Used Hampton HI300 (your thoughts)

[Bravehrt3]

So I found a HI300 insert in my area for a very decent price $700 ( or is it? ). Have always had free standing wood stoves growing up. Never had an insert, that being said i'm not exactly sure of what I should be looking for to see if this insert is in good working order and worth the money. The issue is the people selling it don't know much about it. They bought the house and the stove was already there. The pervious owner has said she did use it and it worked fine heating the home. But they never used it. So I really have no idea how old it is and how many seasons it has been in use. They do have the manual and it says 2006, but i'm not sure if thats the actual year of the stove or just the manufactures date. I'm attaching a few pictures for everyone to look at. Hopefully there good enough to see in detail. As you can see there is rust on the outer box and around the inner door casing. Is this something I should be worried about? Is it something I can sand down and repaint with high temp paint, or better off leaving as is. Is it a sign that moisture got on the stove or is this normal wear? Looking forward to your thoughts
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[BrotherBart]

The only thing that would stop me from buying that $3,000 insert for $700 would be a crack in the firebox. And even then I would probably buy it anyway and have the crack welded.

 

[mellow]

The back kinda worries me, looks like it was a slammer install with no top plate with all that rust on top of the firebox, I would make sure that is solid.

For $700 that is a VERY good price, I would jump on it in a heartbeat. That color is my favorite enamel.

 

[BrotherBart]

That rust on the top should be on the shroud around the firebox so it shouldn't affect the firebox at all.

 

[mellow]

True, that is the air jacket, hopefully the rust didnt make a hole around the exhaust collar.

 

[Bravehrt3]

By slammed install I take it you mean a hack install, should a top plate always be used ? Again new to the fireplace insert units always had free standing wood stoves. Any thoughts on me sanding and painting the shroud with high temp paint to help reduced rusting? And how heavy are these units? Can one be carried with two people?

 

[Deano31]

I would not be worried about the rust at all wire brush to clean it up and leave it that is a steel of a price look close at all the corners with the door open for cracks that's the spots they crack if over fired and also check the burn tubes but jump on that before it's gone

 

[jscs.moore]

Just had a brand new HI300 installed with an insulated SS liner this September and the total cost was just under $5,000! And I only have the cast iron...not the brown enamel, which is an upgrade. As Brother Bart has noted...unless you can find something seriously wrong with it...steal it for the $700 bucks!

 

[DAKSY]

... And how heavy are these units? Can one be carried with two people?

Shipping weight is 437 lbs. Two BIG, strong guys, maybe, but an appliance handtruck works very well.

 

[cableman]

I too got the same one off cl but never fired for a grand less then a new one. I think there was a problem with the angle iron welded just above the door, smoke deflector they call it. See if you have that, older models do not and newer models have a bolted stainless steel one.
Mine has the welded one which i will most likely replace.
2 guys can lift it no problem if you remove all panels and fire brick

 

[begreen]

If nothing worse shows up, go for it. Cleaning the rust off the top and repainting with stove paint is a good idea. A wire brush and steel wool should suffice.

For best performance the insert should have at least a 15' liner. Is in in an interior or exterior wall fireplace? How tall will the insulated liner be?

 

[mellow]

You should be able to remove the surround (wrap in moving blankets), that will save you some weight, but yes 2 people should be able to move it stripped down. Check to see if the current owner had a liner hooked up to it, you might be able to snag that for free if you remove it.

Study the manual before you pick it up so you know how to disassemble.

 

[DAKSY]

Also study the manual to find the proper lifting points.
The ash lip is cast iron (= BRITTLE) & can snap right off if you lift there.

 

[Bravehrt3]

If nothing worse shows up, go for it. Cleaning the rust off the top and repainting with stove paint is a good idea. A wire brush and steel wool should suffice.

For best performance the insert should have at least a 15' liner. Is in in an interior or exterior wall fireplace? How tall will the insulated liner be?

Its a interior fireplace located right in the middle of the house. 2 stories tall included attic

 

[begreen]

It should run great with that setup.

 

[Bravehrt3]

It should run great with that setup.

The only other question I had was the minimum depth for this insert is 17.5'' mine is exactly that. So the back of the fire box will be right up against the back of the fireplace. Is this a problem?

 

[begreen]

Probably not unless this is an exterior wall chimney. If that is the case heat will be robbed from the convection jacket and transferred to the masonry. In that case I would put an insulation blanket behind the stove and if necessary put a thin filler between the surround and the front of the fireplace.

 

[mellow]

You *might* have to chip out the bricks where it hits a bit in a worst case sanario, not that hard to do with the right tools.

 

[Bravehrt3]

Should I get a preinsulated liner if the chimney is in the interior of the house or is that overkill. I do plan on doing a backing plate which I have read up on all of your threads regarding that issue

 

[Bravehrt3]

What are hearth businesses getting price wise for installs these days. Was going to do the install myself but if I'm going to let my home insurance know about it, there going to need proof of professional install.

 

[bholler]

Should I get a preinsulated liner if the chimney is in the interior of the house or is that overkill.

Do you have the required clearance to combustibles the entire lenght of the chimney? For you that would mean 2" from the outside of the masonry chimney structure to any combustible material. If not you need the liner to be insulated. It would not have to be preinsulated but you would need insulation.

What are hearth businesses getting price wise for installs these days. Was going to do the install myself but if I'm going to let my home insurance know about it, there going to need proof of professional install.

That will vary greatly depending on type of liner lenght of liner ease of access ect.

 

[bholler]

Should I get a preinsulated liner if the chimney is in the interior of the house or is that overkill.

Do you have the required clearance to combustibles the entire lenght of the chimney? For you that would mean 2" from the outside of the masonry chimney structure to any combustible material. If not you need the liner to be insulated. It would not have to be preinsulated but you would need insulation.

What are hearth businesses getting price wise for installs these days. Was going to do the install myself but if I'm going to let my home insurance know about it, there going to need proof of professional install.

That will vary greatly depending on type of liner length of liner ease of access ect.

 

[Bravehrt3]

As far as labor, not really worried about materials. For all the guys here that have had a wood insert installed what was the labor charge itself not counting parts.

 

[bholler]

As far as labor, not really worried about materials. For all the guys here that have had a wood insert installed what was the labor charge itself not counting parts.

Again it will vary allot we charge anywhere from $500 to $2000 depending on the situation. You need to have guys look at it and give you quotes.

 

[Bravehrt3]

I can't measure at the moment to much snow on the roof. But it is going to be warmer this weekend so I will be up on the roof as soon as it melts. Its an interior chimney 2 stories tall included attic. I'm just trying to figure out if its worth having a professional install it or do it myself.