Keystoker 90 Questions

Okay, so I finally got to my local stove dealer, and I'm pretty settled on a Keystoker 90. I intend to put the Keystoker 90 in the basement, direct vented through the foundation wall, then run a 6" air duct out of the top of the stove through a new register I am going to cut in the floor, leaving the basement door open as a return (for now).

Here's my question to anyone with a similar basement/upstairs duct system... what percentage of the heat will actually make it upstairs through the duct? I know that the stove body will dissipate some heat into the basement, that's fine (yes, its uninsulated poured concrete... I know). I'd just like to know what amount of heat I should expect to come into the first floor of the house. Does 50% make it upstairs, 75%, any ideas?

Anyone with any experience with the Keystoker 90 or ducting from the basement? What can I expect?

Thanks,
Mike

Hello Mike, forum member WNY has that exact stove and configuration, I'm sure he will post an answer soon.

I would say roughly 50% of the available heat will go up the vent to the second floor. There is a LOT of heat given off from the sides and top of a stove. LeisureLine makes a duct top for some of their stoves that picks up heat off the sides of the stove as well as the top.

You will make a huge improvement in heat output if you hook a simple 6" duct to the distribution fan inlet and use this duct as a cold air return instead of pulling cold air off the floor of the basement, I'll wager that the heat from the top vent will rise by 30-50* with a cold air return instead of cold air off the floor.

Take care, Greg L

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As Greg (lsFarm) You will probalby loose 50% into the basement, it radiates a lot of heat, if you can make a jacket to capture the heat, that would help alot. Mine was a direct vent also, But since I have chimney now, I removed it and hooke it up direct as shown.

I actually cut my own 8" hole to move as much of the heat upstairs with the built in blower. I also put an 8" inline duct fan to move even more air.
If you can order with the higher CFM blower, I think 400cfm? do it! The standard is 265cfm. I also blocked off the front of the stove where the vent originally was.

Also, depends on how insulated your house, windows, etc...our basement is drafty, but I got it from 48 degrees up to almost 60 in spots and sealed alot of the cracks.

Pic. of my setup.
http://nepacrossroads.com/files/stove_new_209.jpg

The large pipe is the cold air return for the furnance, I will hook up my inlet to the blower eventually.

I also have another larger stove that I am in the process of hooking to hopefully give me more heat.


Any questions, just ask!!

Thanks for the information. Based on what you're saying, I would definitely make an air return to the stove. I could just use the HVAC ducts I guess, but what I am thinking is putting the stove on its own "circuit" ... have one duct running warm air upstairs, and a separate one drawing from another room to the stove as a return. I think that would create a nice circulation. I can order the larger blower, its 350cfm, and I hope that helps some from the regular 265. Also, I saw the LeisureLine on the web, and like the shroud they have available, however the closest dealer is a clean 200 miles from me!

Let me ask you, what does the air intake on the stove look like? Is it something that you can conveniently hook a duct up to... like a nice round 6 or 8" intake... or does it draw from some other shaped thing? Have a photo?

Thanks,
Mike

The intake is the side of the blower unit, I think 4" or 6" inlet. You can probalby get a flange to adapt to it. It look similiar to this unit...hope that helps. YOu can use a flex duct for a dryer or the solid pipe.