Drolet 1800i Install (Long & Pic Heavy)

As some of you know I finally pulled the trigger on the Drolet 1800i. I've wanted an insert ever since we bought the home few years ago and I finally did it! I chose the Drolet for its size, reviews, and price point. I know it's not the top of the line insert but for me in S.Jersey where we often get mild winters I didn't want to go over the top as my budget was limited.

Wanted to ask a favor of you guys and ask if you could go easy on me. I am sure I missed some things or maybe didn't do something 100% correct. 2yrs ago I didn't know what an insert was, literally. It wasn't till we bough this house with a traditional open fireplace that my obsession of firewood kicked in and I found this awesome forum and have learned so much.

First the cleanup of the firebox and I mounted and electrical box in the back of the FB. I checked with SBI and they indicated I could indeed tuck the cord back behind the insert and plug it in. I had heard that by code you need to be able to unplug the blower in an emergency. Right or wrong I opted to hide the cable vs. having it strung across my family into a nearby outlet.






The goods have arrived! I went with a 6" SS Pre-insulated liner and a new top cap with a
nifty flip top for easy cleaning.

 

Made a homemade pull system by attaching a 2x4 inside the mouth of the liner and screwing it in place. Attached a rope through the center of the 2x4.
It worked just fine with no problems. Wife and I were able to pull the liner with little trouble down the chimney.



Removed damper lid and had to grid out part of the damper to pass the liner through. I was able to grind out enough to pass the entire liner through with outer shell and insulation. However I opted to strip the outer shell and insulation to give me more flex with the liner.


Next was the block off plate. I had stuffed Roxel up into the throat as much as possible nice and tight. I made a block off plate and admittedly wasn't a great job but I think it will do the trick. Before putting the block plate into place I measured and cut a bat of roxul to match the size of the block off plate and cut a hole in the insulation to pass the liner through.

 

I had a standard appliance adapter but I needed something with a slight angle. After calling around to every chimney place in my local area and striking out, I finally found a place OPEN and had what I needed. However it was an 1hr and 30min ride to Delaware . I wanted his project done this weekend and I took the drive with my two kids. Actually was a great bonding time and the stove shop was inside an Amish market. It was great time, we picked up a bunch of treats and had free homemade ice cream compliments of the fine folks at the stove shop. Stove into the house and ready to put in place



Back on the roof to trim the excess liner and place the top cap!!!


Final product with trim kit.....O and managed to hang out last name on the chimney as well!

 

Looking good

 

All in all wasn't that hard of a project. I had never done this type of work before but did a lot of research and tried to learn as much as possible with the help of so many of you on this site, so thank you! I learned a ton doing this, I had plenty of mis-haps, had to learn the hard way and redo some stuff. But all in all I feel pretty good about the install and happy with it. Now come on winter so I can light my 1st fire, this 90+ degrees needs to go, lol!!

 

Good for you guys tackling this DIY fashion. The only thing I'd add is that your appliance connector crimped end is supposed to slide into your stove collar. Any rain water/ liquid creo. etc. normally is directed back into the stove at that connection. Might consider fitting it down into the stove. Perhaps flip your mount tabs so the long leg is pointing up to fasten the connector. A leak at this joint can make a mess of your new toy. Rust. Goopy.

Unless things have changed??

 

That connector coller is in that stove a good inch and 1/4". You may see a little crimped part showing but its in there

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Perfect! I gotta get my eyes checked

 

Boy that looks great! Nice work RF! Bring on old man winter now, huh?! I can't recall, do you have dry wood already?
BTW, at first I thought the appliance connector was backwards too...

 

I measured the crimped part of the adapter and it was about 1" 1/2" of crimp. Roughly 1/4" showing so i feel pretty confident its in there plenty enough. Thanks fellas!!!!!

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That's a good question! I was in such a fluster I really didn't think. Got from a legit stove shop and explained my situation. In any case its staying there......

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Sure looks like stainless to me...

 

Am pretty sure it is too, looks like it to me but am no expert. I will call stove shop Tues just so I know. Regardless ain't coming out anytime soon, it was a little pita, lol!!

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Me three.

 

O yeah Brenn, I have close to probably 2x cords dry about 2 half years old. I also have some real nice dry cherry from my bro in law!!!

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Its not a definitive test, but you could see if its magnetic...some grades of stainless are still a little magnetic...

 

Nice work there and done well!! I might consider doing the job myself too. You had this one down pat. Quick questions though, when you got up on the roof, did your wife pass you the liner? Is it light enough to hold without issue? I watched how to put the liner down a chimney at a cabin on the YTube so it seemed fairly cut and dry. No flue if I remember correctly or rather they took it out before the whole install but they did say if you need to remove it go aheambbjnI have ad, since the liner won’t be coming out any time soon.
The installer in the video had an assistant too but I wasn’t sure if that liner was awkward or heavy since they cut out that part in a strategy move.
Anyways stove looks awesome and project looks like it was part fun and partly a workout and all worth it!!! Be joining you fairly soon I bet!

 

Fantastic job. Looks almost exactly like mine, but boy, did I have a time!

Your job look perfect to me, completely functional, and fine finish work. You saved a ton of dough doing it yourself, and you know it's done right.

I'd check the appliance connector with a magnet, just to make sure it's stainless. I'm pretty confident it is, but you don't want that failing on you.

We've been real happy with our stove, which is a twin to yours with a different name, for 3 seasons now. It gets hot, so you'll want to pay close attention on start up.

Congratulations!

 

Nice work! Glad to see the block off plate and insulation utilized.

You might want to apply some brush-able crown repair sealant on the chimney top. My chimney had a lot of cracks in it like yours when I sealed mine up. I was up there to clean out the chimney last weekend and the sealant looked great after almost 2 years.