GOOD......................hopefully you will get an "agreeable" inspector?I did speak with the dept of energy here in oregon (people who process the applications for tax credit) and they told me that there were two options. The ones I listed above. So yes the connection to the hearth is a option. Not their 'preferred' option but a option listed in the rules none the less. And the inspectors go off the dept of energy rules. So I am thinking it is ok. But we will have it installed in the hearth so that if we had to install to the stove we can do that.
What county you in?