Fireplace put out more heat then insert ?

Ryanm: Were you able to troubleshoot further on your stove issue? I am new to the forum and interested in getting my first insert soon...I am learning a lot from your thread. Thanks, dan

Gorgeous living space

Can the glass looking panel around the insert be removed and trimmed up, so that you can raise the insert and add the blower? Doesn't the blower mount on the lower front of these?

Not if its LED

you need a blower...also, I have TV above and the air outlet is a top of stove so it actually helps blow the hot air out into the room and not actually rising into the electronics.

Just curious, do you remember the model number of the Heatilator?

Since all you really have is radiant to work with, I would run your stove with as little air as possible. If you have an IR gun it's a fun exercise to keep it directed at the glass with the air wide open and the fire raging, then shut the air way down and watch the glass temp start to rapidly climb. When I'm not running my blower and want to get as much heat as possible out the front of my insert the lower setting bumps up the glass temp by almost 200F, greatly increasing the the amount of IR given off.

Ryan, I have just about the same set up as you the only difference is the size stove. Mine, I think is smaller (believe it or not). Your problem is your wood, your wood, your wood...did I say wood? It is not seasoned for what that stove needs. I have a blower and when this little stove is cruising at 500 I can turn off the blower and get a very good hot radiant heat from it, way better then the heat from the heatilator was giving you, plus you will have longer burns. Get some wood that is 1-2 years seasoned and try it but be careful of that TV then... it may be toast.
md

especially w/o a mantle or heat deflector of some kind!