Kozy Heat not so hot?

[beekeeper]

Just fired up my new KozyHeat today - we're building a new house so this is going in new construction. I have to admit i was a little disappointed in the amount of heat it threw out -- even when the fans were running it just didn't seem to move much air or heat at all - if I put my face near the grills I could tell that some air was moving, but there certainly wasn't much velocity to it. I checked my wiring to make sure I didn't have the polarity wrong - that seems to be correct. Those of you with Kozy Heats - how much volume do you expect from the fan on the highest speed setting?

Thanks,
Beek

 

[beekeeper]

_?_

 

[snowtime]

I know nothing about Kozy Heat but I do have a few suggestions. If the fan has a variable speed or thermostat it might not be coming on due to low heat output. Maybe your not building good enough fires. Do you have dry wood? Try building a hot fire either with lumber or small splits. The stove should heat up fast.

 

[beekeeper]

Yep, wood is dry and fire's hot -- maybe my expectations are just out of whack for a ZC fireplace. I'm aware that simply standing in front of a ZC fireplace I wouldn't expect to feel the same kind of radiant heat that I would from a simple steel plate stove, but I expected pretty strong convection and, when the fans are running, a decent blast of air. I'm hoping that what I bought really is reasonably efficient, and isn't just shoving a lot of heat up the chimney. Are these inserts/ ZC's just that much less efficient than a free standing stove?

 

[Jags]

and isn't just shoving a lot of heat up the chimney.

This may very well be what is happening. Do you know if a lower block off plate was installed with this setup? If not, you could have a substantial amount of heat drifting up your chimney.

 

[beekeeper]

I don't think it's related to a blockoff plate - this is new construction so it's 6" duratech from the top of the insert all the way up and out the roof.

 

[BJ64]

Could you post a pic of this rig?

I have one of those "builders grade" ZC fireplaces here and it was not all that great. I don't want to confuse this thing I have with a better unit if that is what you have.

 

[amitch]

Which Kozyheat do you have beekeeper? I have the z42. I run mine 450-525 with the thermometer midway up the doors. It takes about 1-2 hours before it completely heats up. I have never had a woodstove but i think the z42 puts off a good amount of heat. Something you might check is the fan speed control. Is it turned all the way up? Even on full speed the fan is still a litlle lame. Kozyheat could definatley put a stronger fan in. Hope this helps.

 

[beekeeper]

Sorry for the slow reply - spent the day working at the house. I have the z42 as well, but I don't have a thermometer for it yet. I probably should go ahead and get one -- I fired it up again today for a few hours while I was down there working, and today I thought the heat output felt a little better. I did check the fan control, and it's turned the whole way up. I think you're right - the fans are just a little lame in these, and I was expecting a little more air movement when the fan is on. And it does do about like you say - takes a couple of hours to heat up. So maybe everything is fine. Thanks again for responding amitch; I was hoping there was someone out there with a z42.

 

[Islander08]

While you're building, might want to consider running ducts for forced air connection to the fireplace. Another way of getting heat from the fireplace. I think that unit allows connection...

 

[beekeeper]

I've considered it, but I'm concerned that the forced air through the ducts would be just as weak as the fan-kit that is supposed to blow air directly into the room. If I hold my hand 12 inches from the upper grill of the unit I currently can feel very little air movement. I've lost interest in the ducts because I'm afraid they'd be just as feeble. Anyone else tried them?

 

[mn_jon]

I have one of these in my house. I first thought the fan wasn't hooked up at all. I guess it is controlled by thermostat and needs to be hot first. The fan on mine isn't multispeed, just on or off. It isn't the strongest but I appreciate it not being so noisy too. I guess it's a tradeoff. That is why I went with slab heat, I was tired of turning the volume up and down whenever the forced air was going. Overall I am pleased with the z42. It does take awhile to heat up all of the brick, but it does burn very hot when it gets going and it doesn't use a lot of wood. I also have put some wood that's not entirely seasoned through here. I can't wait until next year when I have much more dry seasoned wood. Already working on the pile.

take it easy


Jon