Hampton HI300 Install

[gilmil]

A few years ago we had a Hampton HI300 installed with an insulated liner on an external chimney that's somewhere around 25' tall. I always felt the stove wasn't acting up to it's potential. Today I pulled the surround off and noticed a few things:

1. No block off plate
2. Missing fire bricks from the firebox in the chimney to accomidate the depth of the insert
3. No refractory cement sealing the insert to the liner.

I'm working on making a template for block off plate. Should the be repaired first? If so can it be thin fire brick? They'll have to be set back from flush of the original fire brick. If I don't need to replace them I'll have to make a creative block off plate.

Thanks,
Gil

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

Post pix of the area of missing brick and I bet you'll get much help. The block off is bet to make template from card board. But before it goes up stuff the smoke chamber area with Roxul then put the plate up.

 

[gilmil]

You can see the 1.5 courses of firebrick missing. I know I could at least get the lower course in. Behind the liner is the masonry part of the chimney which normally is behind the fireplace firebox.

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

I would probably put the lower course in with some proper mortar and then fill what you can't get with Roxul. I had to remove the top middle two bricks to get a straight drop for my liner also. Then I stuffed like 1.5 batts of Roxul up in the smoke chamber. I actually made a template with cardboard and then made a blockoff with 1/16" galvanized metal. It was too tight after the fact to put it up so I used the actual block off as a template to make one from Roxul. I stuffed it up there and has been there ever since.

 

[gilmil]

I think I might have a sweep come install the plate, clean the liner and inspect the install. I can't get the insert out of the fireplace without screwing up the floor and my back. Plus we have a 10 month old and my wife would be much happier if I had a pro check everything out!

 

[gilmil]

Or maybe I'll do the bricking, insulating, block off and have them come inspect it! thanks for the advice.

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

Can't go wrong with that!

The block off will definitely help in performance but wood that is not seasoned will really hurt performance.

 

[gilmil]

A soft block off plate or rockwool was installed by me. I couldn't really bend the sheet metal to fit, and the rockwool seems to be staying put. Between that, the insulating I've done and the seasoned wood we had the whole house up to 70 with a small fire. We have an 11 month old, so I'm only firing after she goes to bed until I acquire some protection to put around the stove.

Thanks for the advice,
Gil