Mantle Clearance--Homestead--PIC Posted

[thinkxingu]

Hi There,
I see how to fix an issue was bumped, but I have a question:

My mantle only sticks out 3 inches. The manual says 23" height required with the surround but I only have 20. The top of the fireplace frame will be the top of the Homestead. Do I really need to put one of those stupid looking mantle-protectors with the spacers on?

Thanks,

S

 

[CarbonNeutral]

Do you want to go to bed at night wondering if your house will catch fire? Simple as that. If not, then sure, you don't need it.

I think that heat radiates from a stove as an inverse square rule. I think this is what really matters - not the convective heat. So if you double the distance away, you quarter the intensity of the heat. If my calcs are correct (which is always debatable), I reckon that extra three inches could decrease the heat by 25%.

Will it definitely catch fire? No. Is it likely it will catch fire? No. Is there a very, very small chance that it will catch fire maybe 10 years from now? Yes. Enough for me to deal with it now.

Can you raise your mantel instead?

 

[thinkxingu]

Hello There,
Given the mantle structure, it won't be easy to move. If I do a metal liner underneath, with the spacers, can it just be the length of the mantle?

S

 

[CarbonNeutral]

Someone else needs to chime in - I know not...