Ok after my previous posts it seems that I am going to be best served by buying a new woodburning insert and have a full liner installed. It will be a while before I get out to do in shopping, and I may not buy until spring but I am trying to get an idea of costs and recommendations. I don't have a ton of money to spend on this so I am looking for something good quality that wil get the job done. I would like to be able to burn 24-7. The house is just under 1600 square feet upstairs. Well insulated and pretty tight. I have attached a rough draft of what the floor plan looks like (not to scale). I live in east central indiana so the weather can vary quite a bit. It was in the single digits the first half of last week and its in the 50s today. I briefly spoke with one dealer on the phone and found out they sell lopi brand. There should be other places around that sell others. Again, costs is the biggest factor so what price range should I be looking out to get a new insert and liner plus installation and what do you recommend. Thanks for the assistance.
New insert recommendation and prices
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JimWalshin845
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If cost is a major biggie, keep your eyes open for the Jack-in-the-box stoves at HD and Lowes when they go on sale at the end of the season.
I've seen some at those places for 500 dollars. I am willing to spend more then that but ideally I am hoping for less the 2000 installed. I honestly am clueless as if to this is reasonable or not.
Whoever you buy from. Make sure they stand behind their product. Shipper50 has a post going about a dealer out of Franklin. Sold him a nice insert but it will not heat his house. The installer assured him it would. Now the dealer is just passing the buck back to the manufacturer. Shipper did not buy the unit direct. He bought it from the Dealer. IMHO> if the dealers rep, being the installer,said it would heat the house and it doesn't... Why should the manufacturer be involved.
If I went to buy a truck to pull a trailer.. Dealer says "Oh heck this here truck will pull it" I buy it and the truck will not get the trailer and truck up to highway speeds.. It would be the dealers fault not the manufacturer. Kind of like selling me a 4 cylinder pickup when I needed a v-8.
So get it in writing that if it will not heat your home they will make it right.
If I went to buy a truck to pull a trailer.. Dealer says "Oh heck this here truck will pull it" I buy it and the truck will not get the trailer and truck up to highway speeds.. It would be the dealers fault not the manufacturer. Kind of like selling me a 4 cylinder pickup when I needed a v-8.
So get it in writing that if it will not heat your home they will make it right.
Cearbhaill
Feeling the Heat
My insert, the installation, the full stainless steel liner, and a bit of chimney repair totaled $3600.
I though this was outrageously expensive when I wrote the check and second guessed myself all last summer. But the moment I fired it up I understood- this is a quality appliance that will benefit my family for decades. I am warmer than I have ever been and for less money- what's not to love with that? And the fact that the installation and use concerns a system that can destroy your home and kill your family if done poorly means that the competence of the installation is of prime importance- don't cut corners to save a buck.
I would do some local investigation to find out who is the best installer/serviceperson in your area, then ask them all the hard questions. Verify and research here, but a local guy can be valuable in the future with regard to service, so his opinion counts, too. And your fireplace may have measurements or other conditions that restrict what inserts will even work, so someone will have to scope it out for you regardless.
Take your time, research, and by springtime when the prices drop you will be ready to make the right choice. You will have chosen your local serviceguy and are ready to start a relationship with them, and will have the added benefit of getting him during the off season when he actually has time to talk to you.
My biggest piece of advice- start stocking up on wood NOW. Much of the difficulties and frustrations encountered in your first season of burning can be avoided by having well seasoned wood on hand. And IMO you can only know if it is well seasoned if you yourself watched it sit on your own property for a year. Wood sellers lie.
Good luck- you're gonna love it!!
I though this was outrageously expensive when I wrote the check and second guessed myself all last summer. But the moment I fired it up I understood- this is a quality appliance that will benefit my family for decades. I am warmer than I have ever been and for less money- what's not to love with that? And the fact that the installation and use concerns a system that can destroy your home and kill your family if done poorly means that the competence of the installation is of prime importance- don't cut corners to save a buck.
I would do some local investigation to find out who is the best installer/serviceperson in your area, then ask them all the hard questions. Verify and research here, but a local guy can be valuable in the future with regard to service, so his opinion counts, too. And your fireplace may have measurements or other conditions that restrict what inserts will even work, so someone will have to scope it out for you regardless.
Take your time, research, and by springtime when the prices drop you will be ready to make the right choice. You will have chosen your local serviceguy and are ready to start a relationship with them, and will have the added benefit of getting him during the off season when he actually has time to talk to you.
My biggest piece of advice- start stocking up on wood NOW. Much of the difficulties and frustrations encountered in your first season of burning can be avoided by having well seasoned wood on hand. And IMO you can only know if it is well seasoned if you yourself watched it sit on your own property for a year. Wood sellers lie.
Good luck- you're gonna love it!!
Since you live in central Indiana if you send me a private message I can tell you who I dealt with as Ericjeeper said and you can make up your own mind. I would not buy from them again no matter what after the conversation I had with the dealer-owner.
Shipper
Shipper
Will you be doing the liner yourself to save some money or having it done for you? That will determine what comes out of the $2000 bottom line. An Englander 13NC, Drolet Classic or Escape 1800, and the Napoleon 1400 are affordable mid-sized stoves. However, if you can get a good price on a Lopi Republic (or Endeavor) go for it.
I would probably have the liner and everything done. I really don't know much about them and would hate for it to be done wrong. (I guess that depends on how hard people say it is). What type of price would I expect to spend on the stoves you mentioned?
Depends on where and when you get the stove. Figure anywhere between $500 and $1000. If the dealer will give you an off season, turnkey installation of the Lopi's mentioned for $2K or less, that may be the best route. Check for installation references from the stove dealer and get a detailed quote of exactly what the installation entails. Also, be sure the chimney is cleaned first, before it is lined.
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