best height for northstar outside air kit?

[iron]

i'm having a heat n glow northstar installed in about 2 weeks. just trying to make sure everything is dialed in in my head before the installer shows up.

i'm curious about the best height to have the outside air kit installed? i've read threads here talking about how some of their OAKs result in a downpour of cold air into the house. some have suggested installing the OAK below the level of the fireplace since cold air isn't going to flow up and into the fireplace this way.

based on what i see in the installation manual, i don't see why this couldn't be done for the northstar unit. can anyone confirm or offer their opinion on the matter?

 

[saskwoodburner]

I was wondering the same thing the other day, how much difference it could make being 2,4,6 feet up, or ground level or even through the floor. Sorry I can't help, but just as interested in the answer as you are.

 

[begreen]

Should be ok as long as it is below the highest expected level of snow. You don't want it so low that it gets packed with leaves, snow, etc..

 

[iron]

i think i have about 6ft from the bottom of fireplace to the outside ground. leaves = non-existent there. snow? well, it's seattle, so i suppose it could happen, but not much.

so, if i put the vent 3-4ft BELOW the base of the fireplace, i should be good? i use that number to avoid the floor joists, top plates, misc.

 

[begreen]

It sounds ok to me.

 

[iron]

i like that.

since we're on the subject, and i have eyes on it, do you know if it's possible to do both the OAK and a cold air return vent on the northstar? i would like to (if possible) put a CARV in the basement to help with the air circulation from the heated living room above.

 

[begreen]

Not sure, best to ask Northstar on that one, but my guess is that plan will prove much less than successful than if a supply duct was blowing into the basement instead.

 

[iron]

hmm, interesting. in this thread: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-and-heat-zone-kit.102832/page-2#post-1994024
villageidiot (i think) was stating that just using the return air kit to his basement is working great and he didn't need to do the heat zone kit.

this is all very confusing