New here- shopping for an insert

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zimm17

zimm17

New Member
Aug 12, 2013
9
Norther VA
My last house (rental) had a 1980's Lopi insert in the basement that we fell in love with compared to the open fireplace upstairs that ate wood and didn't put any heat out. Now we have our own house with a fireplace that we'd like to get an insert for. The home inspector said the motar in the firebox needs fixing, and I'm thinking with an insert, that won't be an issue. Do I also want a chimney liner? What kind of insert should we look at? We're on a budget, so the best for the amount of money comes into play. We also have small children, and put a dog kenel fence "perimeter" around the stove to keep their hands off it. Any suggestions to get started? I was initially looking into pellet stoves, but this will be used more for ambiance and warming just the living room, hot heating the whole house. I don't know if the increased cost and complexity is worth it.

Here's a pic of the fireplace (previous owner's furniture, not mine!)

 
How big is the space you wish to heat? What are the dimensions of your fireplace? What is your budget? Yes you will need a stainless liner installed.
 
Good questions, I'll have to measure when I get home. I'd like to stay around $2k, but could strech to $3k if required. This pic is half of the room, it's not large. Previous owners had a pool table in it. It's our sitting room. Through those french doors is the movie room, and otherside of the room (behind the photographer) is wide open to the foyer and stairs and also the kitchen. So the heat will have plenty of places to go. Main floor is around 2000 sq/ft.

IMG_3355_zps7696f502.jpg
 
As USMC80 stated we would like to get a lot more info to give you some suitable recommendations. In addition to his points: What are the dimensions of the fireplace? Would you be opposed to put a stove in front on the hearth (could be cheaper than insert)? Do you have seasoned wood as modern woodstoves/inserts require a moisture content of less than 20% to work properly? How tall is your chimney? Before you decide on an insert I would get a licensed chimneysweep to check the fireplace and clean and also check the chimney. He will be able to tell you if you need to do some repairs before adding an insert. A liner is highly recommended; although it is still possible to put an insert in without one you would surely regret it later. However, you have an interior chimney which means you will not necessarily need an insulated liner. I don't have one and it works out fine for me.

Btw. House looks very nice; congratulations!
 
Thanks, I'll get some measurements tonight and take up to date pics. It's an interior chimney- backside of it is wall in the movie room. No-can-do on the external stove. In fact, looking at Lopi's on the internet, I'm liking the flush mounts as there is less for the kids to burn themselves on. Chimney height- it's a two story house and it's a few feet above the height of the roof with a 12x12 opening (just put a new cap on it).
 
nick mystic forum member posted his install pic looks really nice, an option not to go with an insert.

I like the idea not to go with an insert as you dont have to run the blower to get the heat out of the stove if the electric goes out.

Plus a free standing stove gives you lots more options to choose from.

Here is Nick's pic he posted

img_0198-jpg.108155
 
If you "fell in love" with the insert at your last place, you may well fall in love with the idea of heating more of your home beyond that room (as many of us did.) I would size the stove with that in mind. I'd also install a liner....much easier to clean, and better performance. You will make your money back in a few years with reduced heating costs (depending on your system.) It looks like you have a decent central location for heating the house, but a floor plan would confirm this. Freestanding stoves are often a better option IMHO. More heat, better-looking in many cases. Just use a fence until the kids grasp the concept of a hot stove. Shouldn't take long....they are real smart, right? ==c There are other reasons that people have when deciding insert or freestander, and in the end, you folks have to weigh the pros and cons. Don't make a snap decision, though. Make the right choice now and be happy for many years to come. :)
 
From the info in your OP, a flush wood burning insert is the way to go, get the one that has the largest glass viewing area, the one that looks the best to you and the one that you can afford, you won't be disappointed...start doing your homework, cold weather is coming and congratulations...
 
Here're some shots of the fireplace. I'm going to measure it here soon. Excuse the mess, we're still moving in...



Looking the other way. Kitchen is the doorway on the right. Fireplace is in the lower right corner.


 
Your dog will thank you so much the night you light your first fire..... You can't go wrong putting an insert of your choice in there, gl, here is a pic or two of mine...
image.jpg image.jpg
this is what your capable of having in that last picture space, find an insert that you love to look at with the largest glass viewing area and then you will not be disappointed, remember, it is about loving what you have, not heating your entire house with it...
 
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Well I'm back. We're all moved in and keeping an open fire is tough. I just measured it:

Width front 36"
Width back 24"
Depth 23"

Flue is long, narrow rectangle.

I'm now thinking a stand alone stove to set in there with a liner.

8A0923EA-437D-4C81-A308-E382165A1D33-9995-00000ACF86D1FAC6_zps4769bf15.jpg
 
That fireplace is pretty good size, you could certainly fit a large enough insert in there. However, hot tall is it? That will determine if a freestanding stove would be an option.
 
A stove will help you get that 2000 feet warmed up well. However it will stick out onto the hearth. You could get an insert that wasn't flush and you would still have enough hearth to protect it. Check out the osburn series. Or quadrafire makes the voyager and grand voyager. A guy on here I think named jeff just got the osburn 2400 and he's very happy with it.
 
alforit said:
Huh ?.............It is ? ..............Heck , I would want both things.
Click to expand...
Same here. If it happens to look great too even better

Plenty of great inserts out there that protrude out a little which better radiates the heat

Look at the regency/hamptons, osburn series and Pacific Energys
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll measure the height when I get home today. I'm okay with it protruding. I put up a dog-kennel "perimeter" around the fireplace to keep the 1 year old away. The 3 year old knows not to go near it.

As for the liner- can I DIY that? How does the liner go through the narrow flue? Or does the flue come out, liner goes in, and somehow insulate the area around the outside of the liner?
 
The damper comes out. Then you may have to cut the flue to make the liner fit. Then you use roxul insulation and a make a block off plate to seal the area. Also look at the brand harman. Alittle expensive but long burn time.
 
How much space are you trying to heat? Do you want to stay with wood or go to pellet?

With a 3k budget, you're not going to get looks when it comes to an insert, but may be able to with a woodstove.

Depends on if you're installing it yourself or having a sweep/hearth store do that.
 
We have an Osburn 2400 insert. Its a heating beast. There are plenty of great inserts to choose from. When I was looking, this unit was the largest firebox I could get for the lowest price, and it has proven to be a great unit. We also have the Kidco hearth gate. Our fireplace is in the busiest room in the house and we have two little kids. Here's a picture. The hearth gate is a bit invasive to the space but it was worth the trade off for us.
 

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A liner will cost about $600 and then install, if you do it yourself its free other than your time, if you have any mechanical skills you can DIY, have you checked stove prices yet? $3,000 is about average price for a decent size stove.
 
Update on my measurements:

Width front 36"
Width back 24"
Depth 23"
Height to top of opening 27"
Hearth comes out 20.5" from face

So.... what stoves will fit?
 
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