Help me choose a fireplace insert and save my marriage

[ryanww]

OK, my marriage really isn't in danger, but my wife and I are butting heads on this issue and I need all the help I can get.

We just purchased a house that has two beautiful fireplaces. The upstairs one is 39" wide and my wife wants a gas insert and I want wood. The house has an efficient geothermal system, and heating cost really isn't a big issue, of course any reduction in that cost is a good thing. We have 10 acres of hardwoods, so a nice supply of wood. We plan on completely redoing the surround and the floor. The fireplace would probably see use 2-5 days a week, I'm sure we won't keep it going 24/7. Mainly in the evenings or when we're home on the weekends. I'll summarize our arguments and points of concern.

Her:
1) gas is clean. The pieces of bark and wood chips that come from storing wood near the hearth are a major concern for her. She is very neat and does not want to constantly clean up around the fireplace. The wall above the fireplace is stained with smoke and she hates that. We will be repainting, but she doesn't want that to happen again.
2) gas is easy. She has no desire to start a fire and she would never build a fire if I wasn't home. Between you and me I doubt that she would turn on a gas fireplace either.
3) gas is more aesthetically pleasing. You can have decorative logs, crystals, balls, etc in a gas fireplace. The wood inserts we've looked at have relatively small viewing areas. She says it's a shame to cover such a large fireplace with a bunch of metal and a small piece of glass, and I agree.

Me:
1) gas is boring. enough said
2) I enjoy gathering wood and building fires. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but there's something romantic about building and maintaining a fire
3) we have an endless supply of wood

Help me out here, point me to a wood insert that has a large viewing area and meets her aesthetic demands. We've looked at the enerzone destination 2.3, and napoleon epi3 so far. Originally I was looking at only flush inserts, but I'm open to anything.

Thanks a ton!

 

[drewmo]

Used properly, I wouldn't expect any staining on the wall above the insert, even after many year's use. Keep a small brush and pan near your wood storage area and do a quick sweep after each load of wood is brought in. Other's will be more knowledgeable about which stove would be best for viewing. Our PE gives a good view of the fire.

Is the downstairs fireplace open for discussion?

 

[ryanww]

The downstairs fireplace will stay wood. It's a mid efficiency type with blowers. I need to make another post about that one.

 

[branchburner]

We just purchased a house that has two beautiful fireplaces.

Help me out here, point me to a wood insert that has a large viewing area and meets her aesthetic demands.

Welcome to the forums. You only mention changing one fireplace, so I assume the other remains open and burns wood. So the answer is easy: one is for you, to burn wood (with or without an insert), one is for her, to burn gas. Marriage saved?

If you want both FPs to burn wood, you have to make it worth her while. She's the only one who can say what that might involve, but for starters it might mean YOU are the one to do the sweeping, vacuuming and dusting!

At least you both agree it's a shame to cover such a large fireplace with a bunch of metal and a small piece of glass. That will rule out many stoves/inserts right off the bat. Search images online and see if something pops up that SHE likes.

 

[kennyp2339]

I bought and use a dust buster to clean the little wood crumbs after each loading, also works great after cleaning out the ash (there's always a little spill of the front lip of the stove)
EPA Tube stoves are probably the best insert to start out with, live flames, vigorous secondary's, good heat, easy learning curve.

Save the other fire place for the second insert and go BK or cat stove for a long slow burn.
*don't cheap out and try to avoid not installing a liner in the stove, factor the cost of an insulated liner right from the get go, this will save you in the long term.

 

[DougA]

I'm siding with your wife. If the upstairs fireplace is just for occasional use and not going to make a major dent in your heating bill, gas is so much easier, cleaner and safer. Turn the dial and it's on, turn and it's off. I don't have a gas fireplace but my daughter does and we have friends that do and if your home is already heated properly, the novelty of a fireplace wears off pretty soon and they seem to be rarely used. Putting in a gas unit will be hugely less money than a wood unit. The added bonus is that some day you will want to sell your home and a gas fireplace will increase the value, a wood insert may easily decrease it. I burn 24/7 and it's a lifestyle, not something for occasional romantic evenings - at least not in my case.

On the other hand, since the lower one can be used for wood, I'm betting she will let you do what you want with it and you can use up all your wood there.

Gee, that was easy.

 

[Poindexter]

I am personally done carrying cord after cord of wood up a flight of stairs. If my wife wanted gas upstairs I would take tomorrow off to get it installed before she changed her mind. Esp if I could keep generating cheap heat int he wood burner on the ground floor.

 

[revdocjim]

I don't know if your downstairs stove will be used 24/7 but if it is, keeping yourself supplied in wood for that stove alone will be a big job. Ignore this if you are already aware, but while 10 acres is wonderful, felling trees, cutting, splitting and stacking is a lot of work. Of course most everyone here enjoys that kind of work, but as you may already know, you need to work two years ahead at a minimum in order to have properly dried firewood. That means a lot of big piles of firewood in your yard that constantly need to be replenished.

Secondly, the cleanup process around a wood burner is a real factor. My wife doesn't mind feeding the fire but somehow I end up doing 100% of the cleanup (as well as all the CSS and hauling), which usually means sweeping several times a day and vacuuming every day or two. So while I love the whole process, I can't see risking your marriage (overstatement!) over a second wood burner. I think you will get your fair share of enjoyment with the downstairs stove. Furthermore, if you let her get the gas stove upstairs it may give you more bargaining leverage in getting the stove of your dreams downstairs! (My only qualification for giving marital advice is 31 happy years with my one and only!)

 

[ryanww]

I'm not showing my wife this thread...
[emoji4]

 

[DougA]

One of us will whisper it in her ear.

 

[iamlucky13]

gas is more aesthetically pleasing.

Bleh. It's really not. To me, a gas flame compared to a wood flame, even when paired with a really good looking facade/log/etc (and I've seen some really good ones), is like comparing formica to marble. They can look good if you don't pay much attention to them, but when you cozy up to the fire, the unvarying flame pattern, lack of pop, and typically minimal heat output all feel artificial.

The soot on the wall issue won't be a problem with a modern enclosed insert.

Also, if you have propane, the fuel cost can potentially add up. If you have natural gas, it shouldn't be too bad.

However, if the downstairs fireplace is going to remain a wood burner, I strongly suspect you're going to be stuck compromising on the upstairs fireplace, just like I had to when I tried to talk my wife into a manual transmission car. Every technical argument I could make for my case was crushed with a simple, "this one is my decision."

 

[FPX Dude]

I had some of the same issues until I finally found the FPX. If you have two fireplaces, sounds like one gas for her and the other one wood for you. Uh, and gas is no where as close to "aesthetically pleasing" as secondaries of a lazy blue, orange, yellow, red flame etc., from wood. Any more details on the location of the second one, is it downstairs like in a mancave or something? Also, where do you to plan to be in in most of your living space?

 

[ryanww]

Sorry for the bit of confusion regarding the aesthetics of the gas. I was referring to the general enclosure, not the flame. I agree wholeheartedly that wood flames are much better to look at.

The upstairs fireplace is in the main living area just off the kitchen in the living room. Most of our living time will be spent in this area. The basement fireplace is in the walkout basement. A secondary living area but I will spend more time down there. That fireplace has a blower for a little heat, but will not be used on a regular basis, maybe once or twice a week. So far the heat from that one seems to be minimal, and will be burned for enjoyment.

 

[revdocjim]

Well in that case I take it all back! You want the wood burner in your main living area for sure! See if she'll settle for a gas burner in the walkout. Assure her that you will keep the area around the wood burner clean and that you'll haul all the wood.

 

[FionaD]

If, as you say, your wife's taste runs to decorative crystals etc in a gas fireplace, it might help if you show her some pics of wood stoves that are a little less 'earthy' and 'purely functional' in appearance.. Maybe some coloured enamel - or even white enamel might help bring her round...? If the stove is not so much a major heating issue as an ambience enhancer, then you can afford to look at the more attractive stoves out there.

...but for sure you'd need to make a contract to take care of the wood and the tidiness around that stove and stick to your promise.

 

[Squisher]

It sounds like.............the marriage is doomed. Wood all the way!

 

[blades]

I will put this very simply- Happy Wife = happy life, course Divorce is always an option -pricey but well worth it. ( just my opinion )

 

[revdocjim]

Any chance your wife might be more interested in the modern looking designs of wood stoves that seem to be so popular on the other side of the pond?
(broken link removed to http://www.morsona.com/contemporary-stoves)
(broken link removed to http://jotul.com/us/products/stoves/jotul-gf-370-dv)
http://dovre.co.uk/products/vintage-contemporary-wood-stoves/
http://dovre.co.uk/products/astroline-contemporary-wood-stoves/
(broken link removed to http://us.rais.com/produktliste.aspx?s=braendeovne)
http://www.hwam.com/wood-burning+stoves?r=1

They don't have much market appeal in North America but appear to be really good stoves that are very popular in Europe and Scandinavia.

 

[cheeze]

OK, my marriage really isn't in danger, but my wife and I are butting heads on this issue and I need all the help I can get.

We just purchased a house that has two beautiful fireplaces. The upstairs one is 39" wide and my wife wants a gas insert and I want wood. The house has an efficient geothermal system, and heating cost really isn't a big issue, of course any reduction in that cost is a good thing. We have 10 acres of hardwoods, so a nice supply of wood. We plan on completely redoing the surround and the floor. The fireplace would probably see use 2-5 days a week, I'm sure we won't keep it going 24/7. Mainly in the evenings or when we're home on the weekends. I'll summarize our arguments and points of concern.

Her:
1) gas is clean. The pieces of bark and wood chips that come from storing wood near the hearth are a major concern for her. She is very neat and does not want to constantly clean up around the fireplace. The wall above the fireplace is stained with smoke and she hates that. We will be repainting, but she doesn't want that to happen again.
2) gas is easy. She has no desire to start a fire and she would never build a fire if I wasn't home. Between you and me I doubt that she would turn on a gas fireplace either.
3) gas is more aesthetically pleasing. You can have decorative logs, crystals, balls, etc in a gas fireplace. The wood inserts we've looked at have relatively small viewing areas. She says it's a shame to cover such a large fireplace with a bunch of metal and a small piece of glass, and I agree.

Me:
1) gas is boring. enough said
2) I enjoy gathering wood and building fires. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but there's something romantic about building and maintaining a fire
3) we have an endless supply of wood

Help me out here, point me to a wood insert that has a large viewing area and meets her aesthetic demands. We've looked at the enerzone destination 2.3, and napoleon epi3 so far. Originally I was looking at only flush inserts, but I'm open to anything.

Thanks a ton!

I have a Brunco airtight that I've had for years and it has a nice sized door with a large glass window. Of course you have to clean it from time to time as it clouds up with smoke especially when you choke it down. I use a razor blade scraper that is for cleaning paint off of glass to clean my window.

 

[Dix]

Send her to me for a bit. I'll fix this right quick

 

[Simonkenton]

The wall above the fireplace is stained with smoke because the fireplace is not built properly, it doesn't draw well enough and it smokes. Very common problem.
Most fireplaces don't put out much heat.
Get a wood stove.
As to your wife being a neat freak and not liking wood chips, bugs and ashes around the house, well, that comes with the territory with any wood burning appliance. Ditch her and find someone ten years younger who likes wood stove.

You're welcome. Send $100 to Dr. Simon Marriage Counselor.