I find myself warm and cozy on the evening before Christmas searching the internet for the assistance of an experienced flue installer to diagnose the performance my new Hampton 1300 wood insert. As it is, the sole source of my comfort is an electric blanket and my patience with the youthful original installer is worn thin. Happening across this website, reading of its members experience and the helpful insight shared, I am hopeful of being directed to someone local with the experience and background necessary to resolve the problem generating the amount of heat this insert is capable of. Nothing against youthful tradesmen, I was one once also, just opposed to his gaining experience at my expense.
Early last summer I purchased the Hampton 1300 insert from Berkshire Hearth and Home in Newtown, CT with the intent of reducing the reliance on propane to heat my 1050 square foot cottage on Candlewood Lake. I looked at many inserts, this unit was selected as well suited to provide the heat output necessary and the optional large surround just covered the opening of stone fireplace of the main room. I am most pleased with its appearance and the value received from my purchase. (see photo)
My dilemma began at the start of our heating season here in Connecticut, somewhere mid to late October, when temperatures began to drop below the 50’s and I could not heat the home above 67 degrees. I experienced delayed start up and short cycling of the blower also. Burning both red and white oak cut from my property, aged just about a year with moisture content measured between 20 and 12, the insert failed to heat the 14’ x 21’ room with 15’ cathedral ceiling. I am mindful of both the wood type and moisture content as this is where I was first directed to investigate by the owner of Berkshire Hearth and Home as the source of my problem, which I dutifully did.
After burning a full cord plus some during this three month period and failing to achieve satisfactory results the owner agreed to send his installer for a site visit to put my concerns to rest. In brief, the installer obtained a room temperature of 69 degrees with 80 degrees at the ceiling using wood he supplied. With an outside temperature of 46 degrees he concluded the insert output was sufficient, that the home was drafty and I should insulate.
I conceded a cottage constructed in 1934 is expected to be less than weather tight but took exception to the insert being unable to compensate especially on a most calm 46 degree day. Using a tissue I demonstrated the ”draft” to be air drawn to the insert intake during blower operation and, in my mind, dispelled the air leakage theory under existing conditions. The young installers’ demeanor suggested further discussion of delta T; heat transfer or air leakage would not be constructive or assist in reaching mutual agreement on the cause of, or solution to, the problem at hand.
The installer contracted by Berkshire Hearth and Home placed fiberglass insulation in the gap along the perimeter where the surround and stone face meet (see photo’s) which has not made a difference. He determined the blower assembly was not properly in place preventing contact between the thermal disc and stove which when reset solved the short cycling issue.
This is where the issue lies, thus my call for assistance.
I am not an expert on inserts or chimneys by any means; this is why I hired what I thought to be a professional. Perhaps inexperience precluded recognition of requirements for proper installation in a chimney of this type or the ramifications of an improper installation on insert efficiency. (see photos)
This said anything more I could offer would be conjecture; I defer to those with experience for direction and look forward to a response.
Early last summer I purchased the Hampton 1300 insert from Berkshire Hearth and Home in Newtown, CT with the intent of reducing the reliance on propane to heat my 1050 square foot cottage on Candlewood Lake. I looked at many inserts, this unit was selected as well suited to provide the heat output necessary and the optional large surround just covered the opening of stone fireplace of the main room. I am most pleased with its appearance and the value received from my purchase. (see photo)
My dilemma began at the start of our heating season here in Connecticut, somewhere mid to late October, when temperatures began to drop below the 50’s and I could not heat the home above 67 degrees. I experienced delayed start up and short cycling of the blower also. Burning both red and white oak cut from my property, aged just about a year with moisture content measured between 20 and 12, the insert failed to heat the 14’ x 21’ room with 15’ cathedral ceiling. I am mindful of both the wood type and moisture content as this is where I was first directed to investigate by the owner of Berkshire Hearth and Home as the source of my problem, which I dutifully did.
After burning a full cord plus some during this three month period and failing to achieve satisfactory results the owner agreed to send his installer for a site visit to put my concerns to rest. In brief, the installer obtained a room temperature of 69 degrees with 80 degrees at the ceiling using wood he supplied. With an outside temperature of 46 degrees he concluded the insert output was sufficient, that the home was drafty and I should insulate.
I conceded a cottage constructed in 1934 is expected to be less than weather tight but took exception to the insert being unable to compensate especially on a most calm 46 degree day. Using a tissue I demonstrated the ”draft” to be air drawn to the insert intake during blower operation and, in my mind, dispelled the air leakage theory under existing conditions. The young installers’ demeanor suggested further discussion of delta T; heat transfer or air leakage would not be constructive or assist in reaching mutual agreement on the cause of, or solution to, the problem at hand.
The installer contracted by Berkshire Hearth and Home placed fiberglass insulation in the gap along the perimeter where the surround and stone face meet (see photo’s) which has not made a difference. He determined the blower assembly was not properly in place preventing contact between the thermal disc and stove which when reset solved the short cycling issue.
This is where the issue lies, thus my call for assistance.
I am not an expert on inserts or chimneys by any means; this is why I hired what I thought to be a professional. Perhaps inexperience precluded recognition of requirements for proper installation in a chimney of this type or the ramifications of an improper installation on insert efficiency. (see photos)
This said anything more I could offer would be conjecture; I defer to those with experience for direction and look forward to a response.
