Help picking an insert please!

[jbick1]

Hi. I’m late to the party clearly because nothing is available but I’m looking to put a wood insert in my fireplace to supplement oil. Duh

I’m limited by a 16.5 depth. I think i have like 32” across-width. The Quadrafire Expedition I will fit with no special accommodations. But. In my research i learned that Vermont Castings Gifford (which you can’t get til late March ) is the same animal as the Exped I and there’s no fire control. Quad calls it “automatic combustion control.” Is this really a big deal?

My other option is looking like a comparable small Regency OR the medium non-cat model…2450 i want to say. What turned me off with the Regency is the a la carte pricing….faceplate extra, blower extra! Plus the Regency projects WAY out and I’m not sure I like that look.

A lot to unpack but I’d love some feedback. It’s clear that there’s some well informed people on here.

Thanks !

 

[begreen]

Welcome. Did you read this thread?

VC Montpelier II or...something else?

Doing sort of a quick and dirty purchase of a wood burning insert. We had considered buying one to put in our brick fireplace when we bought the house a number of years ago but at the time it didnt work out. Now we are heading into winter again and just had the idea hey, maybe we should do...

www.hearth.com

 

[jbick1]

Yes. And still…

 

[begreen]

It's going to be more of a case of what's available unless it's ok to wait, perhaps until spring. Projection out onto the hearth often means the insert will heat better during a power outage, if that is important. Flush inserts may look trim but they have their caveats like blower dependency, ash dropping onto the hearth more easily, E/W loading, etc.