Hardware store stoves (inserts) - Vozelgang & Century brands?

I have been around a lot the past few weeks kicking around a lot of options on inserts, and I have gotten a lot of valuable advice from you all, thank you.

I am basically trying to figure out what I really want, and what I will settle for. I am swaying back and forth between my various options and right now I am looking at the "low end." I know some here feel fine about the Englander/Summer's heat stoves, but what I see in the way of inserts coming from them heat "up to 1500 sq. feet" and I was hoping to get a bit more than that in my range. They are running around $1400-$1500 and that is close enough to the "dealer stoves" to throw me back up into that range ($1800-$2000 seems to be the low end for what I am looking for if I get it from a dealer - and way up from there.)

Century/CFP and Vozelgang however have inserts that look just like the Englander ones and claim to heat "up to 1800 sq. feet" but I am not sure why they would have more than the others. However, the other thing they have going for them is they are running $800 or so. Now that is HALF what the low end of the dealer stoves cost, ya know?

I know I probably won't get any big votes of confidence for these brands but figured I might as well throw it out there and see if you all know either of the super inexpensive brands from experience. Are they dangerous? Wear out in a year? Can't heat a tissue box?
Opinions welcome, I am not sold on anything at this point whatsoever, I just think these are such reasonable prices - they are still EPA stoves and they cost what some used stoves do on Craigslist, you know?

Thanks BB. I appreciate your common sense advice. I hope I haven't been being overly annoying with all my ?s. I tend to research the behesus out of everything online and hearth.com is getting the brunt of it lately - the longer I go without a purchase and the more things that pop up on CL the more I go back and forth, but ultimately I will probably go with a low end EPA stove as you advise. The only thing going against the real cheapies at this point is that we really wanted one to stick into the house a little more. That whopper of an ice storm down here whenever that was - 10 yrs ago? got my husband really hooked on the idea of a woodstove that isn't dependant on the blowers for heat. But we'll see - soon, probably. Thanks again!

Pardon the bad cell phone pic. Mine looks a lot like others I have seen on here, including the person who just did a MAJOR overhaul on his and put in a loverly Jotul freestanding... I admire him but I am more attached to my woodwork and don't really want to do any major mods to the surroundings!
It's only an 18" hearth in the front, and it's flush - I wouldn't mind laying down a temp pad or whatever to extend but I don't want to tear the floor up or anything.

Thanks all very much for the info, on Vozelgang and also for putting those Napoleons back on my radar. I am checking the clearances. They seem a little big but I could probably work with them, will see. The bigger insert does what I want (stick onto the hearth some) and their smaller one says it has an optional "hearth mount" but the manual doesn't discuss or illustrate what that is. Quite reasonable prices though, you are right, and thanks much!

mellow said:

Your hearth looks about the same size as mine, under code you wouldn't be able to have it sit out much on that hearth. My XTD 1.5 just meets code for hearth size requirements.

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Yeah, yours looks quite nice and tidy. I was thinking I might have to put a removable hearth pad out in front if I pull anything out onto the hearth at all, but I was hoping not to have to tear up the floor any. I am not sure if pulling the thing out changes the side clearances at all though.

Man, I just noticed yours is a "flame" - the dealer an hour away from here told me yesterday that they carry Lopi and Flame. The Flame inserts they have (probably similar or the same as yours, I am guessing?) run $1900. You got quite a deal!

Yeah, I know... I had it all figured out for a Lopi Revere, I was within half an inch for the sides of the mantel enclosure, and thought that might work OK, but the mantel was too low and would need a shield. I don't have a problem with doing a shield for the mantel but really don't want shields every which way. But that's part of the reason that I am not just jumping in with both feet on anything until I have it all measured out and whatnot. So I have a lot of factors going on there. From the way the Lopi manuals were written it was pretty easy to figure out but for some of the lower priced inserts the clearances aren't described quite as well.
Bring it on boys I can take it (at least until the money is spent, then I will tear my hair out!)

Hmm. For the Vozelgang insert, interestingly I am within all clearances even for the mantel and surround and everything, but would need only a 6"-8" extension on the front of my hearth.

For the Lopi Revere (and presumably the Republic since it's identical) I know I would need an extension in front of the hearth as well as a mantel shield.

Regency hearth heater fits all clearances (except front of hearth) Regency medium does too.

For the Napoleon, heck if I can figure it out, they do the same manual for all stoves and it is WAY unclear what those clearances are or where to measure them from.

Englander/summer's heat gives the clearances but NOT the stove measurements in their manual, so, duh, it makes that hard to figure out too!

Guess I'll check a couple others. Thanks again!

BrotherBart said:

This is what England's has on the website for the 13-NCI

Dimensions: 25 3/4" W x 22" H x 14" D

Min. fireplace opening: 26" W x 22 1/4" H x 14" D

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Cool, then that one fits fine too, thanks. You guys were scaring me. Maybe my mantel looks smaller than it is? (Or maybe I am just finding the dimensions for the smaller inserts so far)