So I've been kicking around the idea of a wood stove insert for years now, but never had the $$$ to make it an easy. Fast forward to today, and I'm ready to pull the trigger (the CFO has authorized our purchase!).
It looks like we narrowed it down to an Avalon Olympic, PE Summit, or PE Super. I know, two large and one medium, but that's the recommendation from three different "local" shops. He's my layout; the house is about 1900, with another 400 in the finished basement. I have no aspiration of heating the entire home with the insert, the layout isn't "open" and I don't plan on setting up multiple fans for ventilation. I have 9 foot ceilings and it's a center hall colonial with rooms which I imagine with restrict airflow. I'd like to be able to heat the ground floor nicely, and reduce the furnace work load (and oil $$$!). The temps in SE Connecticut do get low, but our single digit nights are few in a season.
I'm always a fan of go bigger, but here's my concern; my fireplace is in the living room, which we spend about 80% of our awake hours in. Its about 12x25, with the stove dead center along the 25' wall, and only about 8' away from my recliner. My concern with the Summit (and olympic to a lesser extent) is the amount of heat from the stove. I know I can make a smaller fire, but but I'm trying to be realistic on what I need. I know they are a lot of insert owners on here, and I've been lurking for a long time now. But realistically, is it worth the extra cost to go to a Summit vs a super with my situation?
The EBT on the Summit sounded great at first, but after reading the posts I'm worried that if the stove gets too much for the room, there won't be any way to curb it to a reasonable level (another reason for the Super?). The Avalon is a close choice as well, but I'll be honest I like the PE's setup of the blowers on the side of the unit rather than along the floor.
Lastly, has any Pacific Energy Super users wished they went with a unit with a bigger glass? (the Wife's concerned that we won't see the fire)
Thanks for any help, you've all been helpful so far with previous posts.
It looks like we narrowed it down to an Avalon Olympic, PE Summit, or PE Super. I know, two large and one medium, but that's the recommendation from three different "local" shops. He's my layout; the house is about 1900, with another 400 in the finished basement. I have no aspiration of heating the entire home with the insert, the layout isn't "open" and I don't plan on setting up multiple fans for ventilation. I have 9 foot ceilings and it's a center hall colonial with rooms which I imagine with restrict airflow. I'd like to be able to heat the ground floor nicely, and reduce the furnace work load (and oil $$$!). The temps in SE Connecticut do get low, but our single digit nights are few in a season.
I'm always a fan of go bigger, but here's my concern; my fireplace is in the living room, which we spend about 80% of our awake hours in. Its about 12x25, with the stove dead center along the 25' wall, and only about 8' away from my recliner. My concern with the Summit (and olympic to a lesser extent) is the amount of heat from the stove. I know I can make a smaller fire, but but I'm trying to be realistic on what I need. I know they are a lot of insert owners on here, and I've been lurking for a long time now. But realistically, is it worth the extra cost to go to a Summit vs a super with my situation?
The EBT on the Summit sounded great at first, but after reading the posts I'm worried that if the stove gets too much for the room, there won't be any way to curb it to a reasonable level (another reason for the Super?). The Avalon is a close choice as well, but I'll be honest I like the PE's setup of the blowers on the side of the unit rather than along the floor.
Lastly, has any Pacific Energy Super users wished they went with a unit with a bigger glass? (the Wife's concerned that we won't see the fire)
Thanks for any help, you've all been helpful so far with previous posts.
