Why did you install an outdoor air kit?

[kinsmanstoves]

I have been known to stir the burn pot a little. Why did you install an OAK?

1.) Is it to cut down the clearance to a window or door? If there is an air wash in the door (Breckwell, Napoleon, US Stove) that allows room air into the unit or any other air inlet to the stove this will not work such as an unsealed ash pan or not a direct sealed connection to the combustion blower.

2.) Is it to let moisture into an appliance that has electrical connections and made of metal so it rusts faster?

3.) Building code. Cause the government knows what is best and I don't break the law (55 MPH means 55 MPH)?

4.) The manufacturer said so?

Please let me know if I forgot to list a response.


Eric

 

[PoodleWamer]

1. I live in a manufactured home, code says OAK has to be installed.
2. Installation manual says to use a fresh air intake, OAK is recommended. (Piazzetta Sabrina)
3. I put my stove in a space with an existing wood stove/OAK hearth. I had to plug the OAK access hole when I removed the wood stove because of the infiltration/draft. I also reasoned that a burning stove has to pull the air that goes up the chimney from somewhere. I would rather use cold air from an OAK than pull burn air through the bathroom vents, windows, doors, etc. to then burn heated air.

 

[Pete Zahria]

I would rather use cold air from an OAK than pull burn air through the bathroom vents, windows, doors, etc. to then burn heated air.

Which makes the most sense of all...

 

[Pelleting In NJ]

It's common sense............

 

[DougA]

My house is more air tight and an OAK just makes a huge amount of sense to me. I am very happy with mine but IF it was very difficult to install, I would probably not put one in.

 

[h2ochild]

Quote from ESW manual: "Outside air is mandatory for this unit to operate properly"
Good to see you posting again Eric, "The stirrer"

 

[DneprDave]

The outside air inlet on my stove just goes into a vented box that draws air from the inside of the back of the stove, it would draw air from inside the house anyway. An OAK would do nothing on my stove.

 

[alternativeheat]

The outside air inlet on my stove just goes into a vented box that draws air from the inside of the back of the stove, it would draw air from inside the house anyway. An OAK would do nothing on my stove.

Someone else thought the same thing, the oak leads to that air space inside the case of the stove and in his situation the stove is breathing the outside air more than inside air, drafts have reduced in his house since going ahead with the OAK install.. His story not mine, it was on here about six weeks ago, he decided to give it a shot vs assuming some hypothetical theory.

 

[kinsmanstoves]

The outside air inlet on my stove just goes into a vented box that draws air from the inside of the back of the stove, it would draw air from inside the house anyway. An OAK would do nothing on my stove.

I see said the blind man!

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Which makes the most sense of all...

That is a good answer.

Eric

 

[kinsmanstoves]

It's common sense............

But not needed in a lot of situations.

Eric

 

[TStark]

math

 

[kinsmanstoves]

math

That explained a lot. Thank you for your one second reply.

Eric

 

[hossthehermit]

Because I could. Wasn't busy that day, figgered I'd try it out, and if I didn't like it, I'd go back. Still usin' it.......................

 

[alternativeheat]

I installed mine because I wanted to lower drafts in the house and it worked.

 

[Cedarjunki]

Well in my case it is deff not what you seem to want to classify a "needed" item. Old mobile home, drafty. I dont care what they say about trailers, they are NOT built air tight. But In my case if i didnt install the oak i would be sitting here bundled up because of the cold air breezing by me to get to the stove. No thanks, the whole objective is to warm the space correct?

 

[Pete Zahria]

Regardless of what anyone says...
The stove is drawing outside air. Period.
It is not running on just inside air.
It is running on inside air, being replaced with cold outside air.
So you can pipe the air into the stove, or you can have what
amounts to a window partially opened all the time..

I am not one for making more work than necessary. Believe me.
I had to put a 4" hole through an 8" masonry wall to run my oak..
I never once considered not doing it.

 

[DneprDave]

Even without an OAK I have no drafts in my house. What probably serves as an OAK is a big dog door about six feet from the stove.

 

[rich2500]

My first stove was an Englander and as mentioned above mandatory so its been hooked up too the Serenity and now the francesca

 

[Don2222]

Hello Eric
I have Selkirk DT on my stoves that warms and dries the outside air coming into the burn pot. As you stated, just the standard outside air kits make other problems!!

 

[johneh]

I didn't like the idea of pulling heated air throw the stove just to exit the chimney
after all I paid to heat it
Besides my old Log Farm House has enough leaks already
Have never in 14 years had a problem with it

 

[Peterfield]

Funny thing, I woke up the other morning and the door to the unheated garage was wide open. Odd but the living room, dining room and kitchen felt the same and I didn't notice anything amiss until I went to the garage to bring a bag of pellets in. The stove was operating in stove mode and it kept everything nice and toasty despite the open door. A technician from the dealer came a couple of weeks ago to do a cleaning and replace the combustion blower. I asked about adding an OAK and he was adamant that it wasn't necessary in my house. I have the stove in a center chimney and he said it wouldn't hurt anything to install a pipe in the chimney or down the ash dump cavity but wouldn't appreciably change the results of heating my house. I understand the point of view regarding pulling in outside air but I guess I don't mind a little fresh air coming in for a little piece of mind.

 

[Jigger]

Well in my case it is deff not what you seem to want to classify a "needed" item. Old mobile home, drafty. I dont care what they say about trailers, they are NOT built air tight. But In my case if i didnt install the oak i would be sitting here bundled up because of the cold air breezing by me to get to the stove. No thanks, the whole objective is to warm the space correct?

I live in an old manufactured home as well. My place has new windows all the way around. But can still feel cold air leaking in at different places. I have my stove in a bump out that has no heat in it at all except for the stove. When I decided to put a stove in it so I do not have to use the electric heat base board. I went to the local fire dept. inspector for an answer. He said that an OAK was by local and state rules and must be installed.

 

[womaus]

Even without an OAK I have no drafts in my house. What probably serves as an OAK is a big dog door about six feet from the stove.

If this thread is to stir up the burn pot I'd like to add:

DneprDave is most probably more than happy with a breeze coming from the dog door cooling down the room, spending more $$$ than he needs to heating the space he inhabits...after all, my bet is that he owns a motorcycle that needs 3 hours of maintenance for every hour of riding.

Poke poke...stir up the embers....poke.

 

[FTG-05]

The same reason I don't leave the refrigerator door open. I didn't do all the work, expend all these resources, spend countless hours cutting, splitting and stacking wood only to have to continually heat cold outdoor air being sucked in by the wood stove.

Cold outdoor air goes into the firebox, indoor air stays warm - which by the by, was the sole purpose of installing the wood stove in the first place. Seems pretty simple to me.