fireplace inserts (buck stove) who knows about them?

[SixFive]

I have one in my house. It's nice for extra heat in the winter, but u have to shut the door, or it smokes up the house. I enjoy a fire more for watching the wood burn and listening to the crackles and pops, and I can't do this with this insert. How much of a pain in the butt will it be to take it out? Think somebody would take it out for me if I gave it to them? Does it wreck the mantle/hearth taking it out?

I've heard they are hard to get rid of (not much market for them), but I don't know if that's accurate or not. Thanks for any insight.

 

[pd1]

First question: Do you have the stove flued out the chimney? If you don't that would make all the difference. My first one just stuck inside the fireplace, had nothing but problems with it. Ended up having a flue fire in the chimney and it messed up my brick lining. Had a new one installed and flued from the top of the stove to the top of the chimney. Could not believe the difference.
If you decide to have yours taken out look in the yellow pages under chimney sweeps, you can probably work out a deal if your stove is worth anything.
If your lining is plugged up that would cause smoke to come back in your house.

 

[Marco]

If it smokes up your house, just take Clinton's stance and don't inhale.....:tongue

 

[broondog]

Six Five: I have an insert, used it two years now, not totally sold on it but, look at your door. Mine had two sliding pieces of metal on the front for air inlet, but, when I opened the door I noticed only two little holes. Anyways , got my drill out and drilled two more holes and may drill two more this year for a total of three on each side(on inside of door) Hope that made sense for ya:thinking:

 

[SixFive]

djv, I think it is flued all the way up. However, when I look up in the insert, the opening doesn't seem to be large enough, and the smoke seems to build up in the stove. Then, as soon as u open the door, smoke gets in the house. Almost impossible to start a fire without smoking up the house.

Broondog, first of all, I've never heard of Melbourne. What county is that in? Second, it does have the sliding air inlets, and if they are open that makes the smoke worse.

 

[Redfish]

I've had a Buck stove for past 20 yrs.....great product!! Mine is freestanding with traditional stove pipe...no flue. Works great...I only burn hardwoods..never pine.

 

[broondog]

Melbourne is in Campbell County, Northern tip of Ky. about 15 min from Cincy, Ohio. On the stove issue, it seems to smoke badly when the chimney's cold, make sure you use plenty of paper and small kindling to start and let it burn down before opening the door, once the chimneys hot though, smoke should be minimal.