Too close to stove

[breamer999]

I have a zero clearance Regency mid box. I've been storing wood next to it, in this manner for fifteen years. A friend commented it is too close. It is 8" from each holder as seen in picture. Oddly enough it is also 8" from the back wall, which is log (as per installation instructions), so I think it's ok. The wood is replenished every two weeks

Thoughts?

 

[anthonyj124]

If you're comfortable with it, who cares. Not like sparks are going to come out of a closed fire box.

I'd love to see more pics of the house tough... I've got a log home too.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Wow that is close and tight. Did you need to bring the wood racks in so close?
But if you meet clearances I guess it's ok. How long have you been burning with it set up like this?

 

[Phoenix Hatchling]

Just saying...birch is simply beautiful wood!

 

[SteveKG]

It's ok. The stove in my avatar has a 5" clearance and that is about what there is to the wood wall panelling. The wall never gets more than a tiny bit warm. You are fine.

 

[bholler]

What are the required side clearances in an alcove? because that is pretty much what you have created there

If you're comfortable with it, who cares. Not like sparks are going to come out of a closed fire box.

That statement is totally wrong and irresponsible it is not the sparks you have to worry about it is heat transfer

 

[begreen]

Is this a Regency RA-7? If so, it looks like side alcove clearance is 16", rear clearance is 8". If not the RA-7 which model is it?

Also important. Is the connector pipe single or double-wall. Single wall has a minimum 18: clearance requirement. Birch bark is excellent tinder. It catches fire easily.

 

[breamer999]

I assume the clearances are 8", since I had an authorized wood stove dealer install it. I've been burning this way since 1999.
Pics coming up

 

[begreen]

Assume nothing. A friend's dad's house caught fire after 30 yrs of burning due to slow pyrolysis. Your friend is right and has your best interests at heart. Why gamble in one's own home?

 

[begreen]

There are dozens of ways to violate safety. It's easy, but that is not what this site is about. I have seen even worse, but wouldn't advise it to anyone. Encourage someone with even less knowledge of safety and the results can be disastrous. Certainly no one here wants someone that has lost their house pointing back to an online picture they saw as justification for not paying attention to required clearances.

 

[breamer999]

Winter shot

 

[breamer999]

Bad storm

 

[jackatc1]

I have not posted in a long time, but I must say that set up is insane!

My go to tinder is birch bark, one good spark and poof.

 

[jeepnerd]

That looks like a well used stove.

 

[breamer999]

I live in Prince Edward Island, on the North Shore, Brackley Beach (google for exact local), 226 Osprey. Winter's can be brutal, not brutal cold but brutal snow. I go through about 2.5 cords spruce (my own ) and 1 cord hardwood. Im about 1100 sq feet
I am also partially off grid with 1.8 kw solar, two greenhouses and 20 raised beds

 

[breamer999]

The Regency is an amazing stove. I can get an 8 Hr burn out of it with Maple. I've only replaced the gaskets once. My pipe is straight, and about 10 feet indoors, the outside. I have a vaulted ceiling

 

[breamer999]

I had to cut some custom brick for the bottom this year, the pattern is a bit crazy bit with wet brick and a chisel I did it

 

[BobUrban]

Holy moly - I would not do it but if you are comfortable like that it is your choice. I just assume you ask for the forums opinion because you were concerned.

While in college I worked as a welder on an erection crew and one of the fellas I worked with did 3yrs in state prison for strong armed bank robbery(basically passing a note saying you have a gun) He said he did it because he was desperate to begin with and it was only going to be "this one time" He went on to say it became so easy he just continued to rob banks until, yup, he got caught.

Moral of the story(or at least the message I received) Why press your luck when it is your life and the lives on those close to you in the balance.

 

[Mellery]

I too, read concern in your post after what your friend said. We also have a Regency, although it's sort of half insert, half free standing with an extra side wall on the firebox. Clearance is 10" with that extra wall but I use 12" for peace of mind. The other day I stood a well-dried, 3 year seasoned piece of wood I was doing some crafting with about 14" from the box on the hearth and darned if it didn't crack that lovely piece of hard wood and spoil my work to that point. I was surprised as we weren't even running the fire all that hot at the time.

Would it be all that difficult to just move those stacks over?

 

[Diabel]

How hot/warm does the wood get?
Mine is 13" 14" from the stove and still sometimes it makes me uneasy, especially when I load for overnights.

 

[northwinds]

So is the pipe single wall or double wall?

This thread reminds me of the people who say they use their open ash pans to get the fire going and nothing bad has happened yet.

 

[Cynnergy]

I would not have that setup in my house.

 

[bsruther]

Eh, it will all get burned, one way or another.

 

[xman23]

Hey, don't want to pile on here, but the boys are rightfully concerned. I'm guessing spec. clearances are worst case, where there's no venting of the heat. What happens if the stove overfires some day. Maybe some one else running the stove. I have seen that, they can produce some heat. What about a popping ember. Hard to know it's sitting in the birch bark. I hear, you have been doing it forever, but be careful. How about simple heat shield between the stove and the wood.

 

[jeepnerd]

That looks like a well used stove.