Once I make my decision, I know it will be a good one. It just takes time.
Here's my first time buying a wood stove. The cheapest way to install a WB stove is via my existing fireplace situation, which is also centrally located, and completely interior, with surrounding living space. So, when I get that mass heated up with a wb stove, it should work well. I'm not keen on an insert, because I don't want the noise of a blower, and I think I can get more efficiency from a freestanding stove in the fireplace. I think I'm going with steel. I don't need the expense of a stone stove, and from what I hear, steel requires somewhat less maintenance over the long haul. I've already got that fireplace mass to retain and push out some heat. It's a pretty big fireplace opening 42" w by 32" high.
My question is, do I have to worry about heating up the fireplace mass too much with a freestanding steel stove? Is there a difference between how the heat of an insert works on a fireplace as opposed to a freestanding? Am I crazy to NOT think about a blower for any stove inside my fireplace? I've seen some fireplaces in which the exterior brick is scary damn hot from their stoves. My fireplace is all brick. I'm looking at a PE Vista or a comparable Lopi, and covering about 1000 open sq. feet without catherdral ceilings and all that.
Here's my first time buying a wood stove. The cheapest way to install a WB stove is via my existing fireplace situation, which is also centrally located, and completely interior, with surrounding living space. So, when I get that mass heated up with a wb stove, it should work well. I'm not keen on an insert, because I don't want the noise of a blower, and I think I can get more efficiency from a freestanding stove in the fireplace. I think I'm going with steel. I don't need the expense of a stone stove, and from what I hear, steel requires somewhat less maintenance over the long haul. I've already got that fireplace mass to retain and push out some heat. It's a pretty big fireplace opening 42" w by 32" high.
My question is, do I have to worry about heating up the fireplace mass too much with a freestanding steel stove? Is there a difference between how the heat of an insert works on a fireplace as opposed to a freestanding? Am I crazy to NOT think about a blower for any stove inside my fireplace? I've seen some fireplaces in which the exterior brick is scary damn hot from their stoves. My fireplace is all brick. I'm looking at a PE Vista or a comparable Lopi, and covering about 1000 open sq. feet without catherdral ceilings and all that.
