Zero Clearance Fireplace

Make you both happy, do a Quad 7100

Holy crap! Yeh I made that mistake on the first floor 15yrs ago. Been kicking myself ever since. Problem with zero clearance installs are they don't give you any options later on. You'll be totally screwed if she wakes to the wood stove idea. Since all new stoves have glass to see the fire and actually have a chance to heat your home any kind of fireplace makes no sense to me. Plus a wood stove is easier to install in most cases.

I suppose there could be reasons not to install a fireplace, but I sure don't see them. The one I chose certainly has what it takes to heat the entire house - and I live in the northeast where winters are cold. Take a look at the FPX: http://www.fireplacex.com/product_guide/detail.aspx?id=97

-Speak

What doesn't she like about wood stoves?!

What is your goal with this project? Is it just for atmosphere? Don't expect to get any real meaningful heat out of a fireplace, as the are generally less than 10% efficient, and tend to actually suck more heat out of your house than they put in.

I would seriously considering a zero clearance stove like the 7100 (there are others too). You get the benefit of the efficiency of a wood burning stove, with the look of a fireplace.

-SF

I have the Kozy heat Z42 w/ single door. I love it. It has heated my 100 year old 1400 sq. ft. 2 story home well this winter. A nice sized firebox and a good sized door to view the fire. No real complaints about the unit from me.

SlyFerret said:

What doesn't she like about wood stoves?!

What is your goal with this project? Is it just for atmosphere? Don't expect to get any real meaningful heat out of a fireplace, as the are generally less than 10% efficient, and tend to actually suck more heat out of your house than they put in.

I would seriously considering a zero clearance stove like the 7100 (there are others too). You get the benefit of the efficiency of a wood burning stove, with the look of a fireplace.

-SF

Click to expand...

Sly Ferret,

Based on your post, it sounds like you are not aware that there is such a thing as a high efficiency, EPA certified fireplace. Both of the fireplaces that the original poster is considering, the Kozyheat Z42 and the Osburn Stratford, have an efficiency rating exceeding 70%. The Kozy Heat has a rated efficiency of 73% and the Osburn Stratford 77%.

The KozyHeat and the Osburn each retail for about $2300. Add another $400-$500 for the remote forced air system. I am not totally sure but I believe that the Quadrafire 7100 is considerably more expensive despite no greater efficiency than the others. I would say that the KozyHeat and the Osburn Stratford offer the best value within the category of high efficiency, zero-clearance fireplaces with the desirable firebox sizes of 2.5 cubic feet or greater.

I looked at both the Z42 and the Stratford when replacing my contractor grade prefab. Ended up choosing the Z42 because it's firebox is lined with firebrick, whereas the Stratford uses cast refractory panels.

I'm extremely pleased with the Z42, it puts out a whole lot of heat. I've been burning it 24/7 since the day after Thanksgiving and the house has never been warmer.

wkpoor said:

Holy crap! Yeh I made that mistake on the first floor 15yrs ago. Been kicking myself ever since. Problem with zero clearance installs are they don't give you any options later on. You'll be totally screwed if she wakes to the wood stove idea. Since all new stoves have glass to see the fire and actually have a chance to heat your home any kind of fireplace makes no sense to me. Plus a wood stove is easier to install in most cases.

Click to expand...

I've had both wood stoves and fireplaces. My wife an I chose a fireplace for our current home because we didn't want to give up the area a wood stove takes from the room. My 1 - 1/2 storey home is 1200 sq ft on the ground floor and obviously less than that upstairs because of how sq ft is measured. The RSF heats the entire house regardless of how cold it is out. Mind you, at -40 is is challenging.

A wood stove would have given us better efficiency and longer burn times, but we have a natural gas furnace to fall back on. With the price of natural gas right now, it's more about lifestyle with wood heat than savings.

As for not having options later on, there is no reason I could not also install a free-standing stove somewhere else in the house if I wanted to give up the space for it. Sometimes I think two stoves would be better. Burn one during milder temps and fire up both if it gets real cold. An OWB could be another option if natural gas were not available.

heatxchanger said:

Sly Ferret,

Based on your post, it sounds like you are not aware that there is such a thing as a high efficiency, EPA certified fireplace. Both of the fireplaces that the original poster is considering, the Kozyheat Z42 and the Osburn Stratford, have an efficiency rating exceeding 70%. The Kozy Heat has a rated efficiency of 73% and the Osburn Stratford 77%.

Click to expand...

I didn't cross reference the models listed in the OP, but, it seems that what you are calling an "EPA certified fireplace", I am calling a "zero clearance stove".

Generally, when the word fireplace is being thrown around on this site... we're talking about fireplaces, not stoves that look like fireplaces.

You are right though, after looking up the units mentioned in the OP... he's already looking at the type of unit I was suggesting.

-MG

Here's another ZC fireplace to look at:
http://www.flame-intl.com/product.aspx?CategoId=19&Id=447

Since this got bumped I'll just go ahead and link to the review of the Kozyheat Z42CD that I just did for another thread.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/70230/

My FPX 44 does a great job heating the entire house and we love the look.

cj8cheyenne said:

Looking at putting a zero Clearance fireplace. can't talk the wife into a wood stove. The two i am looking at is Kozy Heat Z42CD and the osburn stratford 04001.. i have a 2000 sqft home with forced air and would like to get the forced air kit... any opinions would be appreciated. is there any other brands that may be a better choice?? pros and cons?? Thank you

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CJ8cheyenne,

I really think the zero clearance fireplace category has an image problem. They need to be renamed as zero clearance wood stoves. I would argue that they are EASIER to install then a wood stove. They are designed to fit exactly into the same hole as the builder grade heatilator that many yank out. The Kozyheat z42 is more of a stove then fireplace. People discount them and figure they are just a fireplace for looks - ambiance. Well consider that it looks like a fireplace - but performs like a stove.

I also wanted a free standing stove. My wife wanted the fireplace look too. Also - she didn't want a stove that took up space in living area and something that we'd have to fence off from the kids. The Kozyheat is flush with the wall and up on a hearth - safe for the kids and no wood stove taking up living space. I didn't think it could heat our home (3700 sf) and thought it was nothing more than a visual appliance. She won out and we had it installed.

We are on our 3rd year with the Kozyheat Z42 and I couldn't be happier. Boy was I wrong. Heats both levels of the house (minus the room over the garage - which we just close off). It is a serious woodstove and not just a fireplace.

We did not get the forced air duct kit. All we use is the blower and it really puts out the heat. We have a center hall colonial and it is located in our living room. Heats all the first floor and heat travels up the stairs and into the bedrooms. We have saved thousands of dollars in propane. My house is about 5 years old and is well built and tight. So this helps. There's no doubt in my mind that the Kozyheat z42 will heat your 2000 sqft home well. Wife will get the look she wants and you'll appreciate it as a wood stove that it is. I see no difference. One is freestanding - the other a zero clearance in wall install. Both will produce great heat.

The only concern I would have about the forced air kit is heat loss if you are running it in a chase that is uninsulated or cold - you could scrub off or lose some heat.