Build in stove suggestions

[Chris611]

I have an old Preway fireplace and would like to replace it. I don't want to put an insert in it. I would rather start fresh. I believe what I want to put in is called a "built in insert." The Country Flame Inglenook is an example. However a little much. I will be putting this in my finished open basement. I am not looking to use this as a source of heat. However it would be nice if it generated heat as opposed to drawing in cold air like my current fireplace does when it's operating since it has no cold air kit. I would like to keep the total cost under $2000. I know that will eliminate a lot of good stoves. Does anyone have some suggestions as what built in stoves would fit my price range and be a good stove?

Thanks
Chris

 

[SlyFerret]

As you're looking at various models, I think you may find them listed as "EPA Fireplaces" or "Zero Clearance Stoves".

Keeping the total cost that low might be difficult, unless you can do most of the work yourself.

Others who know more than I do should be along shortly.

-SF

 

[jtp10181]

Good luck even finding a good fireplace for under $2000. The ones we sell retail for $3000-$4000. Thats for just the unit. You still have to pay for venting and al least $1000 of labor to do a tear out and reinstall. Then you also will need new finishing materials around the fireplace. I'd say if you are going to do it right you are looking at a $5k-$10k project.

 

[Chris611]

Thanks guys, I plan to do the install myself. And the finishing around the fireplace will be extra also. I figured that it would be hard to stay around the $2k, but want to see what's out there. Keep the suggestions coming.

Thanks
Chris

 

[jtp10181]

Where's BTB? He did so much research on those things I think he knows more about the different brands than some of us dealers. He should be able to suggest a lower cost unit. I did some quick poking around and I remebered the BIS Ultima.

(broken link removed to http://www.woodstoves.net/security/bisultima.htm)
(broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/0canwood.htm)

Not the prettiest thing IMO but its lower cost and it should do the job.

 

[DiscoInferno]

My Ultima + 25' of the cheaper (air-cooled) chimney + outside air kit + forced-air kit was something like $2500, although I got that price direct from a distributor via the sweep that installed it. It was going to cost me a bit more + freight retail. It was one of the least-pricey EPA ZC units I found at the time.

 

[Chris611]

DiscoInferno, that is something like what I am looking for. Have you seen any problems with the air cooled chimney in terms of the unit getting cold in the winter or inconsistent draft? I talked with a dealer locally and they weren't as opposed to using air cooled pipe and some people are. How do you like the unit so far?

Thanks
Chris

 

[DiscoInferno]

I heat with it full-time in the winter, so I'm not sure I'd notice any cold-air infiltration. Plus I have an uninsulated chase, so the chimney is really the least of the problems. The chimney won't leak air directly into the house, but by design I think it will always have the potential to dump cold air right on top of the unit when it's not running. There are air openings in the chimney top and bottom. If you seal well around the face of the unit then it shouldn't draft directly into the room at least. There are some small holes in the outer shell I sealed up with foil tape to make it a little more air-tight.

I have had no draft problems, but I do have a lot of favorable conditions: 25' straight-up chimney in a not-too-cold climate coming off of a "stove" with essentially no exposed connector pipe. (All ZC units are presumably similar in the last respect.) So I'm completely happy with my choice to save a few $$.

 

[builderbob]

Where's BTB? He did so much research on those things I think he knows more about the different brands than some of us dealers.

Thanks for the commendation. Consumer research like I can offer though is one thing, valuable as far as it goes, but also limited by nature. Real world experience like dealers get, from years in the field, and from the experience of many of their different customers is something else perhaps more valuable.

As to prices, I have only researched for the larger units. Naturally, the smaller size units would be cheaper. The OP can probably do some google searches for online dealers and request some quotes (links to two such were in post above). The BIS Ultima mentioned would be the size/price range to look into further.