Well I am happy to say that............

[prican_2000]

I finally have the Pellet stove (Quadfire - Castille FP Insert) installed and running and has been for over a week.

Thanks to this forum and Many MANY searches and reading for hours I was able to draw up enough courage to rip out the beautiful (but very inefficient) Propane fireplace insert that came with the house and replace it with the Castille insert. So I:

1. Took out the custom corner mounted fireplace (all in one piece so I can reuse or sell if I choose to),
2. Installed dura-rock on the floor and back walls,
3. Removed the FP Thimble and installed a Pellet stove Thimble with the OAK
4. Did some resizing (cutting) of the marble surround to make the Castille look as if it was actually built into that FP.

I have not finished the surround installation yet because I was waiting to ensure there were no leaks and that the installation was good to go. so I will finish the marble surround install this weekend.

I had one neighbor who had a Pellet stove professionally installed last year come over a few weeks back and look at what I was working on before I finished the install and he was very impressed and actually said to me if I would've known what I know now I would've saved myself the $700 installation charge and done it myself.

It was a challenge to find pellets this late into the season and last week after buying 10 bags at $6.40 per bag from the local Hearth store who knew that the big box stores were out of stock. I was able to find a somewhat local Lowe's who had just received a truckload - so I bought a Ton of pellets from them at $224 after military discount. Lesson learned: Buy pellets earlier. but the reason why I waited so long was that I bought the Castille used and I wanted to make sure that it was functional before I spent money on pellets.

Anyways the house on the main level (Open floor plan but the insert is in the Family Room) has maintained 70 Degrees and the 2nd floor maintains a very comfortable 68-69 degrees with ceiling fans on each floor circulating on low and I have not heard the Heat pump/Fan turn on and if it does its on for a very short amount of time - hardly noticeable so my electric bill should be very low.

Pics are forthecoming - I just wanted to stop by real quick and give a shout out and a Thank You to all you guys.

 

[F4jock]

I finally have the Pellet stove (Quadfire - Castille FP Insert) installed and running and has been for over a week.

Thanks to this forum and Many MANY searches and reading for hours I was able to draw up enough courage to rip out the beautiful (but very inefficient) Propane fireplace insert that came with the house and replace it with the Castille insert. So I:

1. Took out the custom corner mounted fireplace (all in one piece so I can reuse or sell if I choose to),
2. Installed dura-rock on the floor and back walls,
3. Removed the FP Thimble and installed a Pellet stove Thimble with the OAK
4. Did some resizing (cutting) of the marble surround to make the Castille look as if it was actually built into that FP.

I have not finished the surround installation yet because I was waiting to ensure there were no leaks and that the installation was good to go. so I will finish the marble surround install this weekend.

I had one neighbor who had a Pellet stove professionally installed last year come over a few weeks back and look at what I was working on before I finished the install and he was very impressed and actually said to me if I would've known what I know now I would've saved myself the $700 installation charge and done it myself.

It was a challenge to find pellets this late into the season and last week after buying 10 bags at $6.40 per bag from the local Hearth store who knew that the big box stores were out of stock. I was able to find a somewhat local Lowe's who had just received a truckload - so I bought a Ton of pellets from them at $224 after military discount. Lesson learned: Buy pellets earlier. but the reason why I waited so long was that I bought the Castille used and I wanted to make sure that it was functional before I spent money on pellets.

Anyways the house on the main level (Open floor plan but the insert is in the Family Room) has maintained 70 Degrees and the 2nd floor maintains a very comfortable 68-69 degrees with ceiling fans on each floor circulating on low and I have not heard the Heat pump/Fan turn on and if it does its on for a very short amount of time - hardly noticeable so my electric bill should be very low.

Pics are forthecoming - I just wanted to stop by real quick and give a shout out and a Thank You to all you guys.

Always great to hear success stories. Enjoy your stove!

 

[DMKNLD]

Welcome to the Quadrafire club ! "Nothing burns like a Quad".

Based on the comments from many others on this forum who have shared their retail installer *misadventures*, your story is a great testament to the personal satisfaction and practical self-sufficiency in doing a professional DIY install. Good on you !

Looking forward to some pics ! The marble surround work sounds like a good challenge !

 

[TimfromMA]

Just remember one rule we have around here:

If there's no pictures, it didn't happen.

 

[bags]

Welcome! Nice stove you have. You will like it! Many Quad peeps here also.

 

[alternativeheat]

Congrats and happy heating, enjoy that stove !!

 

[prican_2000]

ok guys - as Promised here is the Proof in da Puddin

Started out with this:


and closeup of the Propane Fireplace Thimble - pretty sure we all know what it looks like, but just in case:

 

[prican_2000]

Here is the Mock-up after successfully removing the Propane Fireplace and marble surround all in one piece.


Taking measurements; Yep It'll fit:




Lined the Floor and rear wall with Durarock - I know not the prettiest but its functional

 

[prican_2000]

Thimble Installed:


Finally found a ton after searching for days:


And VIOLA - we have FIRE!!


Once I finish the surround this weekend - I will post a pic of how it all turned out and the "FINAL" outcome - but again I am very "VERY" happy with this stove and the amount of heat that it produces to keep my house warm and I am VERY Thankful to you guys for such a Great Forum.

 

[JDenyer236]

Congrats. Quad makes a great stove, my Father in Law has had his for I believe 7 seasons now. Not a single part has been replaced yet and he burn 6-8 tons a year.

 

[kappel15]

Bravo on a successful install. Looks like a professional install. Hope you have years of enjoyment and money saving heat. Stay warm. kap

 

[bogieb]

Good job - definitely need to see the completed project, but just having the heat is great! Happy burning

 

[bbfarm]

Great job!

 

[Fatherof2]

Very nice!!

 

[Jim H.]

Nice story and stove

 

[prican_2000]

Well guys. I am done and below is a picture. It was a mudda$&-,a to reinstall the pipe but after over an hour, along of frustrations, sweat and curses I got it all back together. One thing I cannot understand is how in the hell are other owners of the Castile insert putting in a full 40lbs bag into the hopper?!?!?! There is no freakin way! I have been putting in about 1/4 of the bag then I have been "helping" push the pellets towards the back but I can only get about 7/10 of the bag in.

(broken link removed to http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k236/prican_2000/0F89B969-7381-4F3C-ADBC-7368D3840E37.jpg)

 

[bogieb]

That is a beautiful install!

 

[kappel15]

Nice job. Looks great!

 

[John Fortier]

Very nice.