HELP: Harman Accentra Purchase and Install Questions

[wmarazita]

Hello everyone,

You folks have walked me through a couple of stove installs over the years....both wood and pellet. Last year I bought a Harman Accentra floor standing stove and completed the install without any issues. The year before that installed a wood burning Englander 30 without any issues. Here is my new project that I need help with:

I am looking at purchasing a used Harman Accentra Insert. I have three major questions:

1. Will this stove fit into the current space that I have? I believe that it will from the specs, but wanted to check. The location is a non-factory fireplace opening. The actual opening is 33" tall x 45 1/4" wide x 26" deep. The attached drawing shows the opening. The opening is made from wood 2x4s and fake brick veneer. The hearth is topped with real brick. I realize that I will have to frame in the opening some to fit the stove. Also, I think I need the "zero-clearance" install box too, right?

2. Is it reasonable for me to complete this install? I am very mechanically inclined and installed my Englander 30 and other Accentra, complete with stove pipe, etc. No problems with the instructions everyone gave me here. Both of those installs were very straight forward though. This install seems trickier. This stove will be installed on the middle level of a three story home. There is currently a wood burning fireplace in the space with a 6-8" rigid metal pipe chimney (not sure of exact size) running from the fireplace straight up through the wall, through the third floor, and out the roof. This chimney is running a in an enclosed area and is not exposed. Can I run the pellet stove venting through the current chimney pipe? What are the potential issues with the install?

3. What should I be looking for when I go to look at the used stove? What questions to ask? Etc?

The two attached pictures are the current fireplace insert that I will completely remove and also the dimensions of the opening once it is removed.

Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can provide.

Bill

 

[Tim_M]

Assuming the wood insert was installed to code, it seems like there wouldn't be a problem with running your pellet pipe through the existing pipe. You might have a challenge with the angle at the bottom since your existing wood insert likely vents at the top centre.
As for what to look for when checking out the used Accentra insert, hopefully you can see it running. If not, ask the seller some questions to get a feel for how the stove is working, any issues, etc. - is the ignitor working ok, remote sensor, controls. At a minimum you should try to run the stove in test mode to ensure all motors actually come on.

 

[BrotherBart]

If the current pipe is stainless and to code why would you want to run pellet pipe up through it? I will let the rest of the Peanut Gallery tell me why?

 

[tonyd]

The surround on the Accentra will not cover the brick opening. My surround is 32x41. They may have a larger surround. For two seasons, with the dampener removed, I ran a 6ft length of pipe into the chimney with a block off plate. Worked fine. I have since went stainless to the top, but its not necessary.

 

[wmarazita]

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately, the Accentra was sold before I could get to it. The search continues.....

 

[Peterfield]

The surround on the Accentra will not cover the brick opening. My surround is 32x41. They may have a larger surround. For two seasons, with the dampener removed, I ran a 6ft length of pipe into the chimney with a block off plate. Worked fine. I have since went stainless to the top, but its not necessary.

I had that problem with my install and brought in a mason to match the brick and make the opening smaller so there was no space around the surround collar.