Is the Hampton Wood Insert HI300 good for Nanaimo?

[JohnDuff]

We would be very greatful is someone could help us out with this question.

We want to install the Hampton HI300, but the guys at the local store say that due to not having any experience with this model and hence they don't know if;

1) it would be good to use the Insert for extended periods of time, as we plan to use the Insert to heat the house;

2) the previous company had a bad reputation for service.

So if there's someone that has the Hampton Insert living in B.C. we'd sure be glad to hear from you.

Thanks inadvance,
John.

 

[elkimmeg]

I have inspected at least 8 Hi300 stoves they look nice and I have no complaints about the heat vollume Please down load the manual and read it as to what is required for code compliant installations a damper blockoff plate is required to eliminate intrusion of room air so stated in your manual Hampton asl requires inserts to be fully lined and check the front clearance for hearth pad extentions? Made by Regency a quality product

 

[hilly]

Hi JD,
I just recently got a Regency I2400, which I think is very similar to the Hampton, except the Hampton looks stunning! I compared the two manuals and they are almost the same, I wonder if the Hampton is the I2400 dressed up and maybe bigger?
Anyway, I heat my house with the insert, although the house was built to be heated by wood. The insert is in the middle of the first floor with an open floor plan, and it's also at the bottom of the stairs, so heat travels very well upstairs...in fact a bit too well. I had to put a door on our bedroom to keep the heat out!
I can get overnight burns easily if I use oak (I have a few precious pieces) and sometimes if I'm lucky I'll have some coals left if I burn maple or fir.
I live just south of Duncan, so our climates are the same and after today, very damp! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hilly

 

[JohnDuff]

Dear Hilly,

thank you for the reply. Interesting as we were looking at the Regency I2400 as well but prefered the look of the Hampton. Further think that you are correct to say that the Hampton and Regency are very similar.

We'll see what happens hopefuly will get a reply for some one with a Hampton HI300 in B.C.

Thanks again for your help, maybe get back to you later with some further questions.

Best regards,
John.

 

[Mike]

I'm reasonably certain that the Hampton has the same basic firebox as the mid-size Regency, just a different face and surround. I will be installing a Hampton in the next couple of weeks. Don't want to PO Elk but per code here, you don't need a block plate as direct connection is not allowed in Canada. Technically, the seal can be made on the fireplace face. As Willhound said in another thread, block plates are not all that common in the Great White North. That doesn't mean they don't make sense, just that the local codes do not require them so dealers are not generally headed in that direction.

I have been out to Nanaimo. Lived in Alberta for a few years. The Hampton should work fine for you. Assuming all things equal .... there is no difference between Nanaimo and any other place (except maybe you have a bit more wind, but you're on the lea side of the island). It's a wood burner. Go for it.

 

[BrotherBart]

If a chimney flashback blows a five hundred pound insert connected to that cast iron surround on the I3100 out of the fireplace, a piece of galvanized tin in the top of the chimney firebox would end up in Manitoba somewhere.

Looking really the worse for wear.

 

[JohnDuff]

First off, thank you all for the help.

Secondly thought you'd like to know that a deposit has been made on the Hampton HI3000, so we've started.

Might even have it in by Christmas, which would be magic.

Will let you know how it all works out and post a picture.

Thanks again,
John.

 

[burntime]

I have the same insert in brown. It is in a 1950s ranch and I have great attic insulation, walls r7 only. I am slowly putting argon low e double payne windows in. The home is an exposed 1400 square ft ranch. The unit is awesome Wisconsin had a few days in the low 20,s and I never took the blower off low. That is after burning about a 3rd of the wood I used to burn in the old insert I would recomend this to anyone. I had a dealer issue (he took the money and left the stove) and hampton came thru for me to get another dealerto install it. Customer service is there...believe me. Even after the hassle this is by far one of my most favorite purchases You will definitely enjoy the unit. With a blend of elm and some oak I get 9 hour burns when its in the 20's. In fact I have even had to open the patio door because I did not want the house above 75. Congrats, you'll love it!

 

[NFreiermuth]

JohnDuff,

I wish I was closer to you. I can't begin to tell you how beautiful the HI300 is when the firebox is undergoing secondary burn. It has been one of the best purchases we have ever made to our home. We too have no problem heating our home with it. We have a tri-level with two balconies. It heats the whole place just fine. You will not be un-impressed

The dealer here in New York was excellent and delivered when they said they would. We haven't had a single problem with it.

Our chimney is the Regency recommended flex liner kit with the 1" inch thermal blanket wrapped with stainless chicken wire.
Needless to say, the draft has NEVER been a problem in a relatively tight house. (New windows, doors, insulation,etc.) Even on the 40ish days, it lights and cruises with no problems.

As for the Block-off plate. we tried and tried, the clearance was just too tight to install one. I have two pieces on either side of the liner, but not a single plate with a hole in it. We just needed that extra two inches of clearance the plate took away to fasten and install the liner to the flue collar.

Which also reminds me, If you don't get the FPI (Regency) liner kit, then you still need to order the flue collar adaptor for the HI300. Why??? Because the HI300 uses a 5.5 inch liner kit.

And I do agree with BrotherBart. The fireplace opening is completely enclosed with a stove and a cast iron surround. So I don't think flashback would be an issue with a proper install. If it was, the HI300 is goin' for a ride across the living room.

It takes four guys to place it in the opening. "Since each one only has one hand on it at any given time"

Best wishes

 

[sgcsalsero]

I would definitely recommend the Hampton, maybe you have it installed already so my two cents is worth exactly that. It's the only insert/stove that I could convince (looks wise) my wife to go along with, that after about 3 months of looking and talking to local schmucks (one dealertold me Jotuls were made in Sweden, another told me that VCs were made in China so they stopped carryiing them, bad experiences). Nothing but good experiences with the unit (and with the installer who was referred). Happy holidays.

 

[Greg Ray]

:-S I would not buy a FPI product due to the fact how they treated their customers on the Waterford Stove's! And the tech service is not good at all! But thats just my opinion because I use to own a Waterford stove. You might want to look at other stove's with good customer service.

 

[JohnDuff]

Hi there,

thanks again for all the help, the insert is now installed and working fine, will give an update in a couple of months but so far so good.

Not sure if this will work but here as promised is a little video of the insert.

Here's just a link to the video in youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9ty2Ngrjs

Best regards,
John.

 

[sgcsalsero]

Looks great ! . . but of course I might be just a 'little' biased

 

[begreen]

Nice job John. It looks really pretty. We're supposed to get a cold spell the middle of this week, that will be a good time to see how it heats the house. I'm sure it's a good feeling to have that installed with all the storms hitting here this year. How has Nanaimo being making out?

 

[elkimmeg]

Man that's a nice looking setup congrats and enjoy