Swapping out quadrafire inserts

[ylomnstr]

Hi. I have an older Quadrafire insert in my fireplace. I don't think it has ever been nearly as efficient as other stoves I've had and seen. My mother in law is selling her house and has a newer Quadrafire insert that seems to put out a lot more heat. She said I can swap them out before they sell the house, but her install is different. Mine simply has flex pipe coming out of the stove up the chimney. Hers has more hard pipes. See the photo. How can I hook up my existing stove to her existing setup and will my flex pipe connect to her stove or do I need some sort of adapter?

 

[stovelark]

Most inserts have a quick disconnect on the exhaust that will connect to a pellet vent tee, and the tee hooks into the 4" stainless liner going the full length up the chimney. When your new insert goes in place (assuming it will fit in your fireplace opening), the suitable adaptor will connect your existing liner up to the new stove's exhaust outlet. BTW, that stove needs a good cleaning, the convection blower inboard looks pretty coated... I'm thinking the exhaust blower will probably be worse, in all likelihood. Good luck. Quads are nice pellet appliances.

 

[SilentRoot]

I wouldn’t assume the flex liner will connect directly just because they’re both Quadra-Fire inserts. I’d get the exact model number off your mother-in-law’s unit and check the installation manual first.


Measure the flue collar on the newer insert and compare it with the diameter of your existing liner. What you’re seeing on hers may be a listed adapter or offset connector rather than just extra stove pipe.


If the sizes don’t match, I’d use the proper listed adapter for that stove/liner combination rather than trying to make the flex fit. Since you’re swapping inserts anyway, it would also be a good time to have the liner and connection inspected by a chimney pro before firing it up.

 

[begreen]

What you’re seeing on hers may be a listed adapter or offset connector rather than just extra stove pipe.

This is a pellet stove insert, no stove pipe or wood stove flue collar.

ylomnstr, the exhaust setup for your mom's Quad is nice. It looks to be designed for easy cleaning. What model do you currently have and what is her model? They both most likely connect to a 3 or 4" flex liner.

Stovelark is right. This looks like it has never been cleaned back there. Do a thorough vacuuming and blowout all the accumulated dust.

 

[SilentRoot]

I wouldn’t assume the flex liner will connect directly just because they’re both Quadra-Fire inserts. I’d get the exact model number off your mother-in-law’s unit and check the installation manual first.


Measure the flue collar on the newer insert and compare it with the diameter of your existing liner. What you’re seeing on hers may be a listed adapter or offset connector rather than just extra stove pipe.


If the sizes don’t match, I’d use the proper listed adapter for that stove and liner combination rather than trying to force the flex to fit. Since you’re swapping inserts anyway, it’s also a good time to have the liner and connection checked by a chimney pro before firing it up. I take the same approach with online offers too, use what actually matches instead of improvising. With Tropical Casino https://tropical-casino.com/ I’d rather check the exact promo rules, eligible slots and wagering terms before claiming anything than assume a banner applies everywhere. Better to sort the fit properly now than create a problem later.

I’d also check the manual for the minimum and maximum liner size, required clearances, and whether that insert is approved for use with the type of chimney you already have. Two units from the same manufacturer can still have very different requirements depending on the model and year.

Before you pull the old insert, take a few pictures of how the current liner is attached and measure how much room you actually have behind and above the unit. Sometimes the vent connection looks simple until the new insert is halfway into the fireplace and you realize the collar sits in a completely different spot.

If the liner itself is older, I’d inspect it closely for damage, corrosion, or crushed sections while everything is apart. Reusing a good liner can save a lot of work, but I would not let the existing liner dictate the installation if the new insert calls for something different.

Also make sure the surround, hearth clearance, and electrical connection for the blower all work with the replacement unit. The venting is the obvious part, but those little differences are usually what turn a straightforward swap into a much bigger job.