Beginner needing help choosing the right insert

[JoDant06]

Good morning all. Wife and I recently purchased a new house and we are wanting to cut down on electric/gas bill. Where we live has a monopoly power company that charges much more than the national average.

The house is 4100 square feet, but I am aware that it's not feasible to heat the entire thing with the insert. I am hoping to warm the main hang out areas next to the insert, and our bedroom, which is above it.

After discussion with a local contractor who almost exclusively deals with Osburn, we settled on the Inspire 2000-I. Is this a good unit? Or is there more bang for your buck out there? Total after everything is right around $5000.

TIA

 

[kborndale]

$5000 sounds like a good price. Does it include an insulated liner in the chimney and a block off plate? Osburns are good quality stoves. For more bang for your buck look at drolet which is the same company. Drolets are like Chevrolet compared to osburns being the Cadillac but both have mostly the same bones.

 

[Slimdusty]

Go with as big of a firebox as you can fit in your space.

 

[stovelark]

5000 installed? That sounds low... Osburns are good stoves. The right stove for you is the one you like and it does what you need. Any good dry seasoned firewood ready? That's the important question.

 

[EbS-P]

I have the Drolet version. It’s fine for a 2.4 cu ft. If the room that it’s in is large and or well connected and the bigger one fits I be looking at it too. How tall a chimney do you have? 23’ insulated liner in mine needed a damper.

 

[begreen]

The Osburn is fine for an area heater. I suspect that you'll want a mantel to protect the tv from the heat from the insert. They make good looking non-combustible mantels if the clearance to the insert is an issue.

 

[JoDant06]

$5000 sounds like a good price. Does it include an insulated liner in the chimney and a block off plate? Osburns are good quality stoves. For more bang for your buck look at drolet which is the same company. Drolets are like Chevrolet compared to osburns being the Cadillac but both have mostly the same bones.

Yep, it includes everything. I appreciate the info, but knowing my wife, she would rather have the Cadillac over the Chevrolet

 

[JoDant06]

5000 installed? That sounds low... Osburns are good stoves. The right stove for you is the one you like and it does what you need. Any good dry seasoned firewood ready? That's the important question.

Not yet, we are on a waiting list for install, will be close to April. Might not have to use it very much this current winter. Plan is to have a small storage building to season it before next winter.

 

[JoDant06]

I have the Drolet version. It’s fine for a 2.4 cu ft. If the room that it’s in is large and or well connected and the bigger one fits I be looking at it too. How tall a chimney do you have? 23’ insulated liner in mine needed a damper.

I am not sure on the height of the chimney. I would assume it is similar to yours. The opening in my fireplace isn't very big. The picture can be misleading. the Inspire 2000 will fit snugly.

 

[begreen]

That's a good price. The Osburn line has some better hardware and the baffle is made of a tougher C-cast refractory material.

Not yet, we are on a waiting list for install, will be close to April. Might not have to use it very much this current winter. Plan is to have a small storage building to season it before next winter.

Modern stove must have fully seasoned wood to burn properly. Most of the wood purchased is not fully seasoned. It takes at least 2 yrs for some good hardwoods to season. If possible, buy the wood now, stack on pallets, and top cover it.

If building a wood shed, make it well ventilated so that the prevailing winds can blow through the stacks.