how much does size (firebox) actually matter for inserts?

Bigger. The 1200 won't give you neither the burn times and I doubt the heat output that you will need. Quite frankly, you would probably be ok with a larger insert in the 3 cu ft range if you try to heat 1800 sqft on a slab. Only caveat is the heat distribution: How large is the room that insert will go into and how open is to the rest of the house?

PE Neo 2.5 and Osburn Matrix are about the same size as the Cabello 1700 and flush if your wife prefers that look.

Always bigger. Always blower on an insert. As is said many times, you can always make a small fire in a big box, but not the reverse. Plus, if it does get hot, you can always open a window or turn off the blower or just go nekked

I have a flush mount insert out of necessity and although it heats well you really have to have the fan running, If the insert protrudes onto the hearth you can run w/o the fan at all and still get good heating. So if running during a power outage is a plus consider that. The larger fire box size will also give you longer burns and more versatility when loading wood. My fire box size is about 12" N/S and 24" E/W so it can be tough to fill the box to max capacity (I don't have loads of 12" splits) since I have to load and keep watch that logs don't contact or roll into the glass.

Off hand don't know the configuration of fire boxes you're considering but I would keep that in mind.

What does a "large" firebox mean if it shallow? I would never get another stove that wouldn't load N/S.
MAYBE the HI300 like I have would do the job, but I would've gotten the HI400 if I could make it fit.
Isn't the HI400 prettily cast iron clad like the HI300? My wife likes the look.
You've got this one opportunity to make the right choice now, otherwise you'll have to live with it, unless you're rich.
Go bigger, go N/S.

Bigger the better and Yes on the N/S loading!

Biggwe, go for NS loading. You can control the "getting cooked out of the room" by just using smaller loads and loading more often when using that room. Only so much heat in a stick of wood. Throw 1 log in a 5cubic foot firebox, it produces the same heat as the same log in a 1.3 CF stove. Now, in the larger firebox, you may not get the innards hot enough to get the secondary combustion going or establish the proper draft, but I am talking huge extremes.

Hell yes it does. I have a 3.0 and a 1.3. It's night and day on burn time and heat output. Both are flush.

If you have limited time to tend to a fire, that's another reason to go with a bigger box.

My HI300 has a 2.4 cubic foot firebox. I wish it were a little bit bigger to get burn times up into the 12hr+ range. 12hrs is just a practical burn time for someone who works full time. With the HI300, 12 hrs is a stretch. I can hit 8 hrs consistently, and 10+ sometimes, but rarely beyond that. I think a 2.8 or 3.0 cubic foot firebox would allow consistent 12 hrs+ and that means I could load once in the morning and once in the evening.

Bigger. You can always build a small fire in a big stove, but not necessarily a big enough fire in a small stove. Besides, what would Trogdor do? Burninate.

Trogdor said:

Go bigger or go smaller?

Click to expand...

BIGGER! Take it from someone that had no choice but to go smaller because of my prefab fireplace. Bigger gives you options. Smaller gives you limits.

begreen said:

I think the HI400 is the same as the CI2600. Sounds like Regency is still working some bugs out.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-ci2600-fireplace-insert-risky-costly.132252/

Click to expand...

You're right. Only 2.6ft3 firebox, where the HI300 has 2.3. Not clear to me how deep it is and whether it can do 16" n/s. Has a more flush look to me.

My house is under 1200sf. I almost bought an Enviro Kodiak 1200 but went for a locally made Lopi that's similar size. It does fine but I'm in a mild climate. If I was in your area I would absolutely go bigger. If I was in your area and heating a larger space I would absolutely, definitely, 100%, without question go bigger!

Why would the fact of it being an insert change why size matters? The only big difference with inserts is we are sometimes more limited in size. I was pretty limited... If I could do over I'd build a hearth pad in front of it and put a larger freestander in front instead if using such a shallow insert.

I hear there is some cold weather up there in Ontario and I am surprised you're even asking about the small stove. Get the big one. Bigger means longer burn times, which is the main thing I'd be concerned about. You can regulate the BTU output of a big stove by making a smaller fire, but you can't increase the burn length of a small stove to match that of a similar, larger stove. You'll want long burns for those cold Ontario nights.

The Boston was on my short list. I think you'll be happy, when she going in?

We love our enviro Boston 1700. Good choice.

(Just noticed your user name. My daughter named her lizard Trogdor. She made me watch that darn video numerous times.)

Trogdor said:

I'm pleased that with the unit we will be able to fit up to 18's N/S, she likes the look. WIN/WIN

Click to expand...

!