Hi all, I'm trying to decide which insert to pick up. I've got a split foyer house, and the basement is always freezing. I'm not expecting to replace my gas bill, but would like the basement to be usable living area in the winter. I have done some reading here (will probably start stalking Mark Fellows since he lives up the road) and elsewhere on the 'net.
Right now it is a toss-up between the Regency GFI55 - my family has 2 Regency non-pellet inserts and love them - and the Enviro Empress - looks like it may be the same parent company, and I can get a floor model for the same price as the GFI55 (instead of ~$700 more).
The Empress seems to have some auger issues based on some posts...
Also, as an Empress specific question - I see the recall info and pix but I am confused because both Empresses I have seen had cast iron fins as heat exchangers, not tubes like the picture (and the GFI55). Is that an older model or is that part of the difference between the insert and freestanding?
Has anybody run corn in either of these?
I am really torn because it sounds like the Regency has less issues, but the Empress sure is a lot nicer looking! Then of course, a friend has a Quad 1200 and says I shouldn't decide until I see that one and get a quote. Posts like this one seem to agree...
Thanks for any info and recommendations! I'm in total information overload here.
Right now it is a toss-up between the Regency GFI55 - my family has 2 Regency non-pellet inserts and love them - and the Enviro Empress - looks like it may be the same parent company, and I can get a floor model for the same price as the GFI55 (instead of ~$700 more).
The Empress seems to have some auger issues based on some posts...
Also, as an Empress specific question - I see the recall info and pix but I am confused because both Empresses I have seen had cast iron fins as heat exchangers, not tubes like the picture (and the GFI55). Is that an older model or is that part of the difference between the insert and freestanding?
Has anybody run corn in either of these?
I am really torn because it sounds like the Regency has less issues, but the Empress sure is a lot nicer looking! Then of course, a friend has a Quad 1200 and says I shouldn't decide until I see that one and get a quote. Posts like this one seem to agree...
Thanks for any info and recommendations! I'm in total information overload here.
