Gifted a fireplace insert....need help

[mooman]

My sister and BIL gave us a used fireplace insert they scored out of a remodel. Its in good shape except for the fan doesn't work. My fireplace is all brick. I've come to accept that I'll need to install a liner. I have no idea what the make or model of the insert is. On the side it says: R194 some rust so it may be incomplete.

1. The flue is 3.5 x 14 in rectangular. all the connectors I see are round. Google is again coming up empty on "adapters"

2. Any good tutorials on inserts and installing liners without trying to sell me something?

3. The way the insert is built it has a small 1in high "intake?" vent under the bottom plate that seems like it should be flush with the hearth. As a result this plate sits above the hearth and looks awkward. whats up with that?

[Country Lady]

Hearth.com is an excellent forum with lots of experienced people. I'm sure if you post this picture there, you'll get you questions answered if you can't here.

[arabian knight]

Is that The flue is 3.5 x 14 in rectangular. Pointed vertical or horizontal?
If horizontal sounds to me that fireplace insert is set to go through a wall and out. Not Upward through a chimney flue. Fireplace insert adapter called a Thimble?

[blooba]

I have seen inserts with that raised plate in the front, not saying thats the way it should be because i dont beleive it was professionally installed but I have seen it before.

[mooman]

When I say flue I guess I just mean the hole in the top of the fire box. I'll check out that site. Thanks.

[fireweed farm]

One consideration before you install, a freestanding woodstove is quite a bit more practical for cooking during powerloss, etc. Likely for heating as well, more surface area.
May it be worth selling it and switching to a woodstove?

[mooman]

Well, if I was spending the money then a woodstove would be the way I would go, BUT it was a gift and this house is not our "forever" house. We will be upgrading to a larger house and a larger piece of land for the long haul. I actually think a nice looking insert might increase the value for the average home buyer more than a bulky looking woodstove.

I'm really just excited to start heating with wood. I have a propane stash and outdoor cooking equipment for emergencies.

Question though. It does have a sizable (about 7 in) shelf on the top. Can that get hot enough to boil water?

[wogglebug]

Originally Posted by mooman

Question though. It does have a sizable (about 7 in) shelf on the top. Can that get hot enough to boil water?

I wouldn't, except for desperation times. It's a narrow little shelf, and all too easy to knock the hot whatever (boiling water, baked beans) off to fall on people or the floor. Dangerous if possible.

[Waterwheel Farm]

I used to have an old Buck Stove insert similar to what you have. Mine had the "vent" on the bottom you are referring to. Mine had that lower shelf about an inch above the hearth like yours shows, and warm air comes out underneath that shelf whenever the blower kicks on.
Trying to understand your post, but sounds like you are planning to run a liner up thru your existing flue? I didn't do that with mine, but I did have the flue cleaned and inspected before I used it the first time after moving into the home. The way I did it was to remove the damper that was up inside the chimney, then hooked stove pipe up to the stove so it went a little ways up into the flue, mainly to help minimize smoke in the house. The blower was mounted on the back of the stove, and also drew it's air from there so any smoke in the chimney area behind the stove from downdrafts, etc got blown into the house. Newer stove pull their air from the room, circulates around the stove, then blows back into the room. Much better design than that first one I had, I just didn.t know any better. Some people just slide the inserts in, and fire them up. I kinda wish I had tried that because it was a bugger sliding the insert in and getting the stove pipe hooked to the stove. I didn't have much clearance at all to get my hands in there. Also, my stove had a rectangular outlet on top. I couldn't find an adapter either so finally had a welding shop fab up an adapter that would allow standard 6" flue pipe to hook to it. Hope this helps. Good luck and stay warm.
WWF

[PD-Riverman]

Originally Posted by mooman

It looks like you are missing part of the heater/insert. The part that goes around the heater that would seal off the original fireplace. All the inserts I ever seen have them. This is one that is in one of my rental homes.

[TommyDuke]

That bottom shelf/plate sits off the floor the same height as the intake protrudes from the bottom? Possibly the intake is made to go through the floor and be ducted through the joist bays to another opening in the rim joist; for fresh air. (All duct, openings and intake louvers at least that size)
Here's a good article that may be informative:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/moder...z88sozgoe.aspx

[PD-Riverman]

This is one that is in my rental house(lost picture in above post) It has the surround that seals off the the remainder of the hole that the insert does not cover.

[barnyardgal]

Sorry for the cluster mess here in the picture but in the middle of putting up Christmas decorations-
as you can see from my fireplace insert-it sits on legs & has a shroud to go around the insert sorta like-PD-Rivermans pic- and mine has a blower that sits underneath it to blow the air from under/around the insert into the room.The shroud or what ever it is called seals off all holes/air from around the insert.

Hope this helps ya...I think you need the

[barnyardgal]

did not finish the sentence-sorry-but i think you need the surround shroud to go around the insert to cover any openings & this helps with fires also,as i had a chimney fire & without the shroud around the insert opening the fire dept. told me my house would had been gone probably...