My Englander mistake...

I guess we all make mistakes, some of us more then others. I recently purchased a 30NC to replace my Napoleon 1402 insert. I knew I need the 6 inch legs with the Englander to use it as a free standing stove in my fireplace. Well,,,guess what, my calculations were about 2 inches off, and the 30 won't fit the proper way. I had my stove guy here yesterday who gave me the bad news. Without modifying my hearth, it just can't be done. What an a*& I am !! So my new Englander is now for sale and it looks like I am going with a Regency I3100 insert in my fireplace. Its the biggest unit that will fit, 2.9cf firebox isn't that bad. I have a local dealer which is nice. Whats not so nice is the price tag. I can buy 3 Englanders for what the Regency is gonna cost me. But at least I know it will fit. I guess I will wait to change the stove in my signature until the Regency gets installed. Live and learn.

Cut 3" off the legs and put some Micore under it. legs are relatively cheap.

Your $$$$, your choice. I second Beetle Kills suggestion. I love my thirty in the fireplace. Lots of bang for the $$$$$. Went from a Regency Insert to it, and haven't looked back.

IS there a difference between the pedestal and leg height? If not I'd cut the legs or have some made.

Pedestal is about the same height as the 9" legs.

What is the construction of the fireplace floor? If solid concrete another option may be to bore 4 leg holes into the concrete 2" deep.

If you cut 3" off the legs will that affect opening the ash drawer?

Removing 3" would put you at just about the same depth as the ash drawer.

That's not good.

Well, he only needs to reduce the height by 2 inches. He can cut 2.5-2.75 inches and still have some air space between the ash drawer.

I'm not recommending he does it, but I would seriously consider it if I was in that situation.

Thanks for the responses. I thought about cutting the legs even shorter, but the ash drawer would just be to close to the floor. Interior of the firebox floor is brick. The installer just has no room to work with his hands to get the stove pipe attached once the stove is installed.

Wow does that stink!! I would be concerned about the insurance co voiding a claim if something would go bad

Thanks Bart, I appreciate it. I have a housefull of company now, will measure tomorrow.

next suggestion- remove the ash drawer, weld in a block-off plate. This would not cost much.
Install stove body on wooden wedges, hook up flue pipe to stove and hammer wedges together to get the stove up to height.
install shortened legs and remove wedges, install the Micore if required.
Loss of the ash drawer wouldn't bug me at all.

Lintel is just under 29 inches, couldn't help myself, had to measure !!

What about hooking up using a thimbal in the chimney??

That was my nightmare when I installed my PH. It fit, but not much wiggle room. My plan B was to install a thimbal.

Maybe you can attach the liner from inside the stove? When I was installing mine, I thought that I had to do it this way because of my clearance. Well, I did not but I made provisions for this. I attached my coupler to the stove predrilled the holes for the self-tappers so that I pull the liner with the coupler in to the stove then run the self tappers from the inside out. It would have worked, tight though.

When you want something to happen, you get crafty!

This should work.

Perfect! Give them all work gloves and a hacksaw and start on those legs!

Well, ya'll lost me at cutting the legs that was my first thought when I read the original post.

If the 30 is like the 13, I see what you're say'in. It won't work as I suggested. You are correct, I apologize.
But... if the 13 is the same as the 30, I have an idea. No, I won't publish my ignorance any further on these mods., but I do have an idea.