Hello all! I stumbled upon this forum within the past week and have been lurking and doing tons of reading. In that same time I have been looking into all kinds of different wood stove inserts. This is where I need some help to either narrow down my list OR, possibly get recommendations on makes/models I haven't even seen yet.
We currently have a masonry fire place that is completely emptied out on the inside of it except for the steel surround. We had someone come and check things out and inspect the chimney to see what our options were to get this going and he told us we needed an insert, so here we are! I have been doing quite a bit of research on different models and so far here is what I am stuck between:
Timberwolf Economizer EPA (EPI22)
Drolet Escape 1400-i OR1500-i (I believe the 1400 is sold at Home Depot of all places)
Vogelzang VG1820
Osburn 1700
Napolean S20i
That list pretty much goes from least to most expensive. With that being said, is the Drolet Escape 1400-i from Home Depot any good? The guy we had do our inspection said
The wife and I would like to stay below $2,500 for the insert but at the same time, I don't want something that will crap out in just a few years.
HEATING AREA: We have a practically brand new LP furnace that we currently use to heat the house (about 1200 sq feet split between 1 floor and basement). This wood stove would be to heat just the first floor, so about 800 square feet or so.
Thoughts? Am I asking too much for too little? Am I heading in the wrong direction? Feedback much appreciated. Thanks everyone!
TL;DR:
Looking for a wood insert for our home
Heading about 800 square feet
Looking to stay below $2500 for the stove
We currently have a masonry fire place that is completely emptied out on the inside of it except for the steel surround. We had someone come and check things out and inspect the chimney to see what our options were to get this going and he told us we needed an insert, so here we are! I have been doing quite a bit of research on different models and so far here is what I am stuck between:
Timberwolf Economizer EPA (EPI22)
Drolet Escape 1400-i OR1500-i (I believe the 1400 is sold at Home Depot of all places)
Vogelzang VG1820
Osburn 1700
Napolean S20i
That list pretty much goes from least to most expensive. With that being said, is the Drolet Escape 1400-i from Home Depot any good? The guy we had do our inspection said
- is that true?"stay away from the ones that home depot and Menards sell, I get a lot of calls on those and they just aren't built well at all"
The wife and I would like to stay below $2,500 for the insert but at the same time, I don't want something that will crap out in just a few years.
HEATING AREA: We have a practically brand new LP furnace that we currently use to heat the house (about 1200 sq feet split between 1 floor and basement). This wood stove would be to heat just the first floor, so about 800 square feet or so.
Thoughts? Am I asking too much for too little? Am I heading in the wrong direction? Feedback much appreciated. Thanks everyone!
TL;DR:
Looking for a wood insert for our home
Heading about 800 square feet
Looking to stay below $2500 for the stove