Drolet Chic-Choc Wood-Burning Cookstove (DB04820)

An Extra-Large Wood-Burning Cookstove with a Steel Cooking Surface, a Stainless-Steel Oven, Two Cooking Grids, and a 3.3 ft³ Firebox

The Drolet Chic-Choc is a wood-burning cookstove with a wide steel cooking surface at 37", a 3.3 ft³ stainless-steel oven, two cooking grids, a 3.3 ft³ firebox for 20" logs, and a two-casing assembly design.

Primary use and EPA status: the current manual states that this unit is not an EPA-certified residential wood heater and that its primary use is cooking or baking. The exact product page lists the Chic-Choc as EPA exempt. Select it as a cooking and baking appliance, not as a certified residential heating appliance.

Key Features

• Wide steel cooking surface at a 37" height per the exact page (42 1/16" x 20 7/16" per the manual figure), with separate hotter cooking and lower-temperature warming zones and a warmer plate
• Stainless-steel oven, 17 3/4" W x 21 3/4" D x 14 3/4" H per the official drawing, 3.3 ft³ published volume, removable oven bottom
• Two stainless-steel cooking grids with three positions, confirmed by the exact page and the official parts record
• Panoramic oven glass and panoramic combustion-chamber glass with an airwash system on the combustion chamber
• By-pass control directing hot gases straight to the chimney or around the oven for baking, operated with the supplied manipulating tool
• 3.3 ft³ refractory-lined firebox under a vermiculite baffle and stainless-steel secondary-air tubes, loading 20" logs over depth (16" recommended)
• Up to 10 hours maximum burn time per the exact page, subject to the qualification below
• Two-casing assembly joined with the supplied hardware per the exact assembly manual; 896 lb (406 kg) shipping weight
• Large door openings (16" x 11 1/8") simplify loading logs and dishes; built-in oven thermometer, approximately 150°F to 750°F, reference only
• Safety-tested to ULC S627 (Canada) and UL 1482 (USA) by an accredited laboratory; proudly made in Canada per the exact page

Product Features

Construction and Assembly

The Chic-Choc pairs a refractory-lined combustion chamber and a stainless-steel oven under a wide steel cooking surface. The exact page describes warmth for spaces up to 2,300 ft² as a manufacturer application reference only; that page statement is not an EPA heater certification, no formal heating-area specification row exists, and the manual’s cooking-primary classification governs. The appliance is assembled from two separate principal casings that fit together using the supplied assembly hardware, following the exact assembly manual; the manufacturer directs assembling near the final installation location and moving each section with two people, and the 896 lb (406 kg) shipping weight requires suitable planning, handling equipment, and structural support, with the local building code consulted about additional floor joists. The steel cooking surface, stainless-steel oven, oven thermometer, warmer plate, cleaning hatch, cooking-plate protections, secondary-air tubes, vermiculite baffle, refractory-brick lining, rear heat shield, by-pass control, manipulating tool, natural-wood handles, and leveling hardware are integral or supplied components, not bonus accessories. The cookstove must not be operated without the steel cooking surface in place, and it is prohibited to put or store alcohol, gasoline, liquid fuel, flammable materials, ashes, paper, or wood in the accessory compartment.

Two Viewing Areas

The combustion-chamber door carries gasketed 5/32" (4 mm) ceramic glass tested to 1400°F with a 14 5/8" x 12 3/8" published glass surface, kept cleaner by the airwash system; the oven door carries its own ungasketed ceramic glazing so baking can be watched without opening the door. Do not operate the cookstove with cracked or broken glass, firebricks, or baffle.

Cooking and Oven Features

The steel cooking surface provides intense heat for cookware such as steel or aluminum pans; the manufacturer states the paint, including on the steel cooking surface, is not food grade, so cooking directly on painted surfaces is strongly not recommended, and heat-resistant cookware must be used. The cooking-surface temperature is not necessarily uniform, and because of radiant heat from the combustion-chamber glass, the manual recommends working from the side of the appliance. Oven temperature is adjusted with the air-intake control or by opening or closing the oven door; keep the oven door closed during cooking, and turn the dish 180 degrees at half the cooking time because the oven air can vary by approximately 50°F between its hottest point (rear left) and coldest point (front right). The two supplied grids and removable oven bottom are stainless steel and dishwasher-safe, and the manual’s oven section shows a 25 lb (11 kg) maximum load marking for the oven components. The door-integrated thermometer reads the ambient temperature at one specific point and is a reference indicator only. The by-pass control can be very hot: lift and turn it only with the supplied manipulating tool, start with the by-pass in the chimney position for about 20 minutes before switching to the oven position, and treat all surfaces, glass, doors, controls, handles, cookware supports, and grids as hot.

Product Specifications

Exact Product-Page Specifications

Recommended heating area and maximum burn time may vary based on location in the home, chimney draft, heat-loss factors, climate, fuel type, and other variables; the manufacturer defines the recommended heated area as the capacity to maintain a minimum acceptable temperature in the designated area in the event of a power failure. The 10-hour value is a maximum, not a guaranteed or minimum burn time.

Oven-dimension source note: the official dimension drawing establishes the oven interior at 17 3/4" W (452 mm) x 21 3/4" D (552 mm) x 14 3/4" H (375 mm), matching the drawing’s section views; the exact page’s rows print a 14 1/8" oven height, which the drawing shows as the firebox height, and the manual’s formal table prints the same three correct values (17 3/4" x 14 3/4" x 21 3/4" / 452 x 375 x 552 mm) under an apparently transposed W x D x H sequence. The drawing governs fit; the independently published 3.3 ft³ oven volume is retained as published without any replacement calculation. 

Manual Installation Specifications

Official Appliance Dimensions

The official drawing distinguishes the 47 1/4" (1200 mm) overall width from its separate 47 1/8" (1197 mm) top width reference, the 38 3/4" (986 mm) overall height from its separate 38 1/4" (973 mm) height reference, and the 31 1/2" (799 mm) overall depth from its separate 24 1/2" (622 mm) and 26 3/8" (670 mm) depth references. The drawing’s 6" (150 mm) flue-opening callout matches the nominal flue-outlet specification and is counted once. Remaining numbered reference dimensions reproduce official callouts shown only graphically; consult the current drawing and figures when planning. The manual’s embedded figure prints minor metric variants for three callouts (687, 202, and 864 mm where the standalone drawing prints 670, 203, and 863 mm); the standalone drawing values are used.

Included Equipment

The official parts record confirms two Chic-Choc cooking grids; the manual’s operating text mentions a supplied cooking grill in the singular as an editorial difference. A chimney, connector pipe, fresh-air kit, heat shields, hearth protection, oven mitt, cookware, and installation labor are not included.

Compatible Optional Equipment

Fresh-air components do not make this appliance mobile-home approved, and they do not eliminate combustion-air or negative-pressure considerations.

Venting and Certifications

The Chic-Choc must be connected to its own nominal 6" flue: a prefabricated chimney certified to UL 103 HT (USA) or ULC S629 (Canada) installed as a complete listed system with matching components, or a code-approved masonry chimney with a clay liner or suitably listed stainless-steel liner (relined to 6" where a square or rectangular liner is oversized; no downsizing below 6" unless the venting system is straight and exceeds 25 feet). The formal minimum chimney-system height, stove top to termination cap, is 12 feet; separately, the manual’s evacuation-system guidance states the cookstove performs with optimal efficiency on a 6" flue between 15 and 40 feet in height, under the manual’s qualifications. The necessary flue draft is 0.05" H₂O (12 Pa), and the chimney must extend at least 3 ft above the highest roof contact point and at least 2 ft above any roof line or obstacle within 10 ft horizontally. It must not be connected to a flue serving another appliance or to air-distribution ductwork unless specifically approved, must not be installed in a factory-built fireplace, a transportable building, or an alcove, and no makeshift materials may be used. Single-wall connector rules per CSA B365: black (not galvanized) pipe at least 24 ga; a short, direct route where practical; joints overlapping at least 1 1/4" and fastened with at least three screws, one end fastened to the flue collar with three stainless-steel screws and the other to the chimney; male ends toward the appliance; a maximum of two 90° elbows; a maximum 3 ft unsupported and 10 ft total horizontal length including elbows; a minimum upward slope of 1/4" per foot; an 18" clearance to combustibles, reducible by 50 percent to 9" with suitable shielding; provision for expansion and cleaning without moving the stove; no passage through a combustible floor, ceiling, attic, roof space, closet, or concealed space, with wall passage conforming to CAN/CSA-B365. Double-wall connectors follow their own manufacturer’s certified instructions. For combustion air, the room needs an outside or fresh-air inlet of at least 5" diameter, sufficient to replenish the air leaving the flue and protected against blockage; briefly opening a door or window may be needed at cold startup, and range hoods, bathroom vents, air exchangers, ventilated central vacuums, and dryers should be avoided during startups. Installation should be performed by NFI (USA), WETT (Canada), or APC (Québec) certified professionals; a permit may be required; unapproved modifications violate CSA B365 and ANSI NFPA 211.

Clearances by Configuration

The clearances below were established from tests according to ULC S627 (Canada) and UL 1482 (USA). Appliance and connector clearances must be met individually, and fuel, solid or liquid, must not be stored closer than the minimum clearances. In the manual’s diagrams, A is the appliance to the rear wall, B to the side wall, C at a corner, G the right-side wall in the asymmetric arrangement, and L the base-of-unit-to-ceiling dimension; D, E, F, and H are the connector distances obtained when the cookstove is installed at the stated appliance clearances. Because the flue exits toward one side, the manual publishes separate connector distances for a side wall on the combustion-chamber side or on the oven side.

Standard Installation - Appliance Clearances, Single-Wall Connector

Standard Installation - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Standard - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Combustion-Chamber Side, Single-Wall

Standard - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Combustion-Chamber Side, Double-Wall

Standard - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Oven Side, Single-Wall

Standard - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Oven Side, Double-Wall

Lowered Ceiling - Appliance Clearances, Single-Wall Connector

Lowered Ceiling - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Lowered Ceiling - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Combustion-Chamber Side, Single-Wall

Lowered Ceiling - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Combustion-Chamber Side, Double-Wall

Lowered Ceiling - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Oven Side, Single-Wall

Lowered Ceiling - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Oven Side, Double-Wall

Lowered Ceiling with Left-Side Wall (B) and Right-Side Wall (G) - Appliance Clearances, Single-Wall Connector

Lowered Ceiling with Left-Side Wall (B) and Right-Side Wall (G) - Connector Distances, Double-Wall Connector

Certified Heat Shield - Appliance Clearances, Double-Wall Connector

Certified Heat Shield - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Combustion-Chamber Side, Double-Wall

Certified Heat Shield - Connector Distances, Side Wall on the Oven Side, Double-Wall

Front Clearance (Manual Diagram)

The certified heat-shield clearances apply only when the certified shield arrangement is installed exactly as directed in the current manual; confirm component compatibility before designing around them. To reduce the clearances as close as 6" from combustible material with a single-wall pipe, a certified heat shield must be used, and only in that situation may the clearances for a certified double-wall pipe connector be applied. Clearances may also be reduced with a permanently installed site-built wall or ceiling shield only per the manual’s complete percentage-reduction table, approved materials, ventilation gaps, minimum remaining clearances, edge extensions, and shield measurements, not reproduced here; regional rules may differ, so verify with the local building code, an inspector, or the fire department.

*The certification label on the appliance and the current installation manual supersede published dimensions and clearances. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions and applicable local codes.

Floor Protection

The cookstove must sit on continuous noncombustible ember protection. Any tile requires a continuous noncombustible sheet beneath it so embers cannot reach the combustible floor through cracks or separations, and no separate protection is required where the supporting floor is entirely noncombustible, such as concrete, subject to the manual and local code. Note 2: rear floor protection is limited to the required rear clearance where that clearance is under 8" (203 mm). Note 3 (USA): protection is required only beneath the horizontal connector section, extending at least 2" (51 mm) beyond both sides. The I value is measured from the door opening, the lettered rows match the current manual’s figure, and the manual publishes no required thermal R-value.

Fuel and Operation

Burn only seasoned natural firewood, split to roughly 3"–6" and dried to 15–20% moisture, with 16" recommended logs and a 20" maximum in north-south orientation. Do not burn coal, garbage, lawn clippings or yard waste, rubber or plastic materials, waste petroleum products, paints or thinners, asphalt products, materials containing asbestos, construction or demolition debris, railroad ties or pressure-treated wood, manure or animal remains, salt-water driftwood, unseasoned wood, or paper products, cardboard, plywood, or particle board (paper-based fire starters are permitted for starting), and never use gasoline, naphtha, fuel oil, engine oil, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, similar liquids, or aerosols to start, revive, or near the fire. Operate only with the doors fully closed: the door may be left slightly open only during attended startup and must be latched after ignition, the air control must be opened fully and the by-pass put in the chimney position before opening the combustion-chamber door, and the ash drawer must always be in place. Do not store wood underneath the combustion chamber, do not store fuel within the minimum clearances, do not elevate the fire with a grate, and do not operate with cracked or broken glass, firebricks, or baffle. Once the fire is established, the air intake is typically reduced to a 15–40% opening; never let the unit overfire — if the connector glows red, do not open the door, close the air inlet completely, and wait. Remove ashes to a tightly covered metal container on a noncombustible surface away from flammables. A smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher should be installed in the house. Check the chimney for creosote monthly until the formation rate is known, inspect the connector and chimney at least once every two months during the heating season, remove any 1/8" (3 mm) buildup, and have the system cleaned and inspected at least once each year; the smoke path around the oven cleans with the supplied brush, and removing the steel cooking surface for that work is a heavy task.

About the Manufacturer

Who Is Drolet?

Drolet’s history began with François-Xavier Drolet’s Quebec workshop in 1875, with slow-combustion stove production beginning in the 1960s. Drolet states its appliances are manufactured in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures near Quebec City, and the exact DB04820 page expressly identifies the Chic-Choc as proudly made in Canada.

Support

The manufacturer supports owners through online warranty registration, replacement-parts resources, and technical support.