new Ideal Steel install

Gents,

Just bought a home that has a Jotul F400 installed on a brick raised hearth fireplace. I'd like to replace it with an Ideal Steel, but I'm not sure it will work.

Here are the dimensions of the fireplace. The opening is about 35" wide, and 24 1/2" high on both sides. The top of the fireplace opening is arched, and is about 27 1/2" at the highest point. It's tough to measure the top because the pipe and the stove are in the way.

The hearth pushes out about 21", and there is another 13" of hearth on the floor for front ember protection. The hearth is raised up about 8" off the floor.

I think the stove should fit on the raised hearth because the legs are 20", but I am concerned about attaching the pipe in the back. I'll only have roughly 2 3/4" on either side to have access to the rear of the stove to attach the pipe, and no access from the top. I'll be able to get my hand in there, but will it be too difficult?

I think I would have to go without an ash pan because of the height restrictions.

Would love some feedback from others who have installed in a tight setup.

I can send some pictures of the current setup with the F400 tonight. I'm sure that will help.

Alex

 

Well, first of all, Welcome Aboard.
Secondly, you'll love the IS.
Thirdly, (yet, of equal importance)....we love pics.
Fourthly, the guys with these stoves should be along in a while to give the best advice.

 

You can contact IS and explain you situation. They are reported to be fine people who will gladly assist you with your situation and any adjustments that are recommended. Get you picture situation fixed so you can accurately show them what you are dealing with. Welcome to the forum.

 

Here are some pics of the current install with the F400.

 

I did talk with Woodstock a few days ago, and we confirmed that the stove will fit on the hearth. What I'm worried about, though, is will there be enough room to connect the pipe in the back? With roughly 2 3/4" on either side, can I get my hands in there well enough to make the connection? They thought it might be possible, but couldn't answer for sure. That's why I'm asking here.

 

Welcome trguitar.

Great that your horizontal run is clearing the opening. Is it safe to assume you are connecting to a flex liner?

 

I don't know if it is flex. Is there an easy way to tell?

 

This is my parents Jotul. It's very tight around the edges of the fireplace. We were still able to get our hands back there and wiggle it all together. It's a flex liner to a T. It's hard to say if you can do it, until you try it. That's a big gamble but may be worth it.

 

The flex liner looks corrugated.

My thinking is that you could have your horizontal run off the back of the stove and tee connected. The stove may be able to be pushed back and the liner lowered into place in the top of the tee. There would be a worm drive clamp for the fastener which should be your connection for the liner to the tee when the stove is in place. I guess we need to know your current venting set up.

We are talking over 600 lbs of stove here to be moved into place. When you clean the flue, you will need access of vac out the tee. Lots to consider.

 

I wonder it it would be easier to just open a hole above the fireplace opening, and vent through the top of the stove. I would think that would be less expensive, but I don't know.

Does anyone have experience doing this?

 

Here's a photo of the connection to the T. I'm also thinking with trying to vent out the rear, and only having 2 3/4" on either side, and nothing at the top -- how will I clean the stove? Can I do it from inside the firebox? I'm not a big fan of getting on the roof.

 

So, I just confirmed with Woodstock that the stove actually juts out about 1 1/2" on the front and back past the legs. So, the real depth of the stove from back stovebody to front legs is 21 1/2". It won't fit on my 21" hearth unless I extend the hearth (which I might do). Having it that tight on the rear with the only access to the T from 2 3/4" on either side, would make it a pain to clean. I would probably have to pull the stove out. Not a fan of that.

If I wanted to vent out the top, would I talk to a mason or sweep about going in the front of the chimney. I think there is definitely room there. Anyone have any comments about this?

fortydegnorth What is the access like on your parents' Jotul for cleaning? Are you able to comfortably access the T to clean?

 

The cap on the bottom of the T can be reached from under the stove and removed. Sweep the chimney, crap falls into the T, pull the cap and clean it up. It's not terribly hard

 

Fortydegnorth, how on earth can you reach the T from underneath the stove? Isn't it way up behind the stove near the top? I'm asking because I may be looking at a similar situation in the near future.

 

The T is attached to the liner and the stove slid into it. We can reach in enough to attach the T to the collar. From under the stove we can reach the bottom cap to sweep the chimney and clean it out.

The stove isn't real tall. The T drops down a few inches. It's not that high above the bottom of the stove. You could always add a really short section of stove pipe to lower the bottom f the T.