I can't wait to get Kozy, but is it too big?

One of the more popular quotes on here about stove size is "You can build a small fire in a big stove but you can't build a big fire in a small stove". I know nothing about the stove mentioned but being in Alaska I think a good back up heat source would be a good choice, then again you mentioned it has been ten years and apperently you have not had any issues where you could of used a backup heat source.

can't help with your set up but for spelling use firefox as your Internet browser - it has an automatic spell checker

Sour, How cold are your coldest nights? Is your house super insulated?

Is the bump out only in plan form or is it built? If it isn't built, I would consider building a hearth for a free standing stove and rock or tile the wall. Free standing stoves make great space heaters especially when the power is out.

Hello Sourdough newbie, I have a Z42 Kozy for several years now. They install great since it's a zero clearance. You can build pretty much anything you want around, being safe of course - distance and materials. This one heats real well. Often we have to open windows, even when it's like 20 outside. You can learn to run it though over time and manage your fires to not give quite as much heat. Often I let it simer way down then throw new wood on. It burns so well sometimes you can just put one log on a coal bed and it will burn fine (well seasoned wood that is). Not many people mention this brand, I don't know why, I've been burning just about my whole life and this is the best unit I've ever seen. They're built like a tank and they burn beautiful for a non-cat wood burner. I burn just about 24/7 and the first year I went through 6+ cords and then after finding this form and learning from these guys, buy the way these guys are the best, I now am down to just under 5 cord. Good Luck.

Your welcome for the info. I had my house built in 2001 and orginaly it came with one of those cheap, I mine cheap, fireplaces. During the second year, we had a chimney fire. Found out it was because of the way the cheap fireplace burned. The chimney would get to cold and it would build up with creosote too fast. No harm done to the house, but it scared the bejesus out of me. Told the wife, we will never burn in that thing again. That's when I set out to find something to replace the old unit. I needed one to fit the hole I had with safe enough clearance to my two year old $1000 oak mantle I didn't want to get rid of. I looked at so many and not one would fit the clearance I needed until I stumbled across the Kozy Z42. The company I bought it from didn't like the support the floor provided, it weighs over 500lbs, so I did some work in the basement to shore up the foundation, a bit of an overkill, but they were impressed. Went a head with the install. One thing to keep in mind is that this unit uses a 6" chimney not an 8" that so many require. Those 2100 degree chimneys are not cheap. I think I paid around $1600 for the fireplace and the chimney was around $800. The install was $500 and the mason work I hired someone on the side for $250 or $300 and the brick was maybe $70 tops. I remember I didn't want to spend over $3500 and I came in well under that. Some of the other fireplace shops wanted over $5000 for whatever they offered. One other brand I came across that I liked a lot better than Kozy was the Quadrafire units. I'm not sure if they are zero clearance or not. Are you looking for a zero clearance unit and building to fit whatever or are you willing to build whatever it takes to fit what you want, like a masonry fireplace. You really might want to consider a wood stove. I've been real impressed with what people have been saying about the Woodstock Fireveiw. I think that can be ordered direct from the factory. Search around on this site and you'll find a wealth of information. Try this link https://www.hearth.com/what/specific.php and somewhere on here I know there's a comment section on individual fireplaces and stoves. By the way, when you post something, there's a spell check under the message box.

Hey Sourdough,
I looked up the Topaz and one thing I would first point out is the size of the firebox. That would be a no go for me - 16" log length? Remember that's longest length. The Kozy will take 22" lengths. The chimney on the Topaz is 7" and that might cost more too. I've not seen 7" pipe. The Kozy uses a 6". Lowes carry a Class A chimney pipe you might get for less $. Don't know if there are Lowes in AK. I dug out some of my original paper work and mine cost $1900 and the chimney was $596 - 25 ft long. Then I needed to do the brick work, have a chase pan made and get a chimney cap. I didn't get a blower, power vent or any of the fancy grill work. I had them install mine but after seeing how it's done I could easily do it myself. Well maybe not "easy" but I could do it.

Your right the ZC fireplaces are like a stove built to go into a wall. One thing I do miss with the ZC is that it heats so well it's hard to get humidity into the air when the furnace doesn't run. With a stove you can put a kettle on top, just have to refill a lot. Or put in a room humidifier - I hate them things. Maybe you should look at some of Travis Industries products (Lopi, Avalon). I think they're made in Washington state and that might cost less to ship to AK. Buy direct might save some $. Or, you could just find a good old used stove, put it in, get some heat and then start saving for what want. Maybe check out Woodstock Soapstone Fireveiw stove for direct delivery. Those stoves I hear put out a lot of heat over up to 12 hours at a time (if you have hardwoods). You also should be able to get that $300 tax credit.

Good luck with whatever you do. I always say, "when there's a will there's a way."

Sourdough newbie said:

My DH gave me money for Christmas for a fireplace that we've been wanting since we built. It's been 10 years in this house and it's about time.

We're not looking for a sole heat source here, we have in-floor heat and we're happy with it, but we also have 6 kids that need more chores to keep them busy, and in a cold snap that floor just does not heat up fast enough for me. We want a wood heat source just in case all hell breakes loose and because they're nice to look at. If all else fails we can all snuggle up in the living room to sleep.

The plans have a 9ft x 2.5ft bump out in the living room where we plan to install. The main dealer here in AK sells Kozy Heat brand fireplaces, but after reading some of what I've found in these forums, I'm wondering if it's too big. Our total house sf is only 2000, and 1/2 of that is upstairs where this will be installed. We have somewhat vaulted ceelings up there and 2 back bedrooms, the rest is just open (dining, kitchen, living, split entry, hall).

I love the idea of getting a great effeciency fireplace right off the bat, I've been reading articles and trying to educate myself about the ins and outs of this. But the 242 and the 231ZC that I was looking at (mostly 'cause they're pretty) seem to be the sole heat source for 2000 sf homes. I don't want a fireplace that's too big for it's britches, and frankly I don't want to spend more than I have to...

Advice for this "native" Alaskan new to wood heat is appreciated. (sorry about spelling, no Word on this computer yet to check it with...aaak)

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You sound like a perfect candidate for a PE Summit.

Did you look at the Z231? The best part of this one is you can open the damper and dump all the heat up the chimney. All Kozy's are heck of a heater, I can get the house up to 88 at -30f. The Topaz is a great stove but it requires the Excel chimney which is very expensive, that is the only chimney you can put on it. That is why we don't carry that line anymore.