BK King shopping today

[05ramctd]

The wife and i went to a local stove shop today. We were looking at the BK King.
Our home is a ranch home around 1900 to 2300 sq.ft. 1900 if you dont add the man room and joining bathroom.

The stove will be replacing a Jotul system 3 fire place insert that was installed in the house back in 1982 when the house was built. It is pretty much out of date and ready for the retirement home. i have had many good times with the stove and she has heated our home the best she could. Our only other form of heat was electric baseboard that we refuse to use since they almost sent us to the poor house the first year we moved in back in 2007.

The insert is located in the basement that is finished insulated and is 29x22 ft. In front of the insert the second floor steps go up to the right to the kitchen and adjoining living room. Above the big room in the basement is all three bedrooms and master bath.

What i plan on doing is knocking out the fire place insert surround made out of brick and block. placing veneer stone on the wall and build a hearth to place a free standing stove upon. After doing much research and reading upon this site from all the knowledgable people we have decided to go with a BK King since it will be my primary heat source and since sometimes i work long hours.

The thimble is i think 8 inch since the exit of the jotul is eight inch and the chimney is around 23 to 25 foot tall which is 12 inch terracota lined.

Do you see any problems that i may have? I was talking with the guy at the store and i told him that i did not have a problem with draft or large amounts of creasote. I said would it be ok if I install it this year, run it and if I need a liner to get one next year($$) he said that he does not see a possible problem. Any ideas if i will ahve any problems.

 

[fire_man]

Pardon my confusion - is the fireplace insert surround which you plan to rebuild in the basement or upstairs?

You mention that the Jotul is hooked to an 8" thimble, but since it seems you are moving the stove to a completely new area I don't see why the old 8" thimble matters. I don't see a thimble hookup in the planned new location in the second and third pictures.

I believe the BK King needs a minimum of 36" height before the first elbow - will you meet that requirement?

 

[05ramctd]

The stove is going in the same place as the insert. It is in the basement. Just knocking out the insert surround. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[webby3650]

Since the king is top exit only, how are you gonna make the connection to that thimble?

 

[05ramctd]

The angled piece only goes in 3 inches then the pipe straightens out. that part of the wall is coming out and stoning the front. The whole inside is off the wall about the size of a brick. Well thats what the previous owner who built it told me and by looking inside it seems to be straight... Now you got me thinking.

 

[05ramctd]

there is a slight pitch inside. from the floor to the bottom of the pipe is measured 43 inches.

 

[05ramctd]

think the pipe height might be a problem.

 

[webby3650]

Yes.
Blaze King recommends 3' of vertical pipe before the elbow. Not to say it won't work, it just won't work as efficiently and will struggle to draft properly especially on low burns. Keep in mind, the elbow will add additional height to the stove. Don't forget to take that into consideration.

 

[begreen]

It sounds like you may want to at least lower the hearth to floor level, or tap into the pipe higher up. What material is the "pipe"? Is this 8" terracotta or stainless steel?

 

[05ramctd]

thimble is 8 inch. Liner is terracota 12 inch. Do they make a core drill that I could rent and put in a new thimble? Started ripping it out today I will post some pics. I think if i just put the stove in place and wanted to connect it the elbow would be on top of the stove. I don not think that would be a good Idea.

 

[05ramctd]

 

[webby3650]

thimble is 8 inch. Liner is terracota 12 inch. Do they make a core drill that I could rent and put in a new thimble? Started ripping it out today I will post some pics. I think if i just put the stove in place and wanted to connect it the elbow would be on top of the stove. I don not think that would be a good Idea.

You won't need a core drill. It can be done with a diamond wheel and a hammer and chisel. Just be careful, give yourself a little working room. Then mortar it all back together.

 

[05ramctd]

Great thanks for the info. Thats why I love this site. Its also very addicting.

Got a diamond wheel for the Dewalt angle grinder and i have been using a chisel for the above demo. Thanks again all for the info.

 

[webby3650]

I would use a short section of class A chimney pipe for the thimble. You should probably use 8", so when you put in a liner it won't interfere with Tee snout.

 

[05ramctd]

Sounds good probably easier to work with to.

 

[05ramctd]

Well some progress, any recomendations of flue install. I think i just need pipe since its a block and brick wall.

 

[05ramctd]

I do have to raise the flue inlet about 2.5 feet.