Mantel and Trim Clearance

Mantel and Trim Clearance

We want a gas stove that will actually provide practical heat.
We want to use our antique mantel.
And we don’t want our house to burn down.

The stove cannot be pushed in close under our mantel.

Mantel Dimensions
Mantel Dimensions

Minimum Clearances from the Stove to Combustibles

This is what it gives at the minimum clearances to combustibles. And I am guessing an old wood mantel is plenty combustible.

Rear: 2”
Ceiling: 32 1/4”
Sides: 3”

You wouldn’t want it any closer to the wall than 2″ anyway.
The stove is 26.5″ wide. the columns on the mantel are 37″ apart. No problem there.

It is the “ceiling” that is an issue.

Minimum Clearances from the Vent Pipe to Combustibles

We are going to have a short horizontal run. It will go straight out the wall.

Horizontal Run:
Off the top of the pipe 2”
Off the sides and bottom 1”

No problem.

Jøtul GF 400 DV Sebago Mantel and Trim Clearance specifications Back of bottom plate is flush with the fireplace face.
Jøtul GF 400 DV Sebago Mantel and Trim Clearance specifications
Back of
bottom plate is flush with the fireplace face.

Mantel and Trim Clearance Specifications

The horizontal piece, the shelf on a mantel is called a lintel. Just like the horizontal stones at Stonehenge. The bottom of the mantel lintel is 40” from the floor. It is 17.5” deep at this point.

Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago with our mantel
Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago with our mantel

It looks like at 40”, only 3.5” of the stove can be under the mantel.
The stove is 20.5” deep. That means it sticks out 17” past the bottom of the mantel lintel

Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago with our mantel if we make the mantel higher
Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago with our mantel if we make the mantel higher

If we make the mantel higher, the stove can be closer to the wall.

If we lifted it to 46.5”, 12.5” of the stove can be under it. That puts the fireplace 5” off the wall. We wouldn’t really want it any closer than that.

Will it look stupid? Should we get a different stove? Because we are not getting a different mantel.

Jotul Short Stove Leg and Standard Leg
Jotul Short Stove Leg and Standard Leg
Short Legs make the stove 2.25″ shorter

Jotul Shorter Leg Kit

Another alternative is the shorter leg kit. We could order legs that are 2.25″ shorter, so the whole stove is shorter, so it can be placed further under the mantel. . They cost about $120.00.

I think we can find a compromise.