Hearth clearance crisis

I'm a newbie to this forum. - Thanks for any advice. here's the deal: I have a beautiful old hearth with ancient single wall 5 cubic foot woodburning insert. no blower. If I pack the thing with dry wood and make it rage it puts out good radiant heat, but otherwise it doesnt seem to convert firewood into heat very well. rigging up my own blower fan didn't make much difference.

So I'm all jazzed to get an efficient insert, when I realize that the only insert compatible with the 44x36" trim and 52" mantle on my hearth is a small flush mounted one like the Lopi Anwer . Basicaly I have to rip apart and discard my hearth, or stick with a small insert. I'm worried that that won't put out enoguh heat. I have a 100 yr old 1800ft 2 story house in minnesota. It seems like the inserts don't give much radiant heat at all, and I'm not that eager to have a blower running all the time to get convective heat.

Are my fears unrasonable? can a small flush mounted insert actually heat most of an old house in MN? And is it true what some of the dealers have told me that the blower is not really neccessary for heating?

Any advice appreciated!

It makes sense to me that the blower's pretty essential. I thought about the wood stove backed into the hearth. but I think it still runs into issues with the clearance up to the wooden breastplate and mantel... Still wondering if I just have to rip off that beautiful mantle and tile it with something non-combustible...

My house is 1800sf, but the open part that I'd like to get heat to is probably half that. Still, its cold here and it's an old house. I'm in north mineapolis by the way.

Tickbitty - thats a good suggestion with the sheet metal shields placed close to the trim - I'll have to look at it and see how big it would need to be - just might work...

The Declaration - I looked at that one - I was scared off by the fact that being totally flush it would be very dependent on the blower. But from what you guys say I'm going to be dependent on a blower anyway. At least that one can be wired through the firebox.

BeGreen said:

With an old house in MN, I think you will want some real heat unless this is a small, closed off room.

Consider extending the hearth with a new border made out of some exceptional tiles that either compliment or contrast the old hearth. Done tastefully it will look intentional and should compliment the installation.

When looking at new inserts, read the hearth requirements for the new stove. Some require much more heat protection (R-value) than others. And yes, you will want a blower.

In order to avoid mantel shielding, I am wondering if a Lopi Declaration would work. What is the size of the area being heated?

Click to expand...

Just looked at the declaration - The clearances are actually not bad - but I only have 18.5" fireplace depth. Rats!