Oslo ordered. Did I screw up??? Maybe a Rangely?

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Jim and Sue

Member
Feb 19, 2015
47
Northern Mi
I ordered the Jotul Oslo. I saw what I thought were all the clearances. While looking for the hearth size needed in a corner application I kind of hit a wall. I've read that unless you have 36" from the left side you can't use the door??? If you use the front door there is an ash spillage problem ? Some have even written that if you can't use the left side door, there is no sense getting an Oslo. Say it ain't so!
 
Have never owned an Oslo. From what I understand ash build up on the front door is usually caused by always using the side door. I don't think it would be a problem if the front door is used primarily. I'm sure some of the more experienced guys will chime in shortly. Congratulations on your purchase!
 
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It's not the ideal stove for a corner install. This is why I ended up getting the Castine and now have the Alderlea. That said some folks do run it front load and just stay on top of the ash buildup.
 
The specs say 36 inches for a side load, but you don't need that much room. I am on the road today in the big rig, dodging the hurricane. If I were at home I would measure the left side, I think I have 24 inches, tops. Left door works fine.

It is a great wood stove measure what you have on the left side and tell us what it is.
 
I own the nice looking piece of heating furniture called the Oslo 500 and my advice is change as fast as possible.

Since the depth of the fire box is very shallow, you will almost always have an ash buildup and spillage when you are using the front door.

As for loading the side door, about the time the first log rolls toward the glass and you have to carefully use the poker to rearrange it away, you realize the presence of andirons in the F3CB or another brand like the Woodstock Ideal Steel are the best things to have.

I will make a moral statement here. If I was married to your sister or a cousin, this is not the stove I would want to use in a power outage to keep them warm. I purchased it since it was the largest rear flue stove which would fit into my fireplace which has a stainless steel chimney.
 
I ordered the Jotul Oslo. I saw what I thought were all the clearances. While looking for the hearth size needed in a corner application I kind of hit a wall. I've read that unless you have 36" from the left side you can't use the door??? If you use the front door there is an ash spillage problem ? Some have even written that if you can't use the left side door, there is no sense getting an Oslo. Say it ain't so!

I have A Jotul Oslo F500 in a corner install. If you want to use the side door it is not ideal with tight side clearance. However the Oslo is a versatile unit and I just use the front door. The ash is a minor nuisance but that is why I have a hearth pad. Most wood stoves are butt ugly and the reason I got the Oslo is based on looks. Many people on this site do not factor looks into the buying equation. If I have to look at it for the next twenty years it better add to the appearance of the home. Also my home is over 3000 Square feet in Northern MA and I would have complete confidence in its ability to heat my home in a power outage. It does heat my entire home. My unit has been great and going into my 4th burning season.
 
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The Oslo is not the ideal stove for a corner install- yes the manual says 36" in a corner to combustibles. In fact, if less than 36", it is supposed to have the side door lock kit installed. The Oslo is a wonderful burning stove, but the side load is a main attribute. I would suggest if loading from the front isn't attractive, change to another stove. Lots of pretty stoves out there, the ash build up in front is I think as has been mentioned is due to loading from the side. If one loads from the front, you'll be more apt to keep the ashes cleared. Love the Oslo, but as a corner stove, its prob not the best choice.
 
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There are other good looking front loading stoves that will work well in a corner. The Enviro Boston, Quadrafire Explorer, Jotul Rangely, Pacific Energy Alderlea, and Blaze King Ashford are some that come to mind.
 
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The Rangely is a great option. It's a top and front loader and has closer clearances.
 
The specs say 36 inches for a side load, but you don't need that much room. I am on the road today in the big rig, dodging the hurricane. If I were at home I would measure the left side, I think I have 24 inches, tops. Left door works fine.

It is a great wood stove measure what you have on the left side and tell us what it is.

If the specs say you need 36" to combustibles that is what you need 36" period.
 
  • Mine is perfect in the corner. I made sure the stove is forward enough so when opening the side door it clears the wall and will swing to the back of the stove. This install issue has been discussed before, and it is not clear why there is a issue. You do will meet the clearance to combustibles for the rear and corner.
 
It's the same reason 36" clearance is required in front of the stove too. All it would take is an errant ember spark popping out and catching something on fire like a curtain. Your hearth looks pretty well protected but in our case that would not be possible on the left side of the stove. There are windows too close by.
 
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I have been running my Oslo for 2 years without 36 inches to combustibles, never a hint of a fire, or any danger.
I have been running wood stoves for 35 years and have never had a fire, or even close to one.
My Oslo is a safe installation.

For that matter, if you need 36 inches to the side for the Oslo, then you also need 36 inches to the front for your install. Do you have 36 inches of hearth in the front of your wood stove? I bet you don't.
 
I have been running my Oslo for 2 years without 36 inches to combustibles, never a hint of a fire, or any danger.
I have been running wood stoves for 35 years and have never had a fire, or even close to one.
My Oslo is a safe installation.

For that matter, if you need 36 inches to the side for the Oslo, then you also need 36 inches to the front for your install. Do you have 36 inches of hearth in the front of your wood stove? I bet you don't.
No you dont need 36" of hearth protection to the front or the side. Just because you have been using your stove that way for 2 years does not mean it is safe at all. Pyrolisis takes time. I also didnt know that burning a stove for 35 years makes you more qualified than the jotul engineers who design and test their stoves for safety. Follow the required clearances.
 
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I have been running my Oslo for 2 years without 36 inches to combustibles, never a hint of a fire, or any danger.
I have been running wood stoves for 35 years and have never had a fire, or even close to one.
My Oslo is a safe installation.

For that matter, if you need 36 inches to the side for the Oslo, then you also need 36 inches to the front for your install. Do you have 36 inches of hearth in the front of your wood stove? I bet you don't.
And my wood stove was on a bare concrete floor with about 10' clearance infront in the old house and is now on a concrete floor with slate on it with 14' in front. I think i am fine
 
I have been running my Oslo for 2 years without 36 inches to combustibles, never a hint of a fire, or any danger.
I have been running wood stoves for 35 years and have never had a fire, or even close to one.
My Oslo is a safe installation.

The disparity between factory safety requirements and actual owner experience is a recurring issue.

The purpose of Jotul stating a 36 inch requirement is to discharge their liability. I'm sure that number is generous so that there is no chance of it ever coming back to bite them legally. If any Jotul owner wants to assume personal responsibility for the consequences of any distance less than 36 inches, they do so of their own free will, as it's their own call.

I have a 6 foot ladder with a factory label on it warning me not to stand on it any higher than 3 feet 11 inches. I stand higher at my own risk just as I have for 40 years.

Today I saw a label on the door of my bank warning me that the State of California has determined that there is one chemical inside of the bank known to cause cancer. Next time I'm there I'm going to ask which chemical it is. ;)

Warnings are all about covering your own a** in a litigeous society where grabbing the brass ring in a liability lawsuit judgement has become the new American dream. This explains the proliferation of attorney advertising to meet the demand.

Understanding this fact allows each stove owner to make their own judgement based on their own actual experience and to personally assume their own consequences.



Greg
 
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Yes if you have no concern for you safety or the safety of you family just disregard the clearance requirements. What do the engineers know anyway?
 
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The disparity between factory safety requirements and actual owner experience is a recurring issue.

The purpose of Jotul stating a 36 inch requirement is to discharge their liability. I'm sure that number is generous so that there is no chance of it ever coming back to bite them legally. If any Jotul owner wants to assume personal responsibility for the consequences of any distance less than 36 inches, they do so of their own free will, as it's their own call.

Warnings are about CYA in a litigeous society where grabbing the brass ring in a liability lawsuit judgement is the new American dream. This explains the proliferation of attorney advertising.

Understanding this fact allows each stove owner to make their own judgement based on their own actual experience and to personally assume their own consequences.

Greg
There disparity with guys who only know their stoves and installs and those of us who see hundreds a year. We see the cases where there is charred wood because clearances were not met. We see the effects of chimney fires. And the effects of people who "know more than the rest of us" many get away with it but sometimes they dont.
 
Consider your own a** well covered. ;)

Greg
I am not only covering my ass i am concerned with protecting peoples homes and lives. Do you even know what the ul testing is like?? Do you know how they come up with those numbers? Yes of course there is some cushion there. There has to be. I really don't understand how so many people have so little respect for the dangers of having a fire in a metal box in your home.
 
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All warnings are not just cover your butt to avoid litigation. Many NFPA rules are developed after years of firefighters reporting issues and dealing with the tragedies that follow. Yes, you can bend the rules, it's your own house, but it is not responsible to encourage others to follow suit here.
 
An interesting fact:

You need 16" of hearth past the stove door lip but, as soon as you get north of the 49th parallel the trees have more "snap, crackle and pop" so you will need 2 extra inches of hearth (18" in front of the door). Unless you make it all the way to Alaska, then it drops back to 16". Go figure. ==c
 
I have a different view in that I regard people as adults who are capable of making their own decisions.


Greg
Yes if they have the approriate info they can make their own decisions. But saying you can ignore required clearances or modify your stove without any qualifications other than i have been running a stove for a long time is just crazy.
 
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