Inexpensive Inserts, Are they usable or Junk?

Just moved to new house. After some research realize our fireplace is unusable as is. We will need an Insert. On a rather low budget. Am considering 1 of 2 inexpensive inserts. Would love some input from folks who are familiar with Century cw2500 or the (Englander 13-NCI or Summer Heat 50-SNC13I) which seem to be the same stove just different branding.
At my old 2700 sq ft farm house we use to burning 3 to 4 cords of wood through a Vermont Casting. So this will be a big change.
At our new house I don't need to burn everyday in the winter like I use too. Our new house is under 1900 sq ft and sits on under 3/4 of an acre. New house is well insulated and has brand new Buderus boiler. I no longer have a wood lot to harvest my own wood so I will be buying all of it and I really only have storage for a little more than a cord. I just want fireplace to be functional again and be able too burn 1 to 1 1/2 cords for supplemental heat in about 800- 1000 sq ft of the downstairs.
We already have the liner paid for it was paid by the seller at closing she cut a check to local chimney company. he will be coming in 2 weeks to repair flashing, fix chimney cap and place liner. I would like to have him install insert at same time. So I am trying to get an "ok" insert for around $800 to $1000 plus what ever extra he charges me for install of insert. Do people think one of the stoves mentioned will work or are these inexpensive inserts all junk?

Grisu said:

The Englander is the insert version of the 13NC stove. It is a less expensive, no frills but solid heater. I think you will find many happy owners here. For supplemental heat and 1 cord per winter it should work out just fine. I recall also seeing some threads from Century owners who were quite pleased with their insert. Maybe try the forum search. For both I suggest to check the hearth requirements. They may need some thermal protection in front of them.

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Thx I will look closer at the owners manual for each. I have 17 inch elevated hearth in frontof firebox and can add ember protection or build something with decent r value in front of hearth if needed.

Huntindog1 said:

I would get at least a 2 cuft firebox if your want an all night burn.

Do you have a picture of your hearth? I am wondering if you could use a free standing stove.

If you can sit a stove back in the fireplace opening about half way and the rest of the freestanding stove is sitting out on the hearth thats an ideal setup for a free standing stove. I think you would like that setup much better and have lots of options for free standing stoves. Several have bought the NC-30 with the leg option and cut the legs down on them.

Does anyone recognize this pic.

NC-30

Vogelzang Performer (They just used the base to sit stove on , eliminated the ash drawer)

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I have a picture of hearth with the All Nighter that I just removed. The challenge I am having is the staircase to the right of the stove I only have 12.5 inch from edge of fire box to stairs hoping flush insert will give me clearance needed with only thin heat shield. not sure I can get away with wood stove. By the way the rug is coming out and stairs will be all wood.

Huntindog1 said:

I read that the NC-30 has a side heat shield option which reduces the clearance requirement to 5".

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Thats interesting I guess I assumed that flush insert would be my only real option. I will look at that and talk to the wife think she is sold on the look of insert. I really just want something safe, inexpensive, and functional.

mellow said:

Ahh, you posted about this back in March: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-house-how-to-fix-old-install.126330/

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Yes I did that post before we bought our new house we had not even had the building inspection yet. I knew initially that the install wasn't code and was grateful for the help I got here at Hearth.com. I Was trying at that time just to understand where we stood so I could ask specific questions of building inspector and before we went to closing. From the info I got I thought it prudent to include actual chimney inspection. It worked out because we were able to negotiate some money towards repairs and a liner from seller. We Just got around to pulling that AllNighter out of the firebox. I have chimney guy coming to fix flashing, recap chimney and place liner in 2 weeks. He already has check cut for that work ( it was part of the closing agreement). My only real challenge is we have been here a few months and have gone through a ton of money doing upgrades. I can't afford the insert we picked out. So I need to find something we can afford $800- $1000 so he can install it when he does the liner or I have to wait for the insert till next year when we have more cash.