141108_220636670.jpg
 
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I would think the light and vent are fine. I do not recallthe requirements for class a clearances , but i believe it is 2 inches to combustibles. Dies your install have a attic insulation shield? I would probably move that insulation back 6 inches or so around it.
 
Great looking hearth.
 
I would think there should be a small metal box around the chimney in the attic to keep the insulation back a little. At least I would want one for piece of mind anyway. You'll love the stove, I have the same one in a step top with brass colored handles and door pins.
 
There is a 2 inch clearance requirement to combustibles. So, in your attic, you should have a box around the chimney holding insulation back. You can make one yourself with wood or buy one..just google attic insulation shields. Selkirk make a nice one for $50. It keeps all clearances in mind.

Nice hearth and stove setup! Just remember: you only tossed in a few pieces. More pieces = more heat! You'll certainly get nice long burn times with the stove.

Andrew
 
Everything looks fine except in the attic. You need an an attic insulation shield, putting the proper one in now is out of the question unless you tear the chimney down into the attic and drop it over the pipe. Assuming that ain't happening, you will need to have one made in place out sheet metel. It's not a big deal to make.
 
Agree with above, and would add that it is difficult to guess dimensions in the pictures, but it appears the pvc pipe, and possibly a rafter is within the 2" clearance. While you are at it, I would add a picture from the attic looking at the transition through the roof and possibly an exterior picture of the chimney.
 
I figured I'd get more views if I put "pictures" in the subject line.
Hey, it worked, I clicked.
A trip to the hardware for sheet metal and some tin snips will remedy that insulation clearance problem...
 
The pvc pipe is 3" from the chimney so technically it's fine. I can't believe these idiots put the pvc pipe on the chimney side of the supports instead of the other side. It would have added another 3" of clearance for no cost.

The rafter in the picture is 1-3/4" from the chimney so that's got to be fixed. If I build a sheet metal insulation shield that goes between the rafter and the chimney would that suffice since it's not combustible?

Looking up there is another rafter that is 2" from the chimney. Technically that fine but I may add a flat piece of sheet metal or something just to give me a warm fuzzy.
 
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