Newbie insert sizing question

Welcome...as a newbie myself I would go big....I got an insert with a smaller firebox and I've read overnight burns are nearly impossible.

If the dealer did not visit your home, he could be biasing the small insert decision to allow for ease of installation. Until you really accurately nail down the existing firebox dimensions, and attached chimney - who knows what will work.

Try attaching some pictures of the home, floor plan, and especially hearth/firebox with accurate dimensions and you will get some great advice.

First off welcome to the forum.
Now some questions.

How often do you intend to burn?
How much do you want to supplement heat ?

Really. you aren't trying to heat the house, just supplement ? (that's what many people say, then they get addicted to wood heat)

For me personally, my original goal was to supplement, and if able to use wood as a primary source. As of now, although I have an oil fired boiler in my home, it is only used in the coldest of time periods, or if we go away for a few days in the winter. If I were you, I would go with the biggest, quality, box I could. You can always build a smaller fire in a big box, but it is really difficult to build a bigger fire in a smaller box. You may also find, as many have, that you will be migrating to wood heat as a primary, and if you want to do that but go with a small insert, well, that will be tough, and maybe expensive (if you want to upgrade in the future).

Also since you have an exterior chimney, you are gonna want an insulated liner, properly sized to the insert, along with a block off plate. I am hoping you are going that route.

Welcome to the forums !

I've been in Wisconsin (Portage/Endeavor). In January. With -25F or colder with the windchill. When it was 20F outside it felt like a heat wave >:-(


Go as big as you can, and do not look back, IMHO.

The guy who said go small may be trying to unload small stoves that are not selling in his shop. I'm sure you've heard this before.

You can build a small fire in a big stove but you can't build a big fire in a small stove. Get the biggest and don't look back.

Flush was my first option then I opted for one that has a cast surround that sticks out. You'll get the added benefit of the cast heating up. Just a thought...

Bigger is good. I have a 2.25cf firebox in my insert. I'm lookin to go even bigger next year with a freestanding Englander 30 stuffed into the fireplace next year. I put an addition on the house and need a bigger stove....best of luck to ya

Figure out what you think you need, then go one step bigger!

-SF

SlyFerret said:

Figure out what you think you need, then go one step bigger!

-SF

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Advice that I took that worked for me . . . and advice I give others.