Wood-Burning Insert Advice

Hello everyone,

I have been browsing this forum for a few months and have found it to be the single best resource in my search for a high-efficiency wood burning insert. With my 1st post, I hope to pick your collective brains a bit.

We have a large Cape Cod - 2,000 sq ft on the main floor and another 1,000 sq ft upstairs (including the airspace of a cathedral ceiling). I have attached a couple of pictures of the main living room which also shows the current ZC fireplace which is centrally located in the house.

Our power bills were horrible this winter and I have 50 acres of woods...burning wood for supplemental heat seems quite logical.

The ZC is a Heat-n-Glo model which is strictly ornamental (picture attached). It generates little heat and likely costs us money to use as it sucks more warm air up the flue than it radiates. The chimney is lined with 30' of CF11 - standard chimney for these types of fireplaces - 11" ID / 13" OD. The Chimney is about 35' off the ground, on a 12/12 roof and about 4' above the peak of the roof (attached a pic for that too). It is not easy to get up there so I am wanting an insert that allows flue cleaning from the bottom up. I plan to do this cleanings myself (and have an annual sweep inspection).



The ZC fireplace seems fairly large...39" W x 24" H x 19" D. During my research, it appears that only a few inserts designed for use in ZCs wouldn't fit...and those were due to the 19" depth.

The boss is wanting a flush insert for aesthetic reasons - a free standing stove is not a viable option. She could perhaps be persuaded to consider an insert that extends onto the hearth maybe up to 6"...but flush is her clear preference. I have a Generac home backup generator (LP) and the fans for the insert would connect to a generator circuit in case of a power failure.

We are quite rural and there is not a bevy of dealers in our area (Shenandoah Valley in VA). One dealer handles Quadrafire and PE. The other dealer handles Jotul, Lopi and others (but only Jotul is on-site). They aren't keen on the idea of putting an insert into a ZC fireplace. But there are local chimney companies that will pick up the insert and install it along with the 6" HT liner that I am hoping will slide nicely inside the existing 11" ID chimney.

We have been seriously considering a Grand Voyager (even though I have not read gushing reviews on this site). The Boss liked the looks (as it was flush), the unit would handsomely cover the opening with cast surround and, while it probably wouldn't heat 3,000 sq ft, it would help cut down on electricity and LP bills (heat pumps).

While browsing the Quad installation manual, I noted that there is a "t-bar" which attaches the flue to the insert which effectively bisects the flue opening coming up from the insert. According to the Quad rep that my dealer spoke with, this "t-bar" makes it "next to impossible" to clean the chimney from the bottom up (unless you remove the insert each time).

So, we may be back at square one...and seeking your advice.

We think that we are looking for:

1. The largest insert that will fit in my ZC
2. From a reputable manufacturer of quality fireplaces
3. That is either flush or "almost flush" and
4. Can be cleaned from the bottom up and
5. Will pump as much heat as possible into a 3,000 sq ft area.

Thanks in advance and my apologies for the absurd length of my 1st post.

John

Thanks for the input, folks. This has almost become an obsession so it helps to have people keep you on the straight and narrow.

KB007 - on the T-bar, I plan to clean the entire chimney from the bottom. I am not familiar with the Regency - are you saying that it also utilizes a t-bar? Perhaps the Quad T-bar is more challenging? The rep had to know that he was likely losing a sale by stating that it was "next to impossible" to clean the entire chimney from the bottom. I was planning to use a Sooteater (had heard good things about them) - not sure if that is more challenging to get passed the t-bar than a poly brush or not.

The hearth is 24" wide so it will certainly handle some extension and stay within code. The trick, I think, is to find a very attractive unit....preferable cast iron with a cast iron surround about 46" wide to completely cover the opening. I may well get the Boss to yield from "flush" to "kinda flush" but she is pretty set on a cast iron surround (aesthetics again). She does not like the looks of flat metal surround in that room. I have been struggling a bit to find a unit that wide - the Quad Grand Voyager (of course) fit the bill with its "Cast Trim Large" surround. The 4100i would have worked as well.

Obviously, I am the one pushing the insert...I pay the utility bills. We are retired and around each other all the time so "Peace on Earth" has to come into play! But we do have a nice couch...right in front of the fireplace.

Can't see how that would stop a poly brush from getting up the flue. Note it also says "Optional" flue connection, I think it is possible to simply screw the liner to the stove outlet, at least with ours that's the case afaik (see page 8).[/quote]

KB007, I have attached the comparable diagram from the Quad manual - it doesn't appear to be optional. On the Regency, it looks like s an option to assist in pulling the flue down to the insert...on the Quad, I think that it's the means of attaching the two.

On the Avalon, that appears to have a Cat...I was hoping to avoid a Cat. Nice looking fireplace.

I have 2 cords stacked and plan to CSS a couple more this spring. Oak and Hickory.

As an aside, I was wondering if the PE Summit might fit the bill. The reviews on here have been very positive.

My wife is beginning to waiver on the "flush fixation". I showed her our most recent LP and electricity bills.