Fireplace Insert Epic Battle: Wifey wants looks, I want heat. STALEMATE! Looking for suggestions

[davidmsem]

I settled on the regency i3100 to fit in my 40" x 28" opening. The room is 15' x 44' and has two doors that open to the main body off the house which totals 2500 square feet. Wifey likes the regency i2600 as she wants a flush look. I don't want an unproven unit, don't want a catalytic converter, and I'm resisting flush mount as they don't push out as much heat it seems. I like the ~20" log size and ~3 cubic feet fire box. I may have to use some kind of shield as the height from the 24" deep hearth to first combustible top trim is 38".

I'm on very thin ice........might be living in my new woodshed soon.........stalemated.

Any suggestions what might look good and function like the i3100 here:

 

[DAKSY]

Hmm. I'm thinkin this one:

http://www.regency-fire.com/Product...-Iron-Stoves,-Fireplaces---Inserts/HI300.aspx

But I don't hafta live with your wife...

It's rated a little less than the I3100L, but not much less...

 

[nyny]

I settled on the regency i3100 to fit in my 40" x 28" opening. The room is 15' x 44' and has two doors that open to the main body off the house which totals 2500 square feet. Wifey likes the regency i2600 as she wants a flush look. I don't want an unproven unit, don't want a catalytic converter, and I'm resisting flush mount as they don't push out as much heat it seems. I like the ~20" log size and ~3 cubic feet fire box. I may have to use some kind of shield as the height from the 24" deep hearth to first combustible top trim is 38".

I'm on very thin ice........might be living in my new woodshed soon.........stalemated.

Any suggestions what might look good and function like the i3100 here:
View attachment 144114

grow a pair and tell her what you're getting.

 

[davidmsem]

grow a pair and tell her what you're getting.

LMAO.........understand......might be a long cold winter...

 

[davidmsem]

The Regency I3100 would look something like this:

 

[mstoelton]

Clydesdale - makes good heat, 2.3 ft box, soapstone lined, Largest viewing window on market, 22 inch log length, cast iron construction very attractive look, no cat, comes with ventilator fan and the fan is very quiet on low. I have 2 and have not turned on my furnace yet. currently in the thirtees here. House is a balmy 82 degrees. Two level ranch house 3200 square feet.

 

[Fod01]

Same thing here. I said 'wood stove', she said 'flush', and 'big glass'. Ok, I still get a stove...win win.

Both stove types would radiate the same thru the glass. The flush stoves suffer any time that blower is off (power outage, or you just don't want to listen to it), but I would guess they're fairly close with blowers on. More experienced members will probably poke holes in that.

Non-flush probably also gain some volume in the firebox...so longer burn times. My one gripe is for the small firebox.
....and hind-sight being 20-20, I wouldn't rule out the cat stoves for their longer burn times and even heat.

 

[prezes13]

I have cape cod flush no cat but only 2.2 cf fire box. Very easy to operate throws a lot of heat. If you want 3cf flush check lopi-Avalon fyre hybrid lane

 

[AK13]

Well for flush, window, no-cat you could consider the Jotul Rockland 550. I like mine. Takes a massive 24" log. Has big glass. And fans are quiet at low and have continuously variable speeds. (Note: I don't know if it will fit for you or not).

I don't think that flush vs. sticking out makes much difference as far as heat transfer. You're going to have to use the blower if you want heat no matter what I think. I feel like the ones that stick out typically do so because they are designed to work with smaller fireboxes so some of the "stove" has to extend into the room.

Nice hearth.

 

[drewberry24]

My 3100 sticks out about 5 inches. Not sure if there would be much of a difference between that and a flush unit for radiating heat. A lot of heat comes off the glass of mine, and I assume most other units do as well.

It looks like you have an external chimney. I'm sure everyone on here will mention insulating the back of the fireplace and installing a block off plate. After doing that with mine this year I have noticed a big difference in the heat that radiates off the unit. Sometimes I keep the blower off when it's too hot in the room, and it still puts out a lot of heat, and I credit that to the insulation.

 

[davidmsem]

My 3100 sticks out about 5 inches. Not sure if there would be much of a difference between that and a flush unit for radiating heat. A lot of heat comes off the glass of mine, and I assume most other units do as well.

It looks like you have an external chimney. I'm sure everyone on here will mention insulating the back of the fireplace and installing a block off plate. After doing that with mine this year I have noticed a big difference in the heat that radiates off the unit. Sometimes I keep the blower off when it's too hot in the room, and it still puts out a lot of heat, and I credit that to the insulation.

My installer did not mention insulating behind the fireplace and a block off plate. He did say that plate is put at the top of the chimney which will keep the flue warmer and will draw better. Looks like I should inquire as to insulation behind the unit ...... thank you for your input.

 

[cableman]

I just installed the HI300 for my buddy, real nice stove seems well made. 2 splits the other day put out some great heat but it wasnt really cold here, and the blower is super quite!
Heres my link of it installed
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/helping-a-buddy-choose-an-insert.118123/page-2#post-1803878

 

[davidmsem]

My 3100 sticks out about 5 inches. Not sure if there would be much of a difference between that and a flush unit for radiating heat. A lot of heat comes off the glass of mine, and I assume most other units do as well.

It looks like you have an external chimney. I'm sure everyone on here will mention insulating the back of the fireplace and installing a block off plate. After doing that with mine this year I have noticed a big difference in the heat that radiates off the unit. Sometimes I keep the blower off when it's too hot in the room, and it still puts out a lot of heat, and I credit that to the insulation.

Drewberrry, can i ask what style home do you have? How high is the chimney? What year was the house built, that is how tight is it? I want to bring your recommendation to my dealer......

 

[drewberry24]

No problem. It's a 2 story colonial style home built in 1975. Chimney is 20-25 feet. I don't think the house is very tight, still has some original windows in the stove room, north facing window are fairly new though. The main part of the house is about 2600 sqft which the stove easily heats, and an addition of about 400 sqft that some heat spills into.

My installer also did not mention insulating the firebox and said I did not need a block off plate because the top was sealed. That seems to be the case with a lot of installers after reading on this forum. As installed last year it did a good job of heating the home, but after doing this myself I can honestly say the difference in heat output is significant. There are numerous threads here for info on insulating and block off plates if you want to read up.

 

[davidmsem]

grow a pair and tell her what you're getting.

nyny, what I have now might get cut off and I may have to regrow some, as I just put a deposit on the Recency I3000. You motivated me.

 

[RSNovi]

My installer did not mention insulating behind the fireplace and a block off plate. He did say that plate is put at the top of the chimney which will keep the flue warmer and will draw better. Looks like I should inquire as to insulation behind the unit ...... thank you for your input.

This is what mine did. No block off plate telling me they insulate the top of the chimney. My chimney is 30' tall. Now that the stove is in I am not sure if I can get it out without pulling the liner up some to put a block off plate in.

 

[KB007]

Just get some gold on the door and the side panels - she'll love it

 

[bens_igloo]

nyny, what I have now might get cut off and I may have to regrow some, as I just put a deposit on the Recency I3000. You motivated me.

Congrats. These are nice stoves and you're going to enjoy it! For what it's worth, my wife wasn't super pleased about the "classic" look of our i2400. After a year (and all of her friends commenting on it), she loves it and actually prefers the look to the newer, flush, contemporary unit. Now that's win win !

I really wish I could have gotten the 3100 for longer burn time, but wouldn't fit in my opening.

All the best.

 

[davidmsem]

This is what mine did. No block off plate telling me they insulate the top of the chimney. My chimney is 30' tall. Now that the stove is in I am not sure if I can get it out without pulling the liner up some to put a block off plate in.

Yes....when I brought this up he said he insulates at the top of the stack....

 

[tarzan]

nyny, what I have now might get cut off and I may have to regrow some, as I just put a deposit on the Recency I3000. You motivated me.

I was going to post that with the area you plan to heat I think nyny was right but...

Once it gets truly cold you may be forgiven

 

[begreen]

Yes....when I brought this up he said he insulates at the top of the stack....

Most installers are going to take the fastest way to install. With an exterior chimney a block-off plate will keep more heat around the insert cabinet and thus you'll get more heat out of it. It will cost a bit more which may be why the installer is balking. Ask him to break that out as a line item in your quote, then just do it.

 

[davidmsem]

Most installers are going to take the fastest way to install. With an exterior chimney a block-off plate will keep more heat around the insert cabinet and thus you'll get more heat out of it. It will cost a bit more which may be why the installer is balking. Ask him to break that out as a line item in your quote, then just do it.

Thank you BeGreen...is this a special type of insulation? I can have it on hand and install it...

 

[begreen]

The insulation is Roxul mineral wool, available at most big box stores like Home Depot. But it should have a metal retaining plate below it. Here is a description. At the end of the article there are several links illustrating installation options.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/why-damper-seal-is-needed/

 

[Dix]

grow a pair and tell her what you're getting.

Seriously?????

Just get some gold on the door and the side panels - she'll love it

Seriously???

 

[Dix]

I settled on the regency i3100 to fit in my 40" x 28" opening. The room is 15' x 44' and has two doors that open to the main body off the house which totals 2500 square feet. Wifey likes the regency i2600 as she wants a flush look. I don't want an unproven unit, don't want a catalytic converter, and I'm resisting flush mount as they don't push out as much heat it seems. I like the ~20" log size and ~3 cubic feet fire box. I may have to use some kind of shield as the height from the 24" deep hearth to first combustible top trim is 38".

I'm on very thin ice........might be living in my new woodshed soon.........stalemated.

Any suggestions what might look good and function like the i3100 here:
View attachment 144114

IMHO, I think that once the benefits of flush (nice doing, until a power outage) verses etxended (which will heat much better with no power) are explained and taught, it won't be much of an issue.

Have the better half log in / sign up.

The members of Da Sistah Hood can take it from there.

Welcome to the forums !!