Hello ALL,
I just bought my first home and now own a quadra-fire castile pellet insert so I have been trying to learn as much about it as I can. I have read many topics on the forum and have found lots of very useful information that I plan to put to good use, however I can’t find an answer to my question. Please redirect if this has been answered elsewhere.
I would like to install/build an outside air kit. I have pulled the stove out located the hole that the owner’s manual shows to attach the OAK, as this leads right to where the firepot/ashtray are located it is clearly not very airtight. I must be missing a step or something because the gaps around the ashtray are as wide as a half inch in places this does not seem logical to me. Draw air in from outside for combustion only to let that air escape into the house as well? Thanks in advance for any advice will be welcomed.

I totally agree with you. I have the same insert. Make note that your OAK hose has to go THROUGH the hole in the outside shell and attach to the back of the ash pan area. Yes, there are huge LEAKS EVERYWHERE! It's almost not worth the effort IMHO although I put one in on the Castile because I have a cleanout hole in the bottom corner of the fireplace into which I ran the hose and then sealed it with plenty of insulation.
I also took 900 degree sealant and ran multiple beads under the front of the ash pan to seal that area and raise the pan up. I'm sure that helped but who knows if it really did?
I have yet to add anything to my Sante Fe since I must go up the chimney and terminate through the cap. That stove is just as 'leaky' as the Castile.

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking about using sealant to fill in the gaps, just wanted to get some ideas about on what everyone else is doing. Thanks again.

The OAK really doesn't need to be airtight in my opinion. The outside air will really only be drawn in if there is negative pressure. If you shutdown your stove, you may feel a slight cold draft from it, but not a significant one. Probably no more than the cold felt next to a window from its heat loss. The idea with the OAK is to bring in outside air to use for the combustion blower. With the OAK, you are using cold air for combustion. Without it, you would be using the heated air from inside your home and that air would be drawn in from any air leaks that you have around doors or windows. You are just controlling where the air for the combustion blower will come from. Whether you are using heated air from you home or cold outside air.

Happy burning