Hi,
I'm in the market for a new wood stove insert that can supplement my electric heat pump. It's a colonial home that was built in the mid 80's and is about 2500 sq ft. Insulation is decent in the house but it has single pane windows. The chimney is about 28 ft tall and located on one end of the house.
The fireplace opening is about 34 wide by 28 tall. The mantle is 38 inches from the hearth floor (which is my biggest problem). I'm looking for the best unit to fit this space and I like the mantle so I would like to keep it. I've researched a bunch and I think a wood insert is the way to go. I live on about 3 wood acres, so fuel should be fairly accessible as long as I'm willing to put the work into it.
The 3 I've been leaning towards are:
Jotul Rockland 550
Hearthstone Clydesdale
Pacific Alderlea T5
Now, everyone seems to love the Rockland 550, problem being that even with mantle shield it doesn't mean clearence requirements for the mantle. The dealer/installer I had to come look at the fireplace doesn't think the clearence will be a problem, even tho it won't meet minimum specs by Jotul. This makes me a little nervous that he's willing to do that, but maybe it really isn't a problem.
The hearthstone appears to be the biggest firebox I can fit into the fireplace and meet the clearence requirements with the mantle shield of course. I also like the look of it, but the reviews seem to be mixed, I really don't want to have to make modifications to the hearthstone to make it throw more heat. It should either work well from the mfr or not.
I like the pacific energy brand a lot (summit is to big to fit in my fireplace opening). They seem to have a good reputation and everyone seems to like them, but their firebox is a little bit smaller than the hearth stone, and I like the hearthstone look slightly better, but I still like the alderlea.
So any suggestions? It seems hearthstone made a modification to the clydesdale, which maybe makes it better now, it's hard to tell from the reviews. Which would you choose? Any other brands to recommend (I don't like the look of Lopi much).
Thanks!!
I'm in the market for a new wood stove insert that can supplement my electric heat pump. It's a colonial home that was built in the mid 80's and is about 2500 sq ft. Insulation is decent in the house but it has single pane windows. The chimney is about 28 ft tall and located on one end of the house.
The fireplace opening is about 34 wide by 28 tall. The mantle is 38 inches from the hearth floor (which is my biggest problem). I'm looking for the best unit to fit this space and I like the mantle so I would like to keep it. I've researched a bunch and I think a wood insert is the way to go. I live on about 3 wood acres, so fuel should be fairly accessible as long as I'm willing to put the work into it.
The 3 I've been leaning towards are:
Jotul Rockland 550
Hearthstone Clydesdale
Pacific Alderlea T5
Now, everyone seems to love the Rockland 550, problem being that even with mantle shield it doesn't mean clearence requirements for the mantle. The dealer/installer I had to come look at the fireplace doesn't think the clearence will be a problem, even tho it won't meet minimum specs by Jotul. This makes me a little nervous that he's willing to do that, but maybe it really isn't a problem.
The hearthstone appears to be the biggest firebox I can fit into the fireplace and meet the clearence requirements with the mantle shield of course. I also like the look of it, but the reviews seem to be mixed, I really don't want to have to make modifications to the hearthstone to make it throw more heat. It should either work well from the mfr or not.
I like the pacific energy brand a lot (summit is to big to fit in my fireplace opening). They seem to have a good reputation and everyone seems to like them, but their firebox is a little bit smaller than the hearth stone, and I like the hearthstone look slightly better, but I still like the alderlea.
So any suggestions? It seems hearthstone made a modification to the clydesdale, which maybe makes it better now, it's hard to tell from the reviews. Which would you choose? Any other brands to recommend (I don't like the look of Lopi much).
Thanks!!
