Gas insert V Wood insert

If you have access to "free" or relatively free wood, then that may be the determining factor for you. In some areas, however, gas prices are so cheap/competitive, that it can make just as much sense from an economical standpoint to choose gas over wood.

Ask yourself these questions: am I a weekend/ambiance burner, or a full time 24/7 burner? Do I have access to a ready supply of seasoned (cut, split, stacked in the dry for one year minimum, generally) firewood? Do I have the space to store the amount of wood I will burn? Do I want to invest the time and energy it takes to harvest and process "free" wood? Do I want to pay the Gas Man every month?

For me the choice was easy, as we have no natural gas in this neck of the woods. And I have access to 2 farms, one at 165 acres and one at 75 acres that have a ton of beetle-kill pine and various hardwoods available for harvesting. Heating with an electric heat pump would easily cost me $300/month or more during the coldest winter months, so I chose wood heat. I love the peace I find when working on the wood supply, and it's a great feeling to stand back and admire the stacks that you put so much effort into.

We had a gas insert and all it did was heat up about 6 feet in front of the insert. Ripped it out for a Regency I3100 which now heats the house. If you're an ambience / part time burner, have you looked at some of the available EPA zero clearnce fireplaces available?

There's probably other choices you may want to consider like Jotul Winterport/Kenebec/Rockland, Hearthstone Clydesdale or Lopi Declaration/FPX33. In general, those flush-mount stove won't generate much heat to the room until you turn on the fan. But the fan helps cool down the stove by design, you shouldn't burn full load w/o fan to avoid the overheat. I have FPX33 and it's ability to heat my room is night and day between turning the fan on or off.

Jotul Inserts
http://www.jotul.com/en-us/wwwjotulus/Main-menu/Products/Wood/Wood-inserts/

Hearthstone
http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/wood-stoves/stove-details?product_id=16

Lopi Declaration
http://www.lopistoves.com/product_guide/detail.aspx?id=219

FPX 33
http://www.fireplacex.com/product_guide/detail.aspx?id=220

I have the Morso 5660 as well as a contemporary lay out. Our kitchen is 26 by 18 opening to a family room 14 by 30. This Morso has no fan but it really kicks out the heat. The rooms can get nice and toasty.
I really love it. I had a gas insert but removed it. The flames and viewing area are fantastic and when the secondary burning kicks in it is like an incinerator...just filled with flames.
Listen to the experienced. You need a good supply of well seasoned wood. The amount will depend on your use.
If just for ambience, you can't go wrong.
Regency now offers a contemporary looking EPA insert too.
Cheers,

Welcome to the forum jmax.

There is so much more to ask than what you have asked. One of the first things you need to know is that if you want to heat with wood, you will have to do things much differently than with gas. Namely, with gas, if you need fuel you can just call and order it to be delivered and ready to burn. With wood, if you call, you might get it delivered and the seller will tell you how good the wood is....and you will find that it is not ready to burn. Wood needs time to dry properly and that is one of the first things new wood burners need to know. We recommend you have enough wood on hand for a minimum of 2 years burning.

So understand that if you decide to put in a wood burner, you very likely will have some problems in your first year of burning because your fuel is very poor. It will be like putting poor fuel into your car; the car just won't run right. It might run, it might get you where you need to go, but it won't be pretty.

Aside from this, understand that burning wood is hard work and can be dirty. Many can not deal with this, but, of course, many do deal with it and learn ways of doing it right.

Wood heat is simply a wonderful heat! Come inside on a cold winter day and feel that heat! It can't be described; it must be felt and a wonderful thing it is.


So my suggestion to you is if you are sure you want to do this, see first about getting some fuel. Ask lots of questions. Search as many stove shops as you can. Talk to as many wood burners that you can find. And keep on asking questions on hearth.com Hopefully we can help.

Good luck to you.

Have you ever looked at the Scan DSA-4?

Yes. Its a very nice unit but smaller than the Morso 5660. Smaller viewing area too. Check out the new Regency unit. I think its model number 1200 or something like that.