New guy with questions

[12bar]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and heating with wood. About a year ago we moved full time to a log home in the North Georgia mountains. This was our first winter and a couple of things we learned are:
1. Have to find drafts and seal them up.
2. Insulate around all the windows and doors
3. Improve the heating system to conserve on propane, thats where the questions come in.

We have a fireplace and used it a lot this winter, it did help keep the living room warmer but it was clear to us how inefficient it really was as a heat source. After nearly having a chimney fire at the end of the season we started looking at wood stove inserts. We shopped around and settled on the Regency I1200 unit. The dealer had their installer come out and take a look at the existing fireplace to make sure it would fit. He said no problem. The stove is ordered, the installer will sweep the chimney, replace the cap and rain pain as well as installing a new corrugated stainless liner inside the chimney to the stove.

The chimney sweep we had been using called after we placed the order to schedule a cleaning. After telling him of our plan he proceeded to tell me horror stories and said he will not work on chimneys using stove inserts.

OK finally to the question, are we potentially making a huge dangerous mistake or do we simply have to sweep the chimney more often. After talking with the chimney sweep it really made us nervous and we get conflicting advice depending on who we ask. Dealers say no problem, chimney sweep says no way, the stove manufactures are vague.

Any real world advice and suggestions would really be appreciated.

 

[BrotherBart]

Welcome to h.c.

Does the sweep understand stainless steel chimney liners? Sounds like he doesn't and is relating the safety issues that come about with fireplace inserts when a chimney liner isn't installed. With a liner the fireplace insert is orders of magnitude safer than a fireplace insert without one.

Sounds like time to find a good sweep. Get a reference for one from your stove dealer.

BB - Who has heated for 30 years with both a fireplace insert and now a free standing stove inside his fireplace. With a chimney liner and the house is still here.

 

[12bar]

Welcome to h.c.

Does the sweep understand stainless steel chimney liners? Sounds like he doesn't and is relating the safety issues that come about with fireplace inserts when a chimney liner isn't installed. With a liner the fireplace insert is orders of magnitude safer than a fireplace insert without one.

Sounds like time to find a good sweep. Get a reference for one from your stove dealer.

BB - Who has heated for 30 years with both a fireplace insert and now a free standing stove inside his fireplace. With a chimney liner and the house is still here.

Thanks for the quick response it makes us feel a lot better. The installer is also a chimney sweep, we are going to have him maintain the chimney after the installation. I was joking with him about this and told him by using him I wouldn't have to worry about the chimney sweep telling me what a bad job the installer did.

 

[Grisu]

Welcome!

Are you planning on using the insert as primary heat source or only to supplement your propane heat? It is a rather small insert that will only give you about 4 to 5 hours of meaningful heat at best. If you will like to heat with wood as much as possible I would suggest upgrading to a larger one like the Regency I2400 assuming it will still fit your fireplace.

Be also aware that the insert will only be safe and give you the heat you desire when you use dry wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. Usually that requires to split and stack the wood in an open spot for one to three years depending on the species and drying conditions. How many cords of wood did you put up already?

 

[12bar]

Welcome!

Are you planning on using the insert as primary heat source or only to supplement your propane heat? It is a rather small insert that will only give you about 4 to 5 hours of meaningful heat at best. If you will like to heat with wood as much as possible I would suggest upgrading to a larger one like the Regency I2400 assuming it will still fit your fireplace.

Be also aware that the insert will only be safe and give you the heat you desire when you use dry wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. Usually that requires to split and stack the wood in an open spot for one to three years depending on the species and drying conditions. How many cords of wood did you put up already?

We will be using it for supplemental heating our propane is the primary heat source. We are hoping to reduce our propane use from last winter with the insert. As for wood I have about 1.5 cords of wood at the moment and will have about 4 when I am done. About half of the wood I have is from my property and the remainder is purchased locally. I bought a moisture meeter to make sure the wood is dry enough.

 

[Grisu]

Sounds good. When you test the wood, make sure you get the internal moisture content: Split a few pieces in half and press the pins in the center of the fresh surface. That reading should be below 20%.

4 cords is a good start. Usually it is best to be at least 2 seasons ahead meaning you would split and stack now the wood for the winter 16/17.

 

[blades]

you are on the right track, heck just sealing off that fireplace in the winter will show an improvement/ reduction in propane use. Course you are not in an area that is ,what I consider, cold- winter wise ( snicker) just like a couple friends in Canada tell me I am living in the tropics. There is no real problem with the flex liner provided a proper block off plate is installed at the insert end and a proper terminal/ clamp at the top to hold the liner and seal that end plus adding insulation( poured around liner ) or using an insulated liner( might not be enough room for that type). cleaning is accomplished with ,preferably, the poly brushes, and with properly dried wood and good good burning practices shouldn't result in more than a few cups of black soot after a whole season.
Another option if you have the room or it sound plausible is to use a freestanding stove in front of the fire place or partially set back into the fire place - this would allow for a larger unit increasing the length of usable heat between reloads. It would require extending the hearth out into the living space though and a unit that has a rear exhaust( depends on how high the fireplace is internally).- just a thought.