- Nov 12, 2012
- 17
Thanks to the cold winter, something good happened. Yesterday my wife (and house CFO) said she was ready to look at new stoves. We moved into a new-to-us house last year, leaving our well loved Jotul 450 insert behind. The buyers really wanted it, so I let it go, as it was probably a bit undersized for the new house (2900 SF) anyway.
Our current house has gas insert and we just haven’t “warmed up” to it. It’s installed in a fairly standard, 35w x 30h fireplace with a raised brick hearth that was originally wood burning, with a standard brick chimney. The house was built in ’86.
Just about any insert would fit into this opening, but I think I prefer a stove following reasons:
No blower needed – full radiant heat. (The Jotul seemed to heat the chimney and garage behind it with no blower on)
Larger stove sizes are available, and more stove options in general
Water pot can go on top, and maybe some cooking too, in case of a zombie apocalypse
Side loading makes a lot of sense for the location
Stove on hearth makes for less stooping when tending the fire and loading
But there are cons:
I’d need the hearth extended another 18”
The look of a stove in front of an old, well charred fireplace opening just won’t work in this not so rustic house. It’s very visible, and really needs to be a clean install, as if the hearth were build for the stove. (If anyone has achieved this clean look – I’d love to see pics and understand how you did it.)
Any thoughts? The insert would be so easy, that’s why it’s tempting. But the stove experience is really what I want.
Thanks!
Our current house has gas insert and we just haven’t “warmed up” to it. It’s installed in a fairly standard, 35w x 30h fireplace with a raised brick hearth that was originally wood burning, with a standard brick chimney. The house was built in ’86.
Just about any insert would fit into this opening, but I think I prefer a stove following reasons:
No blower needed – full radiant heat. (The Jotul seemed to heat the chimney and garage behind it with no blower on)
Larger stove sizes are available, and more stove options in general
Water pot can go on top, and maybe some cooking too, in case of a zombie apocalypse
Side loading makes a lot of sense for the location
Stove on hearth makes for less stooping when tending the fire and loading
But there are cons:
I’d need the hearth extended another 18”
The look of a stove in front of an old, well charred fireplace opening just won’t work in this not so rustic house. It’s very visible, and really needs to be a clean install, as if the hearth were build for the stove. (If anyone has achieved this clean look – I’d love to see pics and understand how you did it.)
Any thoughts? The insert would be so easy, that’s why it’s tempting. But the stove experience is really what I want.
Thanks!