Wood insert Recommendations

[Mtnyota]

I'm about to close on our first home. It's a single level 1483sqft home with a brick fireplace on the interior of the home. The fire place has tubes that cross the flue that connect to openings on the brick face of the fireplace. At my current house I use the fireplace as much as possible to keep the natural gas bill down. I would like to do the same at the new house. I'm in on the coast in CA so it really only gets down into the low 30's.

Questions are:

-Which insert would be recommended
-Liner (flex all the way up, insulated flex all the way up, flex through the flue and then ridged double wall up,...)
-Do i need to clean the chimney before installing the liner? (It's dirty)

 

[saxman]

I have a Lennox Canyon 310 and really like it but there are lots of good EPA stoves out there. Look for a quality stove dealer in your area and get an estimate on a stove with insulated flu liner and have many years of worry free service

Steve

 

[woodfarmer]

Yes you need to clean the chimney, have a certified chimney sweep clean and inspect the chimney, install a stainless steel chimney liner and up here the main brands are Napoleon and Pacific Energy.

 

[Fyrebug]

Rigid insulated liners are the gold way to go. Otherwise insulated liner if you can. And yes... all the way up.

Before you ask which models you need to figure out your budget. An uninsulated liner is about $500 and an insert is anywhere from $800 to $4000. That's a lot of room to maneuver.

So here's your check list.

* write down the dimension of your fireplace and put the biggest insert that will fit in there.

* Make sure you get the better half involved. She might have opinion on the look of the unit and if you listen to her she will reward you accordingly... in front of the fire! :msp_love:

* Are you installing yourself? If not get it from a local dealer who can install and support the product.

* If you are installing yourself you should still support the local guy and he should still provide a certain amount of support.

* If you are buying from the internet Fireplace Accessories, Fireplace Doors & Screens, Firewood Rack, Chimney Caps, Outdoor Fireplaces, Gas Fire Pits-Woodlanddirect.com is a reputable supplier for appliances and venting.

* Depending what you are after might I suggest the brand Osburn? It's one of the brand we make and has the best warranty in the market. Tons of positive reviews across the internet.

Let us know how it goes and remember it didnt happen if you dont post pictures.

 

[Mtnyota]

Thanks for all the help. I will make sure to get fireplace measurements next time i get access. I will likely be doing the install myself.

I have been researching and found good reviews/prices on the osburn units as well. I'm trying to decide between the Osburn 2000, 2200, or 2400. Turns out the house measures ~1600 to 1700 sqft. I live in a coastal region of Ca. It does get down into low 30's but nothing like you guys in the north. The fireplace is in a 350sqft living room that is divided from the dining room/kitchen only by the fireplace. The bedrooms are done a hallway directly behind the fireplace.

I mainly start fires in the evening after work and on weekends. I would like to have enough burn time so that I can throw some splits on in the morning as I leave for work and have it take off.

 

[Fyrebug]

Thanks for all the help. I will make sure to get fireplace measurements next time i get access. I will likely be doing the install myself.

I have been researching and found good reviews/prices on the osburn units as well. I'm trying to decide between the Osburn 2000, 2200, or 2400. Turns out the house measures ~1600 to 1700 sqft. I live in a coastal region of Ca. It does get down into low 30's but nothing like you guys in the north. The fireplace is in a 350sqft living room that is divided from the dining room/kitchen only by the fireplace. The bedrooms are done a hallway directly behind the fireplace.

I mainly start fires in the evening after work and on weekends. I would like to have enough burn time so that I can throw some splits on in the morning as I leave for work and have it take off.

Most insert that size will provide you with an overnight burn. The 2200 is a Bay window, it provides you with a large view of the fire. I have the smaller version - the 1800.

What is your chimney overall vertical length and is it an inside or outside chimney?

 

[Mtnyota]

It is an interior chimney that is less than 20ft tall.

Is there much difference between the 2000 & 2200 other than the bay window? Any pros/cons of the bay window?

 

[Fyrebug]

It is an interior chimney that is less than 20ft tall.

Is there much difference between the 2000 & 2200 other than the bay window? Any pros/cons of the bay window?

The 2200 is a very different fire box than the 2000 in order to accommodate the Bay. Heating capacity is about the same. Of interest one of our owner burns the 2200 in his house.

Pro's of the Bay: Gorgeous view of the fire with cool flame effect. I has a good airwash but the 2 side windows might need to be cleaned more often than the main window. This is not a huge deal. Only some brown spotting at the bottom edge that I clean every 5 or 6 fires.

Cons: more expensive than the 2000.

It depends on your taste and what you are after.

 

[Mtnyota]

Does any have any opinions of the pacific energy units (summit or super) compared to the osburn (2000 or 2400). I havn't been able to find the pacific energy units online anywhere but I like the looks of them a little better. Not sure of the price difference.

 

[Fyrebug]

Pacific Energy makes a great product. I wont comment on performances etc since I've never burned one.

However here are some specs differences

Osburn 2000 firebox is almost 20% larger than the PE Super. You can put more wood in the Osburn.

Osburn 2400 firebox is about 6% larger. Not a big difference.

Osburn secondary burn tube warranty (expensive items) is lifetime.

Osburn Glass warranty is lifetime not just for thermal shock but even if you close the door on the log or if the kids break it. Nobody else offers this.

Osburn Baffle material is C Cast Ceramic Composite material. Handles temps up to 3,000 F. This is the same stuff we use in our furnaces. PE baffles have been known to crack and fail.

You cant go wrong either way since these are good brands.

All the best and let us know how it goes.

 

[Mtnyota]

I see people recommend going with the biggest box they can, but generally they are in colder climates. Can a stove be too big (within reason)? For instance the 2400 is for 2000-3000 sqft. Is there any reason to go 2400 over the 2000 in a 1700sqft home? I realize i can build a smaller fire in a larger stove to keep temps in the house from getting too high, but will this result in shorter burn times? Am i throwning money away b/c the 2000 is more than adequate for my climate.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Fyrebug]

I see people recommend going with the biggest box they can, but generally they are in colder climates. Can a stove be too big (within reason)? For instance the 2400 is for 2000-3000 sqft. Is there any reason to go 2400 over the 2000 in a 1700sqft home? I realize i can build a smaller fire in a larger stove to keep temps in the house from getting too high, but will this result in shorter burn times? Am i throwning money away b/c the 2000 is more than adequate for my climate.

Thanks for all the help.

One of the reason for putting the biggest unit that will fit has to do with how it looks. If you have a big masonry fireplace and put a small insert it may look silly.

You may want to post pics of your hearth. It may be a smaller unit would look ok in yours.

 

[stihlaficionado]

I bought the Lennox Brentwood(BIS Ultima rebadge) a couple of months ago. It easily heats approx 1560 sq ft with the blower on the lowest setting.

The fit & finish of the Brentwood is excellent. We added another 5 feet to the flue due to the large Spruces in the back of the house.

THe outside air kit came standard unlike some of the other brands I looked at.
Installation was top-notch.

 

[Mtnyota]

So I was finally able to measure the fireplace. The inside of the fireplace is 1.25" below the bricks on the outside. According to the dimensions manual all the osburn units except for the 1100 are too tall for the fireplace opening. I attached a sketch of the fireplace opening. Is there something I'm missing? I liked the look/specs/price point of the osburn 2000 unit. The Regency I2400 seems to be closer to the height (within 1/4") but I can't find them for sale online. The local dealer wants $3200 + tax which is out of my budget.

 

[dave_376]

So I was finally able to measure the fireplace. The inside of the fireplace is 1.25" below the bricks on the outside. According to the dimensions manual all the osburn units except for the 1100 are too tall for the fireplace opening. I attached a sketch of the fireplace opening. Is there something I'm missing? I liked the look/specs/price point of the osburn 2000 unit. The Regency I2400 seems to be closer to the height (within 1/4") but I can't find them for sale online. The local dealer wants $3200 + tax which is out of my budget.

what are the dimensions of your fireplace opening?

 

[Mtnyota]

They are in the attached PDF above. But 33 wide, 25 deep, 22.25" tall, 1.25" stepdown

 

[howellhandmade]

I've heated my 2000 sq.ft. 2-story house with a Napoleon 1100 for three years. When the outside temp is above 30 it's just right. When it's below 30 it's not quite enough. In general, it's better to run a smaller unit hotter for less creosote, and you don't want your insert cooking you out of the room. With a climate that doesn't get all that cold you're wise not to go too big. I've been happy with the Napoleon, and I thought the price was reasonable.

 

[Mtnyota]

How are your burn times with the smaller unit. I notice the specs list shorter burn times with the smaller ones. I'd like to be able to still have enough coals in the moring to throw more wood on and have it take off.

 

[Mtnyota]

View attachment 270627


It seems like i have enough room for the bigger units in all directions except the vertical clearance do to the raised bricks on the hearth.

 

[Cerran]

They are in the attached PDF above. But 33 wide, 25 deep, 22.25" tall, 1.25" stepdown

You might consider a Quadrafire if you have any local dealers or keep an eye on Craigslist. I have a 9 Year old Quad 3100i that I have been using since new that I would swear by.

3100i Wood Insert

Based on your dimensions it would be a tight fit but it would work.

I typically get 6-10 hour burn times with useful heat depending on the wood used and how I pack the stove. With a full load of red fir I get useful heat for about 7-9 hours and can still reload the stove and restart it on coals in about 12 hours.