Small stove, low clearances?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

mfglickman

Minister of Fire
Jan 17, 2012
676
NW CT
I'm starting to (knock wood) get good at scrounging woods and am frowning upon buying pellets...yeah you all said it would happen and it did. LOL.

So if we were to replace our pellet stove, the wood stove would have to go into a good sized hearth but the clearances in it are low...meaning the Harman XXV fits in there just fine but a Fireview's clearances would not work with the mantel and antique wood surrounding the hearth.

I'd love to hear your suggestions. I love our FV so soapstone is an option but I'm open to others as well.

Thanks!!!
 
Many convective clad stoves have close clearances. How big a stove are you looking for? To roughly match the Harman, look at Napoleon 1400, Pacific Energy Spectrum or Alderlea T5, and maybe the Enviro Boston for starters.
 
Here are a couple of pics so you can see the XXV in there. I'd like something smaller than that stove, for clearance's sake, and be able to heat 1200-1500 SF or so. We'll still have the FV going in the family room. Our house is drafty; it's getting less so but still, it's a long way from tight.

[Hearth.com] Small stove, low clearances?


[Hearth.com] Small stove, low clearances?
 
Sounds like you will need around a 2 cu ft stove. Start with the aforementioned suggestions and tell us what works or doesn't.
 
I don't think the Jotul or PE will fit. I think I need something tiny, like no taller than 26 inches or so. I really don't want to modify the wood surrounding the hearth as it's original to the house, so I may just be stuck with the pellets.

These are the dimensions of the FP opening:

42 inches high
45 wide at front
about 31 wide at back
21 inches deep to face of fireplace, with a 17" deep granite hearthstone in front (so, ideally, the stove would sit inside to have the 16" clearance out the front) Doing the math,that's 38 inches deep.

This just may not be possible. Darn.
 
You also need a stove that doesn't require much in the way of a hearth, because the existing stove sits pretty close to the wood floor. I don't have suggestions except to say that I think most wood stoves require at least a noncombustible hearth, and yours doesn't extend very far in front of the stove.
 
I wouldn't worry about the hearth extension. Look at stoves that need ember protection only and extend the hearth with a tile border, sheet of metal or hearth board if necessary. Why the 26" height restriction? It looks like there is plenty of room. Seems like the most important criteria should be to fit and get the job done satisfactorily.
 
I'm sorry I'm no help in your discussion, just wanted to say I really appreciate the look of your old hearth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mfglickman
I wouldn't worry about the hearth extension. Look at stoves that need ember protection only and extend the hearth with a tile border, sheet of metal or hearth board if necessary. Why the 26" height restriction? It looks like there is plenty of room. Seems like the most important criteria should be to fit and get the job done satisfactorily.

The height restriction is to protect the old mantel, which would sit just 26 inches above a 26 inch stove. 'm pretty sure it's chestnut but I don't want to cook it. ;)
 
Given that concern, I'm not sure that 26" would qualify any better than 36". The mantel that is showing in the pic is a very basic piece of woodworking using stock moulding. I suspect it is a later addition. That may be addressable with a heatshield attached to the underside of the lintel, but maybe not.
 
Not sure it would be big enough but I think the Hampton H200 will fit your hearth. My signature has info on the H200 Or maybe the larger H300
 
Status
Not open for further replies.