Good medium wood burning insert recommendations?

Hi all,

My name is Tim from CT and I've been lurking in your informative forum for a week or so as I've been in the market for a woodburning insert and checking out the local shops and doing as much research as I can. Thanks for all of your great insight and knowledge.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice that you all could give: I'm looking to heat the middle main room of my house (approx 1000 sq ft-12 foot ceiling, + bedroom up 4 stairs as it's a split-level colonial) using an insert in my existing masonry fireplace (freestanding stove is not an option due to my mantle). Any thoughts between Hampton Hi300 vs Pacific Energy Super Insert? Both are around 70-75,000 BTU's. Pacific is steel, while Hampton is cast iron. Pacific is about $300-400 less. To my untrained eye, the Hampton unit seems maybe a bit better quality (at least with the door latch/hinges, tubes inside stove but not sure if there is a $300 difference. Any thoughts on either would be greatly appreciated.

Also, do these things really kick out a really noticeable amount of heat and make a real difference in your oil/heating bill after a season?

Thanks for your time and be well,

Tim

Thank you all for your insight. It seems like between these models, it will come down to price/looks.

Hadn't heard of Enviro before-reading up on it now and will call a dealer. Looks interesting. Thanks for your input.

Thanks for the pics and thoughts everyone. Velvetfoot-nice looking insert in your house-looks great with your room. Still shopping around. Each time I think I've made a decision, another good option seems to pop up (Enviro, Alderlea, Hampton are a the top of the list now-thanks to you all). Over the weekend, I went to the other location of the hearth store in my area in which I got advice/prices from last week and went in acting completely green (which isn't too far from the truth). I got quoted $250 more for installation, as well as $300 more for the exact same inserts as the other store (by the other store owner's wife). I didn't let on that it was BS, but thought it was interesting how it pays to shop around.

Just saw this on the Home Depot site (link below). Anyone have any experience with this one? It's an Englander 13-NCI (65,000 BTU) and it's only $1100 (without installation, lining, etc). The price seems really low, so it makes me wonder about quality as I'd hate to spend the $ on junk that won't last more than a season or 2. On the other hand, the $1000 savings would buy a lot of Bourbon to ease my pain...

Here's the link:

http://www.homedepot.com/Building-M...=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#specifications

kevinmerchant said:

Welcome to the forum. Its a funny bunch here but smart as heck.
Do a search here and you will find nothing but good things said about the Englander stoves and the company's service. I installed this stove 2 winters ago and couldn't be happier. I am a little envious of velvetfoot's stove but the $1500 or so less makes me feel a bit better. Here is where I got mine from http://www.amfmenergy.com/50tnc13i--epa-certified-noncatalytic-wood-stove--1550131501.html I would not use the surround unless going with ones mentioned earlier.
Don't forget about the chimney liner and DRY wood otherwise even the prettiest stove wont keep you warm.
What part of CT?

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Thanks for your thoughts Kevin-appreciate it. I'm over in Weston, so not too far from you. Ride the motorcycle up that way a bit 9route 69/10). Nice area.

begreen said:

The 13-NCi is a bit smaller at 1.8 cu ft and not as fancy, but a decent basic insert. What does she say ?

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Thanks. I'm inclined to to go with as big of an insert as I can fit, as my primary goal is to crank the heat and hopefully save on my oil bill. Wife will be taking a look at them over on Saturday so hopefully I'll put it to bed over the weekend. Was thinking about ordering the liner from Chimneylinerdepot (the 316ti version) as it seems comparable to what the dealer are sending, and about $150 less than what they're charging.

Hi All,

Just wanted to say thank you to all of you who helped in my decision process a few weeks ago as I shopped for an insert, as well as for the wealth of knowledge in your archives on all burning issues, etc. I ended up getting the Hampton Hi300 (picture attached-hopefully). So far, so good I think-still trying to experiment with settings, fan-speeds, and wood. Just got a bunch of seasoned oak which is really burning much hotter than my prior stuff, and find myself foraging through my wooded area "stocking up" for next year and ordering IR meters and moisture meters online. In between her telling me to clean up random ashes and wood from the living room, my wife thinks that I may have a new obsession. I think that she may be right...

I did have a couple of quick (newbie) questions as I continue to experiment which I'm hoping that you could shed some light on...

1. Still haven't been able to keep an overnight burn going. This is my process (which may be flawed): I start with really hot coals, rake them to the front (towards the door), pack with wood while trying to leave gap of about 1 inch from the pipes for gas burn. Run wide open with fan for about 5 minutes, close down to 1/2 open (also tried 1/4 open), and end up with a only a few coals in the morning. Still have to basically start the fire from scratch. This is with the fan on the whole time (which I need to circulate heat through room and up 5 stairs to bedroom). Owners manual says to never close down less than 1/2 with fan on. Any thoughts on technique improvement?

2. Overall, does the fan being on affect the temperature of the fire? Will it stay hotter with it off?

Again, thanks for everyone's input. Be well.

-Newt

Thank you both. A Lot to learn. Sounds good about the potential $$ savings. Be well.