So I have had a Jotul C550 insert in one home, then a Jotul F400 freestander, loved both of them. Well we now purchased a house with a ZC which was included when the house was built in 1990. Just found the tag on the unit, it is a Superior RC3810 ZC with a vinyl sided chase outside. Needless to say the days of enjoying the whole house being warmed are over with this unit, but with no knowledge of ZC units I want to get smarter.
This is not a stove, it's an open fireplace with sliding screens, no doors. Damper is either open or closed, no in between. Burning hardwood which has been seasoned for over 3 years. With these sort of units, should I have any concerns of overfiring the unit? If so any suggestions on where to measure temps? Maybe I am too concerned based on my previous insert and freestanding days, but this unit is 25+ years old and a ZC, just curious on when someone should start thinking of replacement based on age and safety. Since this gives off nice heat in our large cathedral ceiling FR and not much more throughout the rest of the house, my fear is the tendency to try to make "more heat" and overfire.
We had the flue cleaned but the sweep wasn't very knowledgeable about the unit itself, may try someone else. Replacement would more than likely require removal of the existing brick and be big bucks. Guess the chase could be cut from the outside and replacement that way, would just be limited to the 27"x34" opening I suppose which would limit replacement unit choices. I've seen lot of newer more efficient ZC units that look more like my previous insert which would be nice as well. Maybe next year.
Below is a picture.
![[Hearth.com] Any advice on safe burn temps for an old Superior ZC fireplace?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_0597_zpswsb50cso-webp.215648/ "[Hearth.com] Any advice on safe burn temps for an old Superior ZC fireplace?")
This is not a stove, it's an open fireplace with sliding screens, no doors. Damper is either open or closed, no in between. Burning hardwood which has been seasoned for over 3 years. With these sort of units, should I have any concerns of overfiring the unit? If so any suggestions on where to measure temps? Maybe I am too concerned based on my previous insert and freestanding days, but this unit is 25+ years old and a ZC, just curious on when someone should start thinking of replacement based on age and safety. Since this gives off nice heat in our large cathedral ceiling FR and not much more throughout the rest of the house, my fear is the tendency to try to make "more heat" and overfire.
We had the flue cleaned but the sweep wasn't very knowledgeable about the unit itself, may try someone else. Replacement would more than likely require removal of the existing brick and be big bucks. Guess the chase could be cut from the outside and replacement that way, would just be limited to the 27"x34" opening I suppose which would limit replacement unit choices. I've seen lot of newer more efficient ZC units that look more like my previous insert which would be nice as well. Maybe next year.
Below is a picture.
