FyreBug
Minister of Fire
Looking at the picture you will have a fair amount of costs associated either way - Stove or insert. First of all your options will depend on your budget. Since you are looking at budget stoves, I will assume you are trying to keep this under control. However, if you keep the big picture in mind think in terms of Return on Investment (ROI) and your heating goals. If you are trying to reduce your propane bill by 50% or more per year then you have a good case to spend a bit more money on the overall project.
Options 1) Insert: By far your least expensive option. Just drop a liner, find the biggest insert that will fit in there and it will provide a fair amount of heat.
Option 2) Stove: Never mind the stove... this will require a fair amount of rip & tear, lumber, masonry, sweat, blood and tears. But it will provide more heat that an insert and if the power goes out the stove will radiate more heat than an insert.
Option 3) High efficiency ZC fireplace. Some are 75% plus efficient and you can add gravity kit to bring warm air upstairs or to other rooms. Some will also allow forced air kits that you put on a thermostat to heat other areas of the house, turning your fireplace into a small furnace. This is the most expensive and also the most efficient use of your dollar (ROI). It also looks much nicer that an alcove stove IMHO. If you were thinking about tearing the whole works anyway this is something to think about. You can get a 2.5 cu. ft EPA ZC for about $3,000.
Hope this helps.
Options 1) Insert: By far your least expensive option. Just drop a liner, find the biggest insert that will fit in there and it will provide a fair amount of heat.
Option 2) Stove: Never mind the stove... this will require a fair amount of rip & tear, lumber, masonry, sweat, blood and tears. But it will provide more heat that an insert and if the power goes out the stove will radiate more heat than an insert.
Option 3) High efficiency ZC fireplace. Some are 75% plus efficient and you can add gravity kit to bring warm air upstairs or to other rooms. Some will also allow forced air kits that you put on a thermostat to heat other areas of the house, turning your fireplace into a small furnace. This is the most expensive and also the most efficient use of your dollar (ROI). It also looks much nicer that an alcove stove IMHO. If you were thinking about tearing the whole works anyway this is something to think about. You can get a 2.5 cu. ft EPA ZC for about $3,000.
Hope this helps.
