I need recommendations for a new wood insert (non-cat)

[wildwildwest]

Threw the towel in on an old cat insert, good thing as it turns out it was a slammer anyway (phew!) too close for comfort for a chimney fire, I will spare you the details. |The double wall pipe atop the chimney fooled both us and the company that cleaned it last year...

We have a brick fireplace. 36w x 24h x 18 deep. I was eyeing a napoleon with 2 blowers until we realized the chimney needs relining too (more $$) found an Englander on sale at Ace hardware this month.

Our main heat source is large pellet stove. This one will be used 4-6 months in the winter for supplemental heat on other end of house. 1000 sq feet in 1/3's: bath, bed, and dining in that area.

Thank you, I would greatly appreciate any opinions.

 

[begreen]

So did you get the Englander? If not, might as well if the price is good. Unless, this is not really a masonry fireplace. Normally they don't have a metal chimney. Post a picture or two of the fireplace and the chimney.

 

[wildwildwest]

I am not buying anything til I find one with approval here on a good (ecomical) stove here I am not concerned with aesthetics but the hubby prefers an insert.

House is ~1950's, concrete block walls and chimney (~15' + high). We bought the house last year, and had the chimney "swept" but it looks like the all the sweepings just laid ontop of the insert. How are you so patient with new burners?!?! Sure enough it looks like metal behind the old insert.



Hubby took faceplate off but I cannot move the stove, did the best I could to get a discernable pic,...

 

[wildwildwest]

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=25116626

I need to have it shipped, we cannot see it in person.

 

[HotCoals]

Now that's a slammer but that's not a insert. at least it don't look like it with my old man eys..lol..it is a Blaze King though. I Think..lol.
Maybe I'm all wrong..let some younger eyes look at.

 

[fossil]

How are you so patient with new burners?

There was a time we were all new burners. Rick

 

[wildwildwest]

Now that's a slammer but that's not a insert. at least it don't look like it with my old man eys..lol..it is a Blaze King though. I Think..lol.
Maybe I'm all wrong..let some younger eyes look at.

Blaze King! Rectangle flue with NO adapter (shiny creosote everywhere as far as I can see so far). No liner that we can find so far, waiting for a camera drop down the chimney.

 

[BrotherBart]

How are you so patient with new burners?

Because we ban people that aren't. Well, I do.

 

[HotCoals]

Sure cooked that cat!
I had that same stove ..non cat for years . Now I have the cat version that I love. it's a diff setup altogether.

 

[wildwildwest]

Because we ban people that aren't. Well, I do.

looks like you are an Englander fan?

 

[BrotherBart]

Just like the way they heat my house. There are a lot of good wood stoves out there. I have never recommended an Englander. Just like burning in'em.

 

[wildwildwest]

I just spent extra money and few more bucks for shipping on special dishwasher that is a lemon. I was leaning towards more expensive wood stove insert brands, but now we need to fit chimney relining into the budget and the lemon dishwasher has changed my mind.

 

[BrotherBart]

Don't chinch on a stove. It will be there a lot longer than a dishwasher. And heats better than a dishwasher.

 

[wildwildwest]

Sure cooked that cat!
I had that same stove ..non cat for years . Now I have the cat version that I love. it's a diff setup altogether.

I am quite functional with an old woodstove, (as long as he stacks the split wood for me) but he heard the new EPA ones give good heat while burning as well as this 1980's? Blaze King Cat. Either way the budget has limited our options.

Thanks each and every one of you for the time and opinions

 

[wildwildwest]

Sure cooked that cat!
I had that same stove ..non cat for years . Now I have the cat version that I love. it's a diff setup altogether.

The entire home was in disrepair when we bought it. I had a feeling this would need TLC too, but not this much!

 

[wildwildwest]

Don't chinch on a stove. It will be there a lot longer than a dishwasher. And heats better than a dishwasher.

If you could have a |"do-over" would you buy the same woodstoves again?

 

[BrotherBart]

Just read the whole thread. For supplementing the pellet puppy small inserts like the Napoleon, Englander or Drolet would be good choices in the "value" end. Just not gonna heat the joint the revered 24/7. But with pellet heat too they should do the job.

 

[fossil]

Englander has a great rep for quality, customer service, and performance. We also happen to be fortunate to have a long-time England Stove Works senior employee as a regular contributing member here who can address any concerns you may have. If that Englander insert looks as though it will meet your heating needs, fit your fireplace (and your budget), and finish nicely (face plate fits, etc.), then go for it. Of course, you'll need a full height stainless steel liner and block-off plate to get the best performance and efficiency out of the installation. I think you'll be real happy with it. Rick

 

[BrotherBart]

If you could have a |"do-over" would you buy the same woodstoves again?

In a heartbeat. Bought another one and it is sitting in the basement unused. Don't ask.

Actually I was going to install it in the basement and just haven't gotten around to it. The pellet stove down there does fine for the short times I need to work down there. I bought the second 30-NC for down there before I decided to shut down my home based business and office down there.

 

[wildwildwest]

WOW, thank you all for your personal experiences, invaluable to me!! I will contact Englander on Monday to ensure the dimensions will fit (I cant find specs on the CFM and flu diameter--I need that diameter to order the SS liner, right?? And more measurements to determine the block off plate and cap on roof?). Its closer to our budget, appears it will fit. Giant thankyou!

 

[wildwildwest]

I owe all of you a few more appreciative "likes" but I guess I exceeded my like limit tonight , thanks

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah we had to do that because a couple of people spent the hour after dinner just doing "likes" for every post that day. Made using "recent activity" to look at posts a royal pain in the (pick a body part).

 

[wildwildwest]

AHAHA, just had to get hubby to grab flashlight and bump the wood poker behind the insert on the "masonry" chimney so he would believe there was actually a metal shield back there on the concrete block! Got er done

 

[wildwildwest]

There was a time we were all new burners. Rick

I've just read so many posts where the newbies are missing the obvious, and I managed to do the same, and everyone here over the years answer/ask the same questions again and again. Kudos.

 

[Dix]

If you could have a |"do-over" would you buy the same woodstoves again?

Yes, and no.

While I love the PE insert, I'd go with a free standing stove in a different section of the house.

I love the 13, but burn times are 5-6 hours max, heats for another hour before temps go down. I'd go with a bigger fire box just for the longer burn times.

Some one correct me if I am wrong, but that 13 insert will probably have the same size fire box as the 13 stove. Again 5-6 hour burn times. Keep that in mind.

How's your fire wood supply????

Welcome to the forums !! Always nice to see a new member of "Da Sistahood" here