Do I Need a Grate for my Jotul Kennebec Wood Insert??

[Sem67]

I will be having a Jotul C450 Kennebec installed sometime this week. I have been purchasing fireplace tools in anticipation (and I can't wait!!). One question I have is, do I need a grate to set the logs on in the firebox? I downloaded the Jotul manual, but it is not clear to me whether I should buy a grate or not. In searching this website, I have seen some people burn logs directly on the firebrick. However, I haven't seen a direct reference to the insert we're having installed. So.... do I need to have a grate ready?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[My_3_Girls]

Nope - not needed. When I do a full cleanout of the ashes, I usually use a couple of small splits to hold the kindling off the floor for the first fire, until some ash is built up. It seems to give the kindling an extra bit of air to get it going quicker.

 

[Sem67]

Thank you very much for your quick reply! That's good news... one less thing to buy! And I would suppose not having a grate makes sweeping it out an easier task.

Steve

 

[My_3_Girls]

I should have mentioned, I only do a "full" cleanout of ashes at the end of the season. There's no need to get it too cleaned out in there. Most people here would say it's always good to have a little ash on the floor of the fire box. I too bought a set of hearth tools... shovel, poker, broom, and tongs. I use the poker once in a while to stir the older coals, the shovel to clean out the firebox, and the broom and tongs about 3 times in 5 years.

 

[Mike Wilson]

Nope, no grate needed. The splits go right on the firebrick on the bottom of the stove, see my photo link below. And yes, when cleaning, don't take all the ash out, leave a nice 1" layer or so. It helps keep your coals longer, extending burn times. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, I'm in my fourth season with my Kennebec.

-- Mike

 

[jjbaer]

I will be having a Jotul C450 Kennebec installed sometime this week. I have been purchasing fireplace tools in anticipation (and I can't wait!!). One question I have is, do I need a grate to set the logs on in the firebox? I downloaded the Jotul manual, but it is not clear to me whether I should buy a grate or not. In searching this website, I have seen some people burn logs directly on the firebrick. However, I haven't seen a direct reference to the insert we're having installed. So.... do I need to have a grate ready?

Thanks!

Steve

In fact, adding a grate is a no no.....the manufacturers documentation here:

http://www.jotul.com/FileArchive/Technical%20Documentation/Wood%20inserts%20(USA)/Jøtul%20C%20450%20Kennebec/Manual_C_450_011005.pdf

on pg 17 in the upper left hand corner says this:

"Burn only solid wood directly on the bottom grate of the stove, do not elevate the fire in any way"

 

[Sem67]

Thank you so much for the quick replies! The insert is being installed tomorrow!

I also downloaded the manual a few days ago and also saw:
“Burn only solid wood directly on the bottom grate of the stove, do not elevate the fire in any way”

I guess what confused me was the term "bottom grate"... I didn't see anything in the manual that looked like what I would consider a "grate".

Now.... I hope the wood I got the other day is truly seasoned. If not... I'll be scrambling for wood... immediately!

Steve