Quadra-Fire stove clearances: chimney vs stove

[cptmoney]

So we've been burning our new Quadra-Fire 3100 Millennium stove all winter - and LOVING it. Seriously, this is the best investment we've made as a family. This thing is AMAZING!

However, I was recently shuffling things around the stove while it was burning, and decided to put my hand along the wall behind the stove to see what kind of temps she's putting off - and SHAZAAM did that drywall feel hot! I was somewhat taken aback by just how hot the wall felt.

I quickly grabbed my install manual and began taking measurements and photos, thinking I'd ask for all of your opinions.....

The short version of my question is really just this: can the chimney be set in closer than the stove requires? That is, do the chimney specs stand alone for the chimney pipe, and the stove specs stand for the stove?

My chimney is double wall Duravent 6" pipe. Online specs show that it can be installed to within 6" of combustible materials (if I read that correctly), and it's currently at/above 7"...which is within tolerances.

The stove says that it's gotta be further than 6" from the combustible wall - which it must definitely is.

Here's the kicker: the installer kicked the stove pipe BACK towards the wall to allow for adequate room for the ceiling box to fit between the trusses. That's my concern - if the stove were installed with a purely vertical pipe, the chimney pipe would be much further away from the wall...but as it is, it seems closer than it ought to be. It's hottest right at that point where the elbow hits closest to the wall - which makes sense. The heat would be at its highest point right there once it leaves the stove, correct?

According to the specs for both pieces, things are good. According to my hand on the wall - things seen a little tight (and HOT!). HAHA.

Any thoughts on all of this?

Here's a few photos to help explain what my concern is...


What do you all think? What's prudent here? Am I worried over nothing? This is my vey first stove, btw...

 

[Bigger_Al]

Not sure if this would help, but my stove pipe (DVL) is hotter at the stove than high up at the junction box. For example: stove top at 530, pipe is 100 degrees cooler at the top. What if you relocated that elbow to just before the ceiling junction box?

 

[Bigger_Al]

Therefore cooler temps from the pipe where it’s at its closest to the drywall.

 

[begreen]

What does the wall temperature read?

 

[Bigger_Al]

What does the wall temperature read?

My stove pipe is also 7” from combustibles (drywall). I have stacked slate tile and Hardiebacker between drywall and stove. Wall stays in the 90s and never feels warm to the touch when stove is up to operating temps.

 

[cptmoney]

To swap the elbow to the top seems like a great idea! I hadn't thought about that. Makes total sense, honestly. Might look a bit wonky for my taste....but rather that than have a house fire. Haha.

What would that mean for my cleaning? Right now I have a straight shot all the way down the the elbow. Would that elbow right in the middle of my chimney pipe derail my easy-cleaning setup?

As to the actual wall temps, I don't know the actual number. I don't have an infra-red thermometer, but I've ordered one and should have the actual deets here soon. I knew you guys would ask me that! You just beat me to it. I imagine if I can touch it and leave my hand there, it can't be OUTRAGEOUS - just much warmer than I'd like. Warmer than I'm comfortable with, at least.

I am not really sure that the stove is out of compliance necessarily, I just don't want to find out the hard way (i.e., singed drywall!) that I was wrong.

I sure appreciate all of your input so far - THANK YOU.

 

[begreen]

@cptmoney what does your wall temp read?

 

[cptmoney]

@cptmoney what does your wall temp read?

Not sure just yet. Still waiting on my thermometer....

 

[begreen]

The reason I ask is that a wall can feel quite hot at 140F yet still be safe. Big Al's suggestion is good if the wall temp is above about 165º, but I would not change it if the temp is more like 140º.

 

[livetosail]

To swap the elbow to the top seems like a great idea! I hadn't thought about that. Makes total sense, honestly.

It’s what we did.



As far as cleaning, I simply remove the stove pipe from the thimble and ream it out after doing the chimney first. No biggie.

As far as looks, I like the offset being at the top, personally.

As far as damage to the drywall, when I first installed ours, it was at minimum clearance (maybe a tad under). Within two months the seams in the drywall began to show. This is because the tape and mud along those seams heated and shrank several times.

We are replacing the drywall with cement board and lining it with stone backsplash tiles, which will alleviate any further concerns.

Also, I bought a cheap infrared thermometer on amazon. I consider it a necessity now.

Cheers!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cptmoney]

Thermometer arrived a few days ago but we've been out of town.

I'll get that reading this eve and get back to you all....

 

[cptmoney]

OK - I fired her up this eve after being out of town. House was cold, so I let her out to eat, so to speak. Stove top got above 700° according to my thermometer.

I took several temps at the base, middle, and top of the chimney....as well as the wall behind the stove.

The photos sneak for themselves. Wall temps were at 180°, and I expect them to go up a bit more as the stove continues to warm up.

What do you think about that? Pretty spicy, yeah? What's the cutoff point? 165°? Looks like I better make some changes...

 

[cptmoney]

I'll post another pic in an hour or two once she's come fully up to temp...

And for what it's worth, I was trying to be especially diligent about using the thermometer at distances of right around 12-14", so that the readings were reasonably accurate.

 

[begreen]

770F stove top is pushing things. Maybe try closing down the air sooner so that the flue and stove doesn't get so hot. It looks like the stove is being pushed close to overfire territory if it is going to get hotter.

Based on these readings I'd change the offset to be up top at the ceiling.

 

[cptmoney]

770F stove top is pushing things. Maybe try closing down the air sooner so that the flue and stove doesn't get so hot. It looks like the stove is being pushed close to overfire territory if it is going to get hotter.

Based on these readings I'd change the offset to be up top at the ceiling.

Well that's frustrating and disappointing.

The stove top thermometer that came when we purchased the stove has never even hit 500°. I buy a digital thermometer and come to find out that she's really closer to 800°. Awesome. Only off by 300° or so.

Overfire territory. The one thing that this stuff manufacturer tells you unequivocally NOT to do....and I've been doing it several times a week since the installation. That's always good to hear. Great news there.

I can start closing the air down sooner to keep her under control. That should help, I suppose. Hopefully there's been minimal damage done at this point.

We're almost out of winter here. I imagine another few weeks and we won't be using the stove at all until the fall. Maybe I can limp along until then and get the chimney dealt with before I do damage to the wall or the stove itself.

 

[begreen]

What temp do you read right next to the stove top thermometer? Is it really off that much?

 

[cptmoney]

What temp do you read right next to the stove top thermometer? Is it really off that much?

Can you see this pic?

The stove top thermometer reads right at 400°, and the infra red thermometer shows in the neighborhood of 410°. Guess it's not too far off. Maybe I've chosen a poor placement?

 

[begreen]

Yes, the thermometer looks like it's reading correctly. That is a cooler location on the stove top. What does it read 3" in front and 6" to the left (or right) of the center of the flue pipe?

 

[cptmoney]

Yes, the thermometer looks like it's reading correctly. That is a cooler location on the stove top. What does it read 3" in front and 6" to the left (or right) of the center of the flue pipe?

Roughly 600° just a few inches in front, high 400°s to either side. Stove is cooling down, as I've not added much fuel since the earlier pics.

 

[begreen]

Try moving the thermometer to the first location and run with it there for a few days. See how she rolls.

 

[Bigger_Al]

That’s where I place mine. It’s seems to be the most consistent location .

 

[cptmoney]

That’s where I place mine. It’s seems to be the most consistent location .

Maybe around here? Just a few inches ahead of the chimney pipe?

 

[begreen]

Give it a try there. You can ignore the colored ranges. They are for when the thermometer is on a single-wall stove pipe. Try to keep peak temp under 700-750º in that location and you should be ok.

 

[cptmoney]

I've been burning it all day and have been keeping it right around 500° give or take.

With stove temps like that, the wall hasn't even hit 130°. Maybe I've just been letting her run a little to wild.

My stovetop thermometer is a fairly cheap model. Is there one you guys recommend? This thing often gets stuck and needs a little tapping to help her moving sometimes.

 

[begreen]

I've been burning it all day and have been keeping it right around 500° give or take.

With stove temps like that, the wall hasn't even hit 130°. Maybe I've just been letting her run a little to wild.

My stovetop thermometer is a fairly cheap model. Is there one you guys recommend? This thing often gets stuck and needs a little tapping to help her moving sometimes.

Condar makes decent stove top thermometers.
http://www.condar.com/Stovetop_Thermometers.html