England's Fireplace Insert (50-SNC13i)

[CaptSpiff]

Anyone here have any operating experience or willing to do a quick review on the England's Stove Works 1500 sq. ft. Wood Burning Stove Fireplace Insert (50-SNC13i).

ACE Hardware dot com has it on sale for a very decent price, delivered to store for free.

I'm looking for a small to medium insert feeding an exterior masonary chimney about 14' from connection to cap. I'll spurge for the smooth wall flex and go with 1/2" wrap, but I really don't want to put any extension showing beyond the clay liner & cap (so 14' is it). Is this insert a free breather, or is it finicky?

Also, with a full load, what should I expect in burn times?

 

[bholler]

I'll spurge for the smooth wall flex

If you are refereeing to the 2 ply crap don't wast your money. It is an inferior product if you ask me if you want to pay for a better liner put in a heavy wall one they are smooth wall also and much more durable than that other crap. But i would absolutely choose a regular light wall liner over that other stuff. I dont know anything about the stove though sorry and good call insulating it you will not regret that.

 

[BrotherBart]

Agree with bholler on the two ply liner. Pulled mine after one season, tossed it in the woods and installed a single wall liner. The things de-laminate like crazy and trap creosote between the plys.

 

[BrotherBart]

Very few folks that own the 13-NCI have shown up here. Don't know why. In fact I cannot remember one.

Like to think that it is because they don't have problems, but don't know.

 

[weatherguy]

I only remember one person having that stove and they're very happy with it.

 

[begreen]

14 ft from stove to cap is a little under recommendations. Most of these stoves want 15-16' of flue. The stove may draft weakly which can result in underwhelming performance. If so, adding 2-3 ft of pipe can make a nice difference.

 

[CaptSpiff]

Thanks for the replies. I usually don't like beta testing, is this NC13i a new stove design?

 

[CaptSpiff]

Bholler and BrotherBart, what and which liners have you had success with?

I looked at the selections at two Hearth.com site sponsors for selection:
http://www.chimneylinerdepot.com/store/clbrd/831/category/Flexible-Chimney-Liner.html
(broken link removed to http://www.rockfordchimneysupply.com/flexible-liners.php)

Both have the basic flex model and also a heavier/thicker smooth wall. One even has what looks like a super HD.
There's others too, but I like to keep it simple and do it right the first time.
I definitely do not want to pull it it after a few years.

 

[BrotherBart]

The 13-NCI has been in production for a long time. Same basic stove as the 13-NC. I think we don't see much because of the small firebox.

I will defer to bholler on the liner selection. I use single wall .005 flex in my two chimneys. Were I you I would go for the heaviest gauge single wall 316ti available. Avoid the two ply smooth wall junk.

 

[bholler]

http://www.chimneylinerdepot.com/st...ry/Flex-King-HD---Chimney-Liner-For-Wood.html
This is the type we use for wood but i would choose regular flex king over flex king pro if you dont want to pay for the heavy wall.
There are also many makers of heavy flex we use olympia products but there are many good liners out there