Help with new Jotul C350 insert

[RSNovi]

Hello,

Yesterday I had a new C350 insert installed in my ZC fireplace. The stove looks great and seems to be burning quite well (measured 600 F with an IR thermometer). I have only had it a couple of days, but it seems to put out zero heat. I didn't expect to heat the whole house, but I thought it would add some heat to the rear of our house which is about 800 sq feet.

As a matter of fact I think I feel a draft or considerable cool air movement while the stove is burning. I might even go as far as say the room is less comfortable while burning. Any thoughts on this?

 

[jatoxico]

Hello,

Yesterday I had a new C350 insert installed in my ZC fireplace. The stove looks great and seems to be burning quite well (measured 600 F with an IR thermometer). I have only had it a couple of days, but it seems to put out zero heat. I didn't expect to heat the whole house, but I thought it would add some heat to the rear of our house which is about 800 sq feet.

As a matter of fact I think I feel a draft or considerable cool air movement while the stove is burning. I might even go as far as say the room is less comfortable while burning. Any thoughts on this?

The stove is cooling off the room? Are you able to control the air? Getting the secondaries to fire?

 

[RSNovi]

I get the logs going well and when the stove gets to about 400 F I start backing the air down. Eventually it will settle to about 600 F.

I start feeling an air current while sitting near the stove.

 

[jatoxico]

I get the logs going well and when the stove gets to about 400 F I start backing the air down. Eventually it will settle to about 600 F.

I start feeling an air current while sitting near the stove.

Yes you said but can you control the primary air? And when you are hot are you getting a secondary burn with the primary shut or close to shut?

 

[RSNovi]

Well, it seems that with the air selector on low, it doesn't seem as restricted as my Oslo does.

I do get some secondary action. Right now the air is fully shut and it does seem like it is burning pretty fast. The stove is at 700F. Not really any secondary burn right now.

 

[colin.p]

I get the logs going well and when the stove gets to about 400 F I start backing the air down. Eventually it will settle to about 600 F.

I start feeling an air current while sitting near the stove.

I get a similar cool draft if I sit near the doorway leading into the room where my stove is. It's just the way the air currents work in my place. Maybe try identifying where the air is moving in your stove room and make sure you don't have a chair in the way.

 

[jatoxico]

Well, it seems that with the air selector on low, it doesn't seem as restricted as my Oslo does.

I do get some secondary action. Right now the air is fully shut and it does seem like it is burning pretty fast. The stove is at 700F. Not really any secondary burn right now.

You think you have an air leak? May account for the draft you feel is why I ask.

 

[RSNovi]

When it cools I can check the door gasket. The door definitely closes tight.

I was wondering if it was combustion air, but I don't feel a similar air current in my basement with a stove burning much more wood.

I have an OAK installed on the ZC which I wonder would help with combustion air. Currently the OAK is closed because I had gas logs in the ZC.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[jotulguy]

did you ZC have air cooled triple wall piping?

 

[RSNovi]

I am not sure if it was double or triple walled pipe. The house was built in 2005. An insulated liner was installed.

 

[Woodreb]

Maybe this is a silly question, but you have a flush mount insert, correct? I would think you would need a blower on to get heat out of the flush mount and you haven't said anything about if the blower is running.

 

[RSNovi]

Sorry. The blower is running full blast. Hot air is coming out. Not a big blast, but it is hot.

 

[jotulguy]

I am curious if a block off plate was installed? The fear I have of the triple walled air cooled pipe is, when the unit is running the cold outside air is drawn down the chimney. That is how they get their clearances.

 

[RSNovi]

No block off plate was installed. Everything was very tight including the offset box they had to use. I haven't let the dealer know about the issue yet, but I thought about having them make sure I have no heat loss up the chimney.

 

[RSNovi]

Both the Jotul rep and the dealer feel the inside draft I am feeling is due to the triple wall chimney and the air circulating the chimney and chase. My chase is an outside cantilever. I don't understand how this would draw air from my living room.

I know insulation was stuffed around the top of the chimney between the liner and the inner triple wall pipe. I could possibly put some insulation at the bottom by reaching around the insert. Would that make any difference? The chimney is 30' tall.

 

[jotulguy]

You can not block off the air cooled third wall....its there for clearance reasons. Insulating around the top of the insert wont hurt. It will not how ever stop the cold air from coming down the triple wall.

 

[RSNovi]

You can not block off the air cooled third wall....its there for clearance reasons. Insulating around the top of the insert wont hurt. It will not how ever stop the cold air from coming down the triple wall.

Thanks. Do you think the air circulation in the chimney is causing the draft in the house? Does that chimney also pull air from the vents/louvers in the ZC which are open to the living? The louvers are kind of blocked by the surround.