Insert options

[WoodburnerJB]

Hello everyone,

I'm wanting to add a fireplace insert to our existing masonry fireplace. We're in the Houston area so the fireplace wouldn't be running non stop, it would definitely be used to heat the house but it's also a nostalgia thing for me growing up heating the house with a wood burning stove. The last few winters we've been using the open firebox to burn wood with very minimal heat output and it's also extremely wood hungry. See attached layout (2,000 sq ft house), the red lines are where the hearth is, our living room is about 300 sq ft with vaulted ceilings while the rest of the house has the standard 8' ceilings. The living room is fairly cut off from the rest of the house but my air handler has a circulate mode that will run for about 5 minutes every 15 minutes so I can move heated air around decently, I can also just run the air handler fan constantly if needed.

My opening dimensions are:
34.5" W X 23.5" H X 24" D
Dimensions in the back:
30.5"W X 20"D (this depth is measured at the top of the opening to the back, it angles back at that point)

What I'm thinking I want:

• Medium sized insert - I don't want to overheat the rooms
• Good view of the fire
• Non-catalyst - just want something simple
• Adjustable fan

With Houston's not so great power grid, are there options for battery backups for the fans? I did wire a generator outlet into the house with transfer switch so I can power it if needed but options for alternative fan power like some gas inserts have would be a plus. Along that same line, if there are certain insert types that have decent passive output (if the power did go out) that would be a plus but not looking for a stove to protrude onto the hearth.

What are some good options/brands? Thanks!

 

[begreen]

What kind of stove shops are there in Houston? What brands do they sell?

For better passive heating avoid flush inserts. They need the blower to convect heat from the insert's outer jacket. Inserts that project out onto the hearth work better. A good fit would be the Pacific Energy Super insert. It is non-cat, 2 cu ft, with a variable speed blower.

I don't know of any wood inserts with a battery backup. That would need to be external, either through a battery pack or the whole house backup.