UPDATE - Help-new insert-no heat above 300 degrees

I wanted to let everyone who helped/advised me on my problem with my wood stove insert and not able to get above 300 degrees. The city inspector came out to my home today to inspect the install and per my request he "failed" it. He then contacted the installer who has been in business for many years to let him know about the failure. I also contacted my credit card company and they put a dispute on my card and will credit me the entire amount charged unless the installer rectifies the situation. Due to the fact the city "failed" the install the credit card company is 100% behind me. Then my phone did not stop ringing from the company I bought the wood stove from and the installer. Long story short the installer will make good and come out on Monday and give me a "full liner" with a block off plate. He will come back "free of charge" with all the labor and I will have to pay $312 for the materiel (liner). He wants to make good on the situation. After talking to him he explained to me that because I have a "center chimney" fireplace he did not think that a full liner was necessary. He thought I would not have a draft problem with that set up because of the center chimney. He told me that I have a block off plate and full blanket installed now so "air supply" is not the problem. He said that the problem is that the 6" flue pipe is dumping into a 12"x12" flue which is causing the draft problem. No kidding I told him!! I will be here when they come back because I am not sure if he really did install a block off plate and blanket because I put a match at the surround (with no fire in the wood stove) and the flame practically sucked in. I believe from what someone said the flame would get sucked in if there was "no" block off plate". So I will see if he was telling me the truth. I told him he will not leave my home or get paid until he fires up the stove and gets me to at least 600 degrees!! I am most grateful to all of you who gave me advice on this. I feel like I know so much more about how wood stoves work. I am forever thankful to all of you. I will post next week to let you know the outcome.

By the way, if anyone ever paid using a credit card you have a great leg to stand on should there be a problem with your wood stove.

Thanks for the positive feedback. I am glad to see that you are all good people who seem to really want to help others out. Yes, I am glad I did not throw my thermostat in the wood stove like one person who suggested it. I had a feeling he was kidding but you never know. I will definately be looking over the installers shoulder when he removes the surround. I better see a block off plate or #@%! will fly for lying to me. Based on everything that I have learned in the last 2 days I will accept nothing less then a metal block off plate, insulated blanket, full SS liner and the installer to fire it up to the appropriate temp prior to him leaving my home or........no $$! & the city inspector wants me to call him once it is complete to my satisfaction. God must be looking over my shoulder sending this specific inspector. I am a realtor by trade and have come across many many inspectors and this one is a peach! My husband says I must have been a lawyer in another life. I look forward to what all the buzz is about wood stoves. I will post next week to let you all know how things worked out. Happy Holidays!!

Just thought I would check in to see if any replys from my last post had any questions or statements. Yes, I will keep the wood stove experience in mind when I am out marketing and selling property. I will definately be pushing this site to anyone who needs assistance with wood stoves. No, the inspector never took off the surround. The moment he came into my home I showed him the stove and all of my complaints. He felt very upset for me and at the point he said " what would you like for me to do?" I said "fail it" and he said "you got it". I thought at the time I needed ammo with my credit card company should the installer give me a hard time. In the end he did not. I showed him (inspector) the manual and that was all he needed. He agreed that shortcuts should not be made in anyway and has heard many horror stories with wood stove installers. However, I dont think my installer was not trying to rip me off. He was very concerned that I was unhappy. He was also concerned the city failed it. He did not want the largest city in the state to fine him or red flag future permits pulled by his company. He told me I should have called him when I first realized the stove would not heat. I understand why he did not put in the liner, he said he was trying to save me money since he felt I did not need it. He now knows the set up wont work and will do what it needs. I have every intention on paying him for the labor. I was never looking for the cheap way out. My only complaint was that I did not want to have to pay for labor twice if you can understand that. Not sure how much I should give him though. $100 per hour, $200 per hour? I paid him $550 (labor) for the 1st install and they (2) where here about 4 hours. From all the comments on this site he seems a little cheap now that I think about it. He has been a mason for 26 years, is that qualified? His company has a clean record with the BBB also. I have every confidence he will make right.