Can I use a BK in this fireplace?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

lml999

Minister of Fire
Oct 25, 2013
636
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
In the process of buying a new (to us) house...

Need some input on stove size and whether I can run a freestanding stove or will need an insert...

House was built in 1994, gas heat by hot water, decently insulated, double pane windows, etc. We've been living in a smaller house and using a Kodiak Enviro 1200 insert in our living room to supplement our oil heat. We go through a couple of cords per year and cut our oil heat cost by 50% or more.

The new house is on Cape Cod. We will live there full time...

The previous owner spent about $1500 last year for heat, DHW, cooking and laundry. 4 or 5 zones of heat, plus a direct gas fired hot water tank. They were not year round residents...so it does seem a bit high...other houses we looked at had 12 month bills in the range of $1K.

There is one fireplace in the house, with a good tall outside chimney. I've included the floor plan below. I expect we'll spend a lot of time in the kitchen and den (pictured). That room faces south/west so we'll get good afternoon sun (and we will be putting PV solar on the roof).

There is a full finished basement, and the master bedroom is above the garage. I'm not expecting to get much, if any, heat from the greatroom up the stairs...

The best place for our every-day TV is on the back wall...near where their TV currently is...but not up against the fireplace...

Thinking about the BK 30 series stoves...not an insert, but a free standing stove. I've got 3-4 cords of seasoned wood that I will bring to the new house.

Would appreciate comments on stove sizing and design. Again...I'm presold on the BK line :)

I'm thinking the Ashford 30 would be ideal...the Chinook might be too modern for that space. (Ignore the current furniture, it's not ours...)

By the way, SWMBO wants to know why we can't just use our current insert in the new house. (The answer, which is not to be shared, is that I want a new BK. <grin>)

I just noticed that the BKs are designed to have a vertical run of stove pipe...not sure this will work given the size of the fireplace. Maybe I'm looking at one of the new BK inserts...

Appreciate the input!



i-z6RhdNN-L.jpg

i-c2RrcpS-L.jpg
 
Last edited:
Fireplace dimensions will dictate what will fit. Looks like it may need to be a BK Princess insert if there's room.
 
Fireplace dimensions will dictate what will fit. Looks like it may need to be a BK Princess insert if there's room.

Thanks, if that's the case I might lean towards the coming BK 25 inserts. I'll take measurements later this week during the home inspection...
 
I didn't understand your abbreviations but didn't matter, you probably have to go with an insert, the new Ashford insert is nice, thinking of getting it myself as a second stove.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.