Bit the Bullet...bought a Regency.

Long time reader, short time poster here! I've used this site as a valuable learning tool for making my decision. Thanks to all who have posted for those of us that don't have much to contribute but a lot to learn.

I've been using an old "slide in" insert the past 7 years. By slide in, I mean there is no direst chimney connection or liner. This sucker, unknown name, is from 1977 as I recall and obviously not real efficient. I usually burn about 3 cords a year and can never get longer than a 3 hour burn time.

So I've been researching inserts for my masonry chimney and looked at Osburn, Pacific Energy, Hampton, Harmin, Quads and Drolet....oh and Regency. I spoke with all the dealers and asked a lot of what I considered "education" questions thanks to this site. I was shopping for a dealer as much as a stove.

Yes I thought about doing the liner myself and I am handy enough to do it without too much of a problem as my chimney is mostly a 25' straight shot, but in the end, I chose to have the dealer install it. For $500 I just couldn't justify my time.

I had my decision narrowed down to the Regency I3100, a Harmon (Exception i think it was) and the Hampton HI300. The best dealer was the Harmon. I loved the insert but found out I'd have to pull it out every time I wanted to clean the chimney because of how the damper design it. Cross that off the list.

Next was the Hampton. It wins hands down in the looks department, but I wasn't buying a piece of furniture. The price for matte black was pretty even with the large Regency. Stats were similar, 75k v. 80k as far as heating capacity. I guess the problem I had was one was cast iron and the other steel.

Sure, I like the look of the cast iron, but from what I read here, cast iron stoves are bolted and seam sealed which MAY eventually need to be repaired. Also cast iron is much more difficult and costly to repair than steel. The dealer sold both and I quizzed him on both. He didn't sway my decision one way or another. He basically said the majority of stove problems are caused by the user, not the material or manufacturer. OK, I agree with that. For some reason though, In my mind a cast stove has a smaller room for error than a steel stove. No, I'm not basing this on "scientific evidence", I just know my cast iron chiminea broke from my error and the man above knows I make errors. LOL.

The second thing I thought about was fire box size....2.3 for the Hampton compared to 2.9 for the Regency. Again, from what I've learned here, the larger fire box will offer longer burn times. I don't mind loading wood, but my better half hates it. She almost needs a buzzer to go off for her to throw a log on when I'm not here.

So in the end, I opted for the Regency. A friend has the same model and loves it. But I'm still second guessing myself about that beautiful Hampton. I just think I'm too much of a klutz to own anything cast iron. Hope I made the right decision.....

The install is set for mid January.

BTW, my wife left the decision solely to me. We'll see how that goes to!

So for reference and those looking at posts in the future, here's what I paid:

Regency I3100, blower, stainless liner (no insulation), freight, and install....$3,650 plus tax.

Oh, I forgot to mention this which I was hoping for input on. The liner the dealer uses is ordered directly from Regency. He said Regency has reduced the interior size of the liner from 6" to 5.5" and uses an enlarging collar now on the 6" insert connection. With my two story home, he said I wouldn't notice any draft problems. I'm thinking that as long as Regency sells and recommends the smaller liner, than it must be good enough. Any thoughts?

My dealer has been strictly in the chimney/fireplace business for 29+ years, so I value his opinion.

burntime said:

Hampton is the same people as regency. The hamtpon HI300 is the exact same stove as the regency 2400 with the exception of a pretty face. The firebox is all steel. The only cast is the surround...the best of both worlds. As you can tell I have the HI300 and love it. I don't think you can go wrong with any regency product Good luck and enjoy.

Click to expand...

Hmm, I didn't think to ask what the firebox was made of. I just assumed it was cast iron. Now I'm really second guessing myself.

I also knew they were one in the same. Thanks for the info.....

Thanks, I'm pretty "stoked" about the purchase. I had to go back to the dealer yesterday and second guess my choice after learning that the firebox is all steel and not cast iron on the Hampton. I still love the look of that Hampton. But in the end, the size of the Regency won out. I've read too many threads here where people wished they had a larger firebox....I didn't want to be one of them.

I've searched high and low for a picture of the large Regency in all black and can't find a single one installed in someones fireplace. Uggg....

Elk, yes, my dealer said the block off plate was not necessary and showed no interest in installing one. I've met with the fire inspector in my town twice. He requires two visits: one when the liner is installed and the connection made to the insert; and the second visit once the surround is placed so measurements could be taken. I plan on installing my own block off plate after his first visit as I see no need to call the dealer back just to put the surround on.

Again, my dealer is a guy with 29 years experience and started his career with building chimneys and moved on to selling fireplaces....etc.