hitzer stoves, good or bad?

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:52 pm

hello , i am new to the coal stove heating process. i have been looking at hitzer stoves model 503 fireplace insert. does anyone own one of these and what can you tell me about it? any information would be great. the only reason for the fire place insert is looks. my wife and i like the fire place look. we have a modular home and there was a fire place already in the home when we purchased it. i took the fire place out and am not too sure on the construction of it. all it consited of was a framed wall , a double wall stainless chimmeny , and stone on the front wall. how much heat do they generate behined the stove. kind of worried about fire. i guess what i am trying to say is there is no fire place in the hole anymore just an open hole. will this work?

Greyhound · By: **Greyhound** On: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:45 pm

Your subject line does not really fit your question. Hitzer makes a fine stove, if it works for your application. The answer to your question of whether a fireplace insert will work in your situation is an emphatic NO :!:

A fireplace insert is assuming that there is a brick or other ceramic installation already in place and the insert would slide into that. While I am not sure of the exact heat that is generated, you can say that it would be substantially more than combustibles would be able to handle. This is why most stoves (not inserts) are still required to be several inches away from combustible surfaces.

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:20 am

You had a zero clearance fireplace.
You want the same look but with the 503.
You need to talk to Hitzer to get the setbacks or build a masonry firebox to code and vent with SS class A chimney such as Metalbestos.

This needs to moved to the Hand Fired, Please!

Adamiscold · By: **Adamiscold** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:47 am

If your old fireplace was right up against a wood frame then it sounds like it's a gas fire place. There is no way a wood fire place could be right up against a wooden frame without burning the house down.

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:34 pm

i guess i will have to take a few pics and post them. hard to explain how it was constructed. and yes the fireplace was touching a wooden frame but there was at the least a 6" metal skirt that went all the way around it. i will post some pics later.

Richard S. · By: **Richard S.** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:57 pm

There was recent news report I saw a few months ago where the house had caught on fire with a similar installation that you are describing. They had a wood fireplace going into a wooden framed "chimney" with a steel liner. It was in a townhouse type place. By the looks of it I'd guess it was maybe 20 years old. In any event what happened was the liner had deteriorated over time enough that there was holes in it and it caught the wooden framed chimney on fire. I can only guess it wasn't SS but I really don't know. In any event I'm sure it was safe enough when it was built but time got the best of it.

Even if you could install it like this it's not something that I would even be consider. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night... :lol:

You're setting yourself up for disaster.

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:29 pm

ok hope this works. here are some pics.

: (96.27 KiB) Viewed 23 times; View: New Page • Popup • Select:BBCode; this is a drawing; [nepathumb]5601[/nepathumb]

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:34 pm

here are some more couldnt get all of them in one post.

: (881.43 KiB) Viewed 14 times; View: New Page • Popup • Select:BBCode; old wood stove that came out of opening; [nepathumb]5606[/nepathumb]

: (926 KiB) Viewed 6 times; View: New Page • Popup • Select:BBCode; stone work; [nepathumb]5607[/nepathumb]

: (916.47 KiB) Viewed 8 times; View: New Page • Popup • Select:BBCode; chimney; [nepathumb]5608[/nepathumb]

ok from the pics and the drawing , does any one think this will work or am i wasting my time?

Mike Wilson · By: **Mike Wilson** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:45 pm

You will burn your house down with a 503. I'd clear out the entire corner, throw away the faux stone, install a freestanding stove, and replace the flue with an approved one.

-- Mike

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:11 pm

ok thanks i just got off the phone with hitzer and know what to do now. thanks for all the help guys. this forum is very helpfull. that could have been ugly. rookie mistake. :oops:

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:49 pm

Fix the leaking roof penetration above the old 'fireplace'.

Adamiscold · By: **Adamiscold** On: Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:52 am

That stove insert may be legally set up but it still looks very scary.

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:33 am

ya , i didnt know it was leaking until i took the old fireplace out. not a problem. easy fix. im going to tear the wall out of the corner replace the chimney with superpro 6" and install a free standing hitzer stove thinking about the 254 model. anyone have one of these stoves? or should i go with the 30-95 - our house is only 16oosqf. ? not too sure what i should buy , any suggestions ?

Adamiscold · By: **Adamiscold** On: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:39 am

It's always safer to have a stove too big that you can turn down then to have a stove too small that you can't turn up. Right now it's tough, you're going to have to find what is available and decide when you want this installed?

ham107 · By: **ham107** On: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:52 am

i guess you are right. i guess i will check out the 354 and the 50-93. they will heat up to 2500 sq ft. i will instal myself thinking of going through the foor with the chimney anyone ever used the superpro cathedral support?

hitzer stoves, good or bad?

hitzer stoves, good or bad?

Re: hitzer stoves, good or bad?

Re: hitzer stoves, good or bad?

Re: hitzer stoves, good or bad?

Re: hitzer stoves, good or bad?

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Re: hitzer stoves, good or bad?

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