Questions re: OAK for old Whitfield Quest insert

[Madcodger]

Well, I was a bit stupid when I allowed a dealer to install an old Whitfield Quest insert into a basement office fireplace without an OAK. It works perfectly, with about 25' of stainless steel venting up the chimney, BUT I'm burning air that we've already heated! And I know better! I was simply looking at the cost of the extra piping up the chimney, and listened to the dealer who said, "Don't worry about it".

So, now I'm thinking about installing an OAK... I would rather NOT do that using the pipe up the chimney method, though, as I'm no longer comfortable working at heights and the dealer wants a fortune for the install (plus it would require the cap to be modified, etc.). I know I could tell the dealer that he should have "done it the right way", but let's get past that, friends - I need to find a solution.

I'm thinking of simply drilling through the chimney, either from the back or the side, but that's a 3-inch hole through the chimney (stucco and block). Has anyone done this on their own? Did you just drill through with a hammer drill or did you use a coring contractor or rent a special corer to make the hole?

And more importantly, the Quest was never designed for an OAK to the best of my knowledge. Has anyone ever connected one, and can you offer any advice?

 

[johnny1720]

I have done a bunch, I just used a 1/4" bit and drilled a bunch of small holes around in a circle. Then popped it out with a chisel. It only took about 30 minutes. I drilled from the outside of the house. The OAK hose can be purchased at many auto parts stores.

 

[Madcodger]

Thanks. Do you go in from side or back of chimney / FP?

 

[johnny1720]

I use a section of steel conduit to go through the back of the chimney.

My glowboy stove has a damper but you have to remove the shroud to adjust the air intake. I have put the damper on the outside with either a valve or a simple homemade damper

So the flex goes from the conduit to the fresh air intake. If you don't have a fresh air intake just out it near where it pulls in the air.

 

[Madcodger]

Great advice. Thank you!

 

[Tim_M]

I'm not sure if your Quest is similar to my Profile 30 insert, but I wanted to install an OAK on mine and found it's not really possible due to the design of the intake tube at the back. There is a baffle blocking half the tube, a few inches in, and behind that baffle there is a large hole in the side of the tube that allows air to enter. I thought of trying to block that hole but was afraid the baffle would restrict air flow too much. In the end I settled for opening up the clean-out chute at the back of the fireplace and drilling several holes in the metal cover on the back of the chimney to allow outside air to enter. I'm not sure if it has made much difference in my stove's performance.

 

[canboy]

Well, I was a bit stupid when I allowed a dealer to install an old Whitfield Quest insert into a basement office fireplace without an OAK. It works perfectly, with about 25' of stainless steel venting up the chimney, BUT I'm burning air that we've already heated! And I know better! I was simply looking at the cost of the extra piping up the chimney, and listened to the dealer who said, "Don't worry about it".

So, now I'm thinking about installing an OAK... I would rather NOT do that using the pipe up the chimney method, though, as I'm no longer comfortable working at heights and the dealer wants a fortune for the install (plus it would require the cap to be modified, etc.). I know I could tell the dealer that he should have "done it the right way", but let's get past that, friends - I need to find a solution.

I'm thinking of simply drilling through the chimney, either from the back or the side, but that's a 3-inch hole through the chimney (stucco and block). Has anyone done this on their own? Did you just drill through with a hammer drill or did you use a coring contractor or rent a special corer to make the hole?

And more importantly, the Quest was never designed for an OAK to the best of my knowledge. Has anyone ever connected one, and can you offer any advice?

The Quest is designed to accept an OAK. The connection is right on the back of the stove beside the electrical connection(1 inch pipe). But this is not an air tight connection...it is just dropping cold air into the back of the stove. When it isn't running, it will be dropping cold air directly onto your basement floor. I have a Quest in my basement and would not recommend that.

 

[stellep]

+1 canboy. I thought about it. No pros. Cons=cold air in house. Never had an issue without the OAK.

 

[Madcodger]

Hmmm... Good info, folks. But now this is a challenge... If I could just make that airtight with some stove venting tape and sealant, I'd stop burning heated air... I just need some free time now. Have any of you tried to seal it?

 

[Madcodger]

So, I simply cannot find an OAK on my Quest insert... Checked both sides, and the only place I can't see directly is the rear. But used a fiber optic scope (camera) and still can't see it. Does anyone have a pic (perhaps from pre-install) or even a diagram from somewhere?

Thanks!