I've been reading here a lot for the past couple of weeks and after originally thinking I wanted a pellet stove of some sort, I'm now sold on a wood insert. Last fall I had to have my antique wood/oil furnace replaced and went with a regular oil furnace. I've acclimated my house to a brisk 64 degrees after being used to the heat from my wood furnace, but now that oil is getting way out of hand, I can't stomach the idea of freezing AND paying 2-3k a season on oil. But now I'm a bit overwhelmed too. :/ I miss the days a few years ago when it cost me $400 a year to heat my house between wood and oil.
I have an existing masonry fireplace that has only been used a couple of times in the past 5 years, picture attached. It has it's own separate chimney/flue (not sure of the right terms here) than my oil furnace. I have a two story cape cod with a basement. The living space is about 1800 square feet and I'd guess the (concrete walls and floor) basement is another 800-900 feet. I don't know if my floorplan is considered "open" as far as fireplace heating goes. I attached a picture of it too. I know some heat will rise to the upstairs, but I'll be happy if I can just get most of the downstairs around 70 during the day.
I'd like to heat primarily with wood during the day and let it start to die down at night and let the furnace take over when needed. For the next few years I'm working from home for the most part, so it definitely won't be just a nights/weekend thing.
I don't have the exact measurements of my fireplace right now, but when I was looking online the other day, a larger insert like the PE Summit would fit based on my quick measurements then. Would something like that be overkill for my house?
I want to do this as cheaply as possible, so my primary concerns are getting a big enough insert without going overboard. I'm a single mother on a tight budget but I can pull together $3k or so in the next couple of months and I'm hoping that can cover an insert, liner and installation. I'm hoping to get it done before spring (which here is a long ways off) so that at least I'm set for next year.
If anyone has any thoughts that might be helpful, I'd love to hear them. And I've noticed some posters from my general areas and if anyone knows of a good installer/dealer, I'd appreciate that too. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can right now and get my ducks in a row before taking the next step.
Thanks guys! :D
And damn, I think I've put this in the wrong forum. Whoops. Is there a way I can move it to the Hearth Room?
I have an existing masonry fireplace that has only been used a couple of times in the past 5 years, picture attached. It has it's own separate chimney/flue (not sure of the right terms here) than my oil furnace. I have a two story cape cod with a basement. The living space is about 1800 square feet and I'd guess the (concrete walls and floor) basement is another 800-900 feet. I don't know if my floorplan is considered "open" as far as fireplace heating goes. I attached a picture of it too. I know some heat will rise to the upstairs, but I'll be happy if I can just get most of the downstairs around 70 during the day.
I'd like to heat primarily with wood during the day and let it start to die down at night and let the furnace take over when needed. For the next few years I'm working from home for the most part, so it definitely won't be just a nights/weekend thing.
I don't have the exact measurements of my fireplace right now, but when I was looking online the other day, a larger insert like the PE Summit would fit based on my quick measurements then. Would something like that be overkill for my house?
I want to do this as cheaply as possible, so my primary concerns are getting a big enough insert without going overboard. I'm a single mother on a tight budget but I can pull together $3k or so in the next couple of months and I'm hoping that can cover an insert, liner and installation. I'm hoping to get it done before spring (which here is a long ways off) so that at least I'm set for next year.
If anyone has any thoughts that might be helpful, I'd love to hear them. And I've noticed some posters from my general areas and if anyone knows of a good installer/dealer, I'd appreciate that too. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can right now and get my ducks in a row before taking the next step.
Thanks guys! :D
And damn, I think I've put this in the wrong forum. Whoops. Is there a way I can move it to the Hearth Room?