Insert Recommendations

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
  • Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals

Burning Hunk
Dec 19, 2013
189
Central illinois
Hey guys, I'm looking to install an insert in my steel fire box fire place. Basically will heat my living room and kitchen area in the shoulder season, between fires in the Tundra and when it gets really cold and the Tundra won't keep up. It needs to take 18" logs. The fire place is 36w x 32h x 24d. We are using a 20k btu kerosene heater now that is doing the job fine so I'm thinking maybe a cat stove would be my best bet for low heat output and long burn times but not really looking to spend a bundle of cash. pleas let me know your recommendations.

On a side note, should I remove the steel fire box or leave it in place? It has air passages around it with a blower to dissipate the heat.

thanks in advance for you input.
 
Is this a heatform style fireplace or a ZC fireplace?

How large an area do you want to heat with the insert? If not too big then a 2 cu ft insert should work well as a supplemental heat source and perhaps the primary heat source in milder weather. If you are trying to save cash take a look at the True North TN20 insert. Have you included adding a 6" stainless liner to the budget?
 
Smoke Signals said:
Its not a cat but has anyone had experience with the Drolet Escape 1400?
Click to expand...
The useable firebox area is kind of small and it's an E/W loader. The Escape 1800 insert would be better.
 
Smoke Signals said:
Square footage is around 450 sq ft
Click to expand...

Is this area closed off from the rest of the house or is there an opportunity to heat more area via a doorway, staircase, etc.?
 
begreen said:
Is this area closed off from the rest of the house or is there an opportunity to heat more area via a doorway, staircase, etc.?
Click to expand...

Single story construction. Not really a good way to move heat around. The bed rooms would pick up a little heat but not a lot.
 
bholler said:
Again what type of fireplace is this? A heat for or zero clearance
Click to expand...

It is a masonry fire place with a steel fire box inside of it. There is a blower that moves air around the out side of the fire box and out into the room through passages in the brick work of the fireplace.
 
A small stove may suffice then, with some sacrifice in burntime. Or you could run the furnace blower to distribute the heat from a larger stove. Or invest in insulation and tightening up the place.
 
Last edited:
Smoke Signals said:
It is a masonry fire place with a steel fire box inside of it. There is a blower that moves air around the out side of the fire box and out into the room through passages in the brick work of the fireplace.
Click to expand...
OK that is referred to as a heat form and they are fine to install an insert in. And no you don't have to remove the whole box. Just enough to get the liner through
 
begreen said:
A small stove may suffice then, with some sacrifice in burntime. Or you could run the furnace blower to distribute the heat from a larger stove. Or invest in insulation and tightening up the place.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have the furnace block off so the tundra doesn't blow back through it.
 
begreen said:
Is this area closed off from the rest of the house or is there an opportunity to heat more area via a doorway, staircase, etc.?
Click to expand...

After giving this some more thought to it I could open the door and let some heat up stairs. It's a finished attic. No body up there most of the time. I guess I'm really looking to get the fireplace more usable. I love the Tunda but would like to be able to sit in the living room and watch a fire with out sucking all the heat out of the house.
 
Yes, I hear you. A nice fire is great to watch and it's probably more cozy sitting on a sofa and setting your feet up to watch the fire than sitting on a lawn chair in front of the Tundra.

There are some tricks to moving the heat that can help. This can be as simple as placing a box fan on the floor of the hallway and running it on low speed while pointed at the living room. Or a more sophisticated approach would be
running an insulated duct under the floor with the intakes in the far bedroom(s) floor, tied to a duct that blows out into the stove room. A quiet inline remote bath fan works well for this. The cool air will be replaced with warm air from the stove room. This will require that the bedroom doors be normally open or at least have a 1" gap under the door or a grille in the door to allow circulation.
 
Here's a couple of pictures of what I'm working with.

[Hearth.com] Insert Recommendations [Hearth.com] Insert Recommendations
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes, that is the one I recommended if you can work out a way to distribute the heat to your satisfaction.
 
Brian26 said:
I installed the the Escape 1800 6 years ago and it has been a great insert. Highly recommend it.

That is a great price too at Costco. I paid more than that for just the stove alone 6 years ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the positive feedback on the Escape. I'm really considering it. I think I will upgrade the chimney cap and insolate the linner thought. I can do that and still come in for less than $2,000. I'm ok with that. Now just have to get permission from the war department :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

e-stop
Yet another newbie with unrealistic expectations looking for fireplace insert recommendations :-)
Replies
16
Views
324
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
stoveliker
stoveliker
A
Wood stove insert recommendation - flush front
Replies
12
Views
493
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
S
Any recommendations for non-cat wood insert that will provide an overnight burn?
Replies
18
Views
884
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
yuryk
Y
O
Urgent - Winter Solo Heat Source Switch
Replies
16
Views
348
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Offgridnow
O
T
Recommendation for 300sqft room with large viewing window
Replies
2
Views
298
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Thifireplace
T
Top Bottom