Jotul 602 in fireplace: Max heat output?

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nola mike

Minister of Fire
Sep 13, 2010
928
Richmond/Montross, Virginia
I'll be installing an old Jotul 602 in an older coal fireplace. Maybe 1/2 the stove will sit inside of the fireplace opening, which is masonry on an outside wall. I'm trying to figure out what would be the best way to get that heat into the room. I'll be making a block-off plate, insulating the chimney. I'm wondering if lining the fireplace with durock covered with some reflective steel or something would help...or if there's a better solution, or don't worry about it.
 

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It looks like you have quite a bit of brick there. As long as you install a block off plate you will be fine. The best thing you have going is that brick. Once you get it warm it will act as a great heat source too!
 
On an outside wall, you'd be better off with a convection stove there. Heat always transfers toward the largest temperature differential.
 
I don't think a reflective material inside the fireplace would bounce much heat out into the room. If the brick fireplace surround is wide enough, consider installing the little stove sideways, fully outside of the fireplace. That would get more heat into the room.

The block-off plate is a very good thing to do. Also I hope you are considering a stainless steel flue inside the chimney, ideally an insulated one if you have room. Plus a stainless cap on top of the brick chimney where the flue exits.
 
Hickoryman said:
I don't think a reflective material inside the fireplace would bounce much heat out into the room.

The idea is not to "bounce" heat back into the room. It is to form a radiant barrier and allow convection to carry it into the room. Should be able to reduce it by half.

If the brick fireplace surround is wide enough, consider installing the little stove sideways, fully outside of the fireplace. That would get more heat into the room.

That would be a mistake, since the 602 is primarily a side radiator. Best idea is to get the stove out of the fireplace as much as possible, AND put up a radiant barrier in the fireplace opening, with space at the bottom to set up the convection.
 
Yeah, the basic setup is pretty much predetermined, and i'm working with what I have, which is a small room with a small fireplace. With a small stove. It needs to sit within the fireplace, I'll only have a few inches of room either way. Unfortunately, getting a convection stove isn't an option. I will be putting in a block off plate and insulating the chimney (likely loose fill). Will adding durock or other insulator behind the sheetmetal help prevent transfer to the brick? How about a fan beneath the stove? Are there any stand-alone models, or are there examples of modded 602's?
 
Mike, the basic idea is to have the barrier (your sheetmetal) stand off say 1-2 inches from the fireplace wall, with say 2-3 inch opening on top and bottom. Using fans or not is up to you - I prefer not, unless they're necessary.
 
precaud said:
Mike, the basic idea is to have the barrier (your sheetmetal) stand off say 1-2 inches from the fireplace wall, with say 2-3 inch opening on top and bottom. Using fans or not is up to you - I prefer not, unless they're necessary.

what's the point of the gap around the edges? I had planned to insulate behind the radiant barrier in order to limit conductive heat loss through the masonry. Is that not advisable? If it is, what's the preferred insulating material?
 
Who said gap on edges? Gap on top and bottom. Don't insulate it. You're setting up a convection zone.

Or forget the airgap and insulate it.
 
If you can't see into the fireplace (i.e. don't care about the brick look), I would insulate with a layer of rock wool then durock with spacers.
 
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