Largest Wood insert...

  • 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.

daveydog

New Member
Jul 25, 2010
20
Central MA
Hi there, wondering if a wood insert with the following criteria exists? I've been searching online but not all sites list all info: we're looking for the largest wood insert we can fit (I think fireplace is big enough to fit all the ones I've seen so far... 36WX30HX24D) that also has a screen option (we like to burn early in season when heat output isn't a big concern). I really want to try to get as much out of it in the winter so a big firebox and big btu is really important. In my search, seems like we're coming down to the Lopi Freedom and the Quadrafire 5100 but I'm not sure if they have screen door options... Anyone know? Or is there another model out there? Thanks in advance! Dave.... Westminster, MA.
 
daveydog said:
Hi there, wondering if a wood insert with the following criteria exists? I've been searching online but not all sites list all info: we're looking for the largest wood insert we can fit (I think fireplace is big enough to fit all the ones I've seen so far... 36WX30HX24D) that also has a screen option (we like to burn early in season when heat output isn't a big concern). I really want to try to get as much out of it in the winter so a big firebox and big btu is really important. In my search, seems like we're coming down to the Lopi Freedom and the Quadrafire 5100 but I'm not sure if they have screen door options... Anyone know? Or is there another model out there? Thanks in advance! Dave.... Westminster, MA.

I wouldn't let the screen door option be the deciding factor.
 
The Buck 91 and Country Flame BBF are the largest inserts I know of, I think they have 4 cu ft fire boxes.
 
Todd said:
The Buck 91 and Country Flame BBF are the largest inserts I know of, I think they have 4 cu ft fire boxes.

wow I had never seen those anywhere... both of those are great. Unfortunately the BBF won't fit! The Buck 91, I'll have to consider the catalytic option... I was planning on non-cat for easier maintainance... hmm. Thank you for the input, I appreciate it!!
 
Franks said:
http://www.regency-fire.com/Products/Wood/Wood-Inserts/I3100.aspx
2.9 cubic foot firebox and a screen option. Non cat. I've sold tons of them and always had happy customers

Not to pull away from the OP...Franks, I was wondering how the Regency or any other stove with a screen option can meet the EPA rating as my guess the secondary burn would be nil.
 
Its tested with the glass door closed. You are correct that with the door open and the screen inserted the efficiency goes way down.
 
Thanks for the reply Franks. One more question... This can help the OP also. Since this is a new install and may or may not be in a heavily populated area. Would the smoke dragon/heaver emissions become an issue or meet the local bylaw stuff since the stove has a potential to be run without the true EPA target...?
 
We have a Buck 91 and it is a beast. It burns overnight and puts out a lot of heat. We have it in the formal living room so on many occasions, I get it going good and hot to help heat the upstairs. Running with the fan on high it would heat us right out of the room. It obviously can be tuned down and the fan set to low...we would have no problem it we ran it that way. But like I said, we use it to toss a lot of heat and it does not disappoint.

As for the cat, we are still new to this stove, but done right you will get years of service before replacing the cat. Dry would is key and I try to make sure I adhere to that which thus far has served us well.

Hope that helps.
 
eujamfh said:
We have a Buck 91 and it is a beast. It burns overnight and puts out a lot of heat. We have it in the formal living room so on many occasions, I get it going good and hot to help heat the upstairs. Running with the fan on high it would heat us right out of the room. It obviously can be tuned down and the fan set to low...we would have no problem it we ran it that way. But like I said, we use it to toss a lot of heat and it does not disappoint.

As for the cat, we are still new to this stove, but done right you will get years of service before replacing the cat. Dry would is key and I try to make sure I adhere to that which thus far has served us well.

Hope that helps.

How long a burn can you get with that beast? Can you get away with 1 feeding every 24 hours?
 
I bought a screen with my I3100, and I used it once in the first couple of days. Been packed away in the attic for the past two years!
 
CTburns said:
I bought a screen with my I3100, and I used it once in the first couple of days. Been packed away in the attic for the past two years!
I hear ya... we're just so used to having the open fire place, know what I mean? Every once in awhile....

That is the best pic btw...
 
Welcome neighbor.
My wife wanted a screen for our old stove in our old house, so we got a Jotul F3CB...we used the screen twice in 2 years :)
At our new house, we went with a small insert and love it...don't miss not having a screen at all.
(If you are shopping through Feens in Leominster, you might want to try Higgins Energy in Barre as well)
 
north of 60 said:
Thanks for the reply Franks. One more question... This can help the OP also. Since this is a new install and may or may not be in a heavily populated area. Would the smoke dragon/heaver emissions become an issue or meet the local bylaw stuff since the stove has a potential to be run without the true EPA target...?

I wouldnt imagine so. It would seem you could only really burn a few logs at a time with the doors open anyhow. It's not like your gonna stack 10 splits north to south and have the door open. From my experience burning with a screen in an epa certified appliance doesnt constitute a smoke dragon.
 
daveswoodhauler said:
Welcome neighbor.
My wife wanted a screen for our old stove in our old house, so we got a Jotul F3CB...we used the screen twice in 2 years :)
At our new house, we went with a small insert and love it...don't miss not having a screen at all.
(If you are shopping through Feens in Leominster, you might want to try Higgins Energy in Barre as well)

I'll try to sell that to the boss... we've been to both Feens and Higgins, was even considering hoofing it down to Enchanted fireside down in Worcester... I've heard that Feens is pricey but didn't seem much different than Higgins.... What's your experience been?

I think we have it narrowed down to either the Regency 3100, the Vermont Castings Merrimack, or maybe the Quadrafire 5100 if it will fit... lack of track record with the Merrimack has me a bit hesitant, but it has a huge view....

One thing I don't understand is why 2 different insert units with similar firebox size (Regency and Merrimack) would have such different BTUs (80,000 and 55,000 respectively)...
 
I’ll try to sell that to the boss… we’ve been to both Feens and Higgins, was even considering hoofing it down to Enchanted fireside down in Worcester… I’ve heard that Feens is pricey but didn’t seem much different than Higgins…. What’s your experience been?

Those are the most expensives shops around, you can do better if you look around.
This stove is a beast too:

http://kumastoves.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=25
 
Todd - I definitely can not get a full day. Even slowed way down, there is now way it would go that far. I can easily get overnight burns and I have had enough coals to relight even with a mix of oak and poplar. With just oak, slowed down, I still have only coals but much more than when I mix things. If I pack it, and then leave it to go out which I have had to do in shoulder seasons because it gets too hot I would say I get heat from it for a solid 10 and maybe near 12 hours.

But not 24 hours. I don't think even with an outdoor boiler you can get 24 hours, but than I am not a proud owner of one so I only base that on my brother in laws.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.