Osburn Matrix Wood Insert | OB02028

Transformed our fireplace

After researching inserts that would fit our fireplace and our budget, we decided to go with the Osburn Matrix. I was originally going to purchase it from another big online vendor, but the Torch Guys blew them out of the water on the price, so it was a no brainer. The unit arrived extremely quickly. It was so fast that I didn’t even know it had been delivered until I came home to find it neatly packaged on a pallet outside my garage. I only wish I had been home so I could have had the delivery guys move it 5 more feet INSIDE the garage. I had to put a tarp over it for a few days until I found some muscle to help move it out of the weather. You don’t know heavy until you’ve had to move a wood stove or insert! After installing the Matrix (which is beautiful) we were absolutely shocked to hear how loud the blower was. It had a terrible vibrating hum coming from it. After researching forums online, several folks reported similar issues and narrowed it down to the blowers being notoriously loud and said to buy a aftermarket blower or to basically just deal with it. I removed the blower assembly to inspect it and all the moving parts were solid and smooth, so it didn’t make sense that it was the fan itself. After tinkering a bit, I found that the bottom sheet of metal on the insert was vibrating against the brick of the fireplace floor. I managed to diagonally drill a hole through the metal behind the lower faceplate and sink a tapcon screw into the brick to hold it down. That helped a little bit but the noise was still mostly there. It turned out that the metal shroud/guard at the front of the blower assembly was contacting the frame of the insert and was vibrating like crazy. I figured this out when I was pushing on the blower while it was running and the noise would go away. In the end I pushed on the front of the blower shroud firmly enough that it bent, forcing the vibrating part down just slightly which removed the contact from the insert frame. (See sketch in the photos) Now the blower is so much quieter. We can easily watch tv or have a conversation, whereas before we had to blast the tv or scream to hear the other person over the obnoxious hum. After solving the vibration sound, we are very happy with our purchase! The glass door is our favorite part. I often sit downstairs with a book, reading while the flames dance. The Matrix transformed our chilly downstairs into a cozy place that we actually enjoy spending time in. It’s an eye catching little wood insert! Thanks Torch Guys!