Hello All,
I recently bought a house in the woods with electric baseboard heat. I figured since I have access to wood, I would start cutting trees and install a wood insert. The home inspector found that the original flue pipe had been cracked and should not be used. I bought a chainsaw began cutting trees down and splitting. The previous homeowner left me a face cord of wood so I could begin burning. I began doing research and decided to do the install myself to save on $$. I went online to Rockford Chimney Supply and purchased a Napolean 1100 wood insert that came with the blower, thermo sensor and the standard surround. I also purchased the 6" stainless liner kit which came with 20' of flex pipe, top plate, rain cap, appliance adapter and 1/2" insulation wrap. This past weekend I removed my damper and began the process. I insulated the pipe, fed it down the chimney and had to 'ovalize' it to get through the damper. Once the pipe was down, I turned the oval back into a circle and attached the appliance adapter. I got the stove in place and installed the surround. I installed all of the fire brick according to the instructions and lit a fire.
Since I've been burning (4 days), I feel a little lost. I have never burned wood before and do not know if I am burning efficiently. The stove is placed in a 15X20 room with 3 outside walls. The original chimney is completely outdoors. The stove claimed to be able to heat up to 1500 sq. ft. which I figured would work for my ground floor. I have not noticed any heat getting upstairs as of yet. The stove will heat the room it is in up to 82 degrees but it won't last all day while I am at work and doesn't seem to get to the rest of the rooms on the ground floor. Before I leave I fill the stove, get it burning nice and hot and then turn the draft to low. I leave the fan on high to circulate air throughout the house but when I get home from work all that is left is some ash which is still warm enough for the fan to keep blowing. My wife and I are gone from 7AM to about 5PM. Should I expect a fire when I get home? Also, I have read about the damper sealing kit that Rockford sells and I just ordered one. Will this help my issue? I think the only way to heat my first floor the way I want is to feed the fire all day long which I can't do since my wife and I have to work. Also, sometimes when there is wood still in but not any fire, I open the door and the flames begin, is this normal?
Also, during the install when I put the surround on I did not read anything saying to seal it to the face of the fireplace.....should I have done that?
Any suggestions or help anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I recently bought a house in the woods with electric baseboard heat. I figured since I have access to wood, I would start cutting trees and install a wood insert. The home inspector found that the original flue pipe had been cracked and should not be used. I bought a chainsaw began cutting trees down and splitting. The previous homeowner left me a face cord of wood so I could begin burning. I began doing research and decided to do the install myself to save on $$. I went online to Rockford Chimney Supply and purchased a Napolean 1100 wood insert that came with the blower, thermo sensor and the standard surround. I also purchased the 6" stainless liner kit which came with 20' of flex pipe, top plate, rain cap, appliance adapter and 1/2" insulation wrap. This past weekend I removed my damper and began the process. I insulated the pipe, fed it down the chimney and had to 'ovalize' it to get through the damper. Once the pipe was down, I turned the oval back into a circle and attached the appliance adapter. I got the stove in place and installed the surround. I installed all of the fire brick according to the instructions and lit a fire.
Since I've been burning (4 days), I feel a little lost. I have never burned wood before and do not know if I am burning efficiently. The stove is placed in a 15X20 room with 3 outside walls. The original chimney is completely outdoors. The stove claimed to be able to heat up to 1500 sq. ft. which I figured would work for my ground floor. I have not noticed any heat getting upstairs as of yet. The stove will heat the room it is in up to 82 degrees but it won't last all day while I am at work and doesn't seem to get to the rest of the rooms on the ground floor. Before I leave I fill the stove, get it burning nice and hot and then turn the draft to low. I leave the fan on high to circulate air throughout the house but when I get home from work all that is left is some ash which is still warm enough for the fan to keep blowing. My wife and I are gone from 7AM to about 5PM. Should I expect a fire when I get home? Also, I have read about the damper sealing kit that Rockford sells and I just ordered one. Will this help my issue? I think the only way to heat my first floor the way I want is to feed the fire all day long which I can't do since my wife and I have to work. Also, sometimes when there is wood still in but not any fire, I open the door and the flames begin, is this normal?
Also, during the install when I put the surround on I did not read anything saying to seal it to the face of the fireplace.....should I have done that?
Any suggestions or help anyone can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.