First post in this forum and I want to start off by saying that there is a wealth of information here and I appreciate any and all feedback.
Previously I owned a Jotul F400 Castine (double door) that was standing in my fireplace with the short leg kit for 9 years.
I've recently moved and sad to say the F400 stayed with the house. I'm now looking at a C450 double door with heat shield (seems like the F400 in an insert form). I chose an insert mainly due to clearance constraints as I don't intend to rebuild the fireplace. (wood trim/mantel)
Chimney is between the colonial "box" and the breezeway (family room) facing the family room. so the exposed brick chimney is 18' on the outside...the rest is inside.
I'm looking at doing a full length liner for safety and draft improvement.
Questions -
1. Does the stove perform better with a block off plate? Figuring that it retains more heat around the unit to blow back into the room.
2. I've read comments where the blower will reduce the stove temp? If so, does this make it harder to maintain stove temps? (Figuring that this can't be an issue or else no insert would have one.)
3. Pricing-wise I was told that the surround was optional....true? The brochure says "standard"...guessing dealers all price the way they want?
4. $1650 absurd for total install cost? (6", 30')
5. Do you get creosote falling from the pipe into the stove only to ignite? (My F400 had a partial liner with a tee and I always had stuff falling into the cleanout...not tons but still had some.)
6. How do you clean the liner....remove the baffle and let the stuff fall into the stove or do you remove the entire unit for every cleaning?
7. primary air vent is in the rear of the unit...so if the insert is "inserted" into the fireplace and the surround plate is not vented (or is it?) then unless I do an OAK how does it breathe? I first thought that the front grill fed both the blower and the combustion air but fig 18 in the manual doesn't show that.
...and finally...
8. Anyone in the Southern NH, North Shore/Merrimack Valley MA area want to show me their seasoned C450? PM me if you are interested....
Thanks and I'm sure I'll think of another question right after I click "submit post".
Previously I owned a Jotul F400 Castine (double door) that was standing in my fireplace with the short leg kit for 9 years.
I've recently moved and sad to say the F400 stayed with the house. I'm now looking at a C450 double door with heat shield (seems like the F400 in an insert form). I chose an insert mainly due to clearance constraints as I don't intend to rebuild the fireplace. (wood trim/mantel)
Chimney is between the colonial "box" and the breezeway (family room) facing the family room. so the exposed brick chimney is 18' on the outside...the rest is inside.
I'm looking at doing a full length liner for safety and draft improvement.
Questions -
1. Does the stove perform better with a block off plate? Figuring that it retains more heat around the unit to blow back into the room.
2. I've read comments where the blower will reduce the stove temp? If so, does this make it harder to maintain stove temps? (Figuring that this can't be an issue or else no insert would have one.)
3. Pricing-wise I was told that the surround was optional....true? The brochure says "standard"...guessing dealers all price the way they want?
4. $1650 absurd for total install cost? (6", 30')
5. Do you get creosote falling from the pipe into the stove only to ignite? (My F400 had a partial liner with a tee and I always had stuff falling into the cleanout...not tons but still had some.)
6. How do you clean the liner....remove the baffle and let the stuff fall into the stove or do you remove the entire unit for every cleaning?
7. primary air vent is in the rear of the unit...so if the insert is "inserted" into the fireplace and the surround plate is not vented (or is it?) then unless I do an OAK how does it breathe? I first thought that the front grill fed both the blower and the combustion air but fig 18 in the manual doesn't show that.
...and finally...
8. Anyone in the Southern NH, North Shore/Merrimack Valley MA area want to show me their seasoned C450? PM me if you are interested....
Thanks and I'm sure I'll think of another question right after I click "submit post".