Newbie installing a Drolet 1800 insert...any installation/operating tips?

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jfhull71

New Member
Oct 11, 2022
27
Pennsylvania
Installing a Drolet 1800 insert this weekend after I sweep my existing chimney (waiting on delivery of my kit from Amazon since the professionals are out a month with appointments). Flue is 13'6" from where top of the stove will be to top of the chimney, guessing another 6" with top plate and rain cap installed. Almost a straight shot down. Cut out the damper and clearanced the throat for the liner last night with a wafer wheel on angle grinder. Chimney is outside the chase and top 6' to 7' is 12"x 9" tile lined.... planning on insulating the liner with 1" kaowool. Anyone think I'll have draft issues? Planning on cutting the damper to block off up to the clearanced section, silicone seams and 2" kaowool on top of it as well as packing the remaining hole around liner with kaowool.

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The Drolet is a pretty easy breather. It should be ok.
 
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Did my 1800i last fall. It’s lighter than I thought it would be. I could lift one side while a helper cribbed under it. Plan sounds good. Rock wool is also used to insulated the blockoff plate. I had one offset and it took three people to shove/pull it down. The power cord can be swapped to exit the other side fairly easily.

My 24’ is too much draft.
 
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Did my 1800i last fall. It’s lighter than I thought it would be. I could lift one side while a helper cribbed under it. Plan sounds good. Rock wool is also used to insulated the blockoff plate. I had one offset and it took three people to shove/pull it down. The power cord can be swapped to exit the other side fairly easily.

My 24’ is too much draft.
Yes I am going to lay kaowool on top of it, they use it at work and I have access to scraps/end cuts. Thanks for the input, too much ot these days to do this more than once. The liner will hopefully not be bad to get down...shorter length and one very slight offset. The fireplace smoked the house at startup and when burned down, has a large opening. Trying to burn a little less wood and not smell like a campfire all winter, lol
 
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I have a Drolet 1400 insert stove (baby brother to the 1800) on a 17' chimney, it works fine...I'm sure you'll be ok.
 
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Installed this weekend, good prep and two friends got the liner and stove in the hole in 30 minutes, nothing left but the faceplate and surround after a couple burns to make sure all is good...44 on it's way to 32 tonight just loaded for the night and going to go to minimum in 10 minutes, already at 77 at the thermostat at other end of the house... stove lights, and burns awesome.
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Just in time!

Keep the ash lip clean so that the blower doesn't suck in the ash and blow dust around the house.
 
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Just in time!

Keep the ash lip clean so that the blower doesn't suck in the ash and blow dust around the house.
Thanks for the tip, really easy install and really from the fireplace...1/4 the wood, 3 times the heat and no smoke or smell in the house.... really happy with how it draws considering my installed flue length from stove top to end of liner is on 13'3"
 
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Sounds good. Drolet's are easy breathers. 13 ft. is often fine.
 
Sounds good. Drolet's are easy breathers. 13 ft. is often fine.
I was just worried cause the fireplace was a tricky groan that would go from chimney to house drafting in a second...my regular bartenders told me all last winter I smelled like a campfire... not this year...lol