Offset box and draft?

[jc5922]

Has anyone had any experience with these? I could see where they might interfere with the draft a little. I'm going to be installing about 22 ft of uninsulated liner, that is about a foot about the center roof line. Never had a draft issue with the prefab fireplaces, but that's a completly different beast. Here's a link and pic of one on ebay. It's total height is 2.5 inches. I've found one as thin as 2 inches. Just seems awfully restrictive to me...

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chimney-Fireplace-Insert-6-Liner-Off-Set-Box-/250438440405?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a4f4b55d5)

 

[mellow]

Do you need one to clear your lintel?

 

[jc5922]

Yep. If I go with with this Lennox Country Performer c-210, the maximum lintel depth is only 4.5 inches(go to page four of the online brochure pdf, I included the link at the bottom). No way that'll work in my prefab unit. I need it to be at least 8 inches. I might could squeeze 7.5, but I guess that'll depend on how flexible flex line really is(I've never worked with it before).

(broken link removed)

 

[mellow]

I am sure you looked at the ZC specs and found out if your prefab is complaint, but will post anyway just in case.

Zero-Clearance Factory-Built Fireplace Approval
C160 and C210: Approved for installation into the following factory-built
wood-burning fireplaces—Heatilator, Majestic, Superior, Martin, Preway,
Marco, Temco and FMI with a minimum of 36 inches in width at cavity
opening and 21 inches of height.

As for the offset hampering your draft, it might, it would help to insulate your 22" liner to get that extra draft just in case.

Btw, flexible liner isn't really flexible, it flexes, thats about it.

 

[velvetfoot]

There'd be no possibility of cleaning the chimney from below, correct?

 

[mellow]

Even cleaning from the top is a PIA with these things, bottom up is out of the question. Get one with a clean out door, it might help somewhat, you might be able to stick a vacuum into the clean out.

(broken image removed)
http://www.efireplacestore.com/fsd-mss-osb-6.html

 

[jc5922]

There'd be no possibility of cleaning the chimney from below, correct?

From the way I see it, without completly removing the insert, no.

 

[jminacci]

Has anyone had any experience with these? I could see where they might interfere with the draft a little. I'm going to be installing about 22 ft of uninsulated liner, that is about a foot about the center roof line. Never had a draft issue with the prefab fireplaces, but that's a completly different beast. Here's a link and pic of one on ebay. It's total height is 2.5 inches. I've found one as thin as 2 inches. Just seems awfully restrictive to me...

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chimney-Fireplace-Insert-6-Liner-Off-Set-Box-/250438440405?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a4f4b55d5)

I thought it was a great idea when I first saw it. Then I got thinking about how I was going to clean my liner. I passed on it.

 

[Dieselbreath]

I had to put one on my Regency insert in order to make it fit and have no draft issues, however I do have a 27 foot liner installed. I too thought I would have some problems with cleaning but after I went with a Sooteater that sucker cleans out that offset along with the liner. Guess the whirling of the thing also cleans out the offset after it reaches it. Even if it didn't it's no big deal to just pull the creosote off the ledge and or vacuum it up.
As far as cleaning from the bottom up it depends on how offset your offset is. That sooteater is pretty flexible (and small) and might just go up in there.
If you are going to use an offset I would recommend the sooteater at www.sooteater.com.

 

[jminacci]

I had to put one on my Regency insert in order to make it fit and have no draft issues, however I do have a 27 foot liner installed. I too thought I would have some problems with cleaning but after I went with a Sooteater that sucker cleans out that offset along with the liner. Guess the whirling of the thing also cleans out the offset after it reaches it. Even if it didn't it's no big deal to just pull the creosote off the ledge and or vacuum it up.
As far as cleaning from the bottom up it depends on how offset your offset is. That sooteater is pretty flexible (and small) and might just go up in there.
If you are going to use an offset I would recommend the sooteater at www.sooteater.com.

I too have a sooteater, but didn't think that I would be able to snake it up through the offset. Do you go through the top of your stove up through the offset and into the liner?

 

[jc5922]

I appreciate all of the info. I'm leaning more towards the Lennox Country stove and that will require me to have the offset box. I found one that's only 2 inches high(not counting the collars). I've just to get everything together. Hopefully I'll have everything ordered by this weekend and have the stove installed by the end of next weekend....lofty goals. :zip:

 

[Dieselbreath]

I too have a sooteater, but didn't think that I would be able to snake it up through the offset. Do you go through the top of your stove up through the offset and into the liner?

[/quote]

I do a top down cleaning because I have a j-hook holding my offset on and it's in the way. If i didn't have that I think I could definitely do a bottom up cleaning because those sooteater rods are pretty flexible. Might be a little messy tho.

 

[Seastrike]

I used a custom made flue offset box a few years back with a Jotul 350 insert.
I must say it worked great & absolutely no issues with draft.
In fact, Im now running a Jotul 550 without the offset box and draft isn't as good as the 350 was with the offset box...go figure...
I am going to add an offset box to the 550 so I can flush mount and add the surround panel at some point.

With the offset box, the sweep did a top down cleaning and easily vac'd out the debris that fell into the stove and box. I watched him do the clean & vac and it was no issue at all. The box does need to have an access door as was noted earlier.
good luck.