insert

[mikey]

I've had lots of experience with stoves but none with inserts and I'm looking for advice. My son lives in the Seattle area and just got a new home, it was built in the 30's and has a fireplace with an external chimney. He is looking for something for supplemental heat, what would be a good insert that wouldn't lose heat to the outside, but also would not need a fan.

 

[joescho]

That depends on the size of the opening and what you want to heat with. There's lots more out there than wood stoves. You can go gas, coal, pellets, ... Each will be a little different with respect to being efficent and heat loss as well as maintenance and upkeep. The use of a fan greatly increases its efficiency so not wanting a fan in the insert would be a mistake.

With all that said, Jotul makes well-built efficent inserts.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I've had lots of experience with stoves but none with inserts and I'm looking for advice. My son lives in the Seattle area and just got a new home, it was built in the 30's and has a fireplace with an external chimney. He is looking for something for supplemental heat, what would be a good insert that wouldn't lose heat to the outside, but also would not need a fan.

Why no fan?

 

[logger]

Any good insert will need a fan to work to its full potential. You are also going to have to include specs so you can figure out what size insert will fit, as well as the sq ft of the area to be heated. They come in many diff sizes and are made to heat various sized homes and/or rooms.

 

[Hickorynut]

I had to absolutely have the fan with my lopi freedom insert or it is totally useless............

 

[mstoelton]

The majority of the inserts need a fan. Some come with a fan as standard equipment.

Need info on fireplace dimensions to recommend an insert.

 

[begreen]

Inserts that project out further onto the hearth will generally heat ok with the fan off. This is the design philosophy behind Pacific Energy's inserts. The fan is helpful, even on quiet low speed, but the stove will still convect heat in a power outage. Some Regency and Osburn inserts work similarly. Have son post a shot of the fireplace here and we may be able to offer more suggestions. There is also the option of a freestanding, rear-vent stove for some hearths if they absolutely are against a fan on the stove.

 

[johnpma]

I have a very small fireplace opening so we fabricated a block-off plate and stuck a wood stove with a fan in the opening. The dealer I spoke with told me that I would get much more heat than the insert I would have to buy to fit my tiny fireplace opening.

 

[blacktail]

Lopi and Avalon inserts are built right up the road from your son in Mukilteo. He shouldn't have any trouble finding a dealer that carries both so he can look them over.

 

[SeattleRider]

I would also recommend taking a look at Blaze King as well since they are in Walla Walla.

 

[begreen]

Within 100 miles there are 4 major manufacturers of inserts. Regency, PE, Country, Travis. Go a little farther and you can add BK.

 

[mikey]

I have a very small fireplace opening so we fabricated a block-off plate and stuck a wood stove with a fan in the opening. The dealer I spoke with told me that I would get much more heat than the insert I would have to buy to fit my tiny fireplace opening.

Thanks to all for replies, I have a jotul 100f nordic with block off plate in my fireplace and it works great, I'm not sure it would work in my son's case because his fireplace is on the outside wall. Like I said he is in Seattle where the winters are milder than we get in the northeast, they also have very strict emissions standards. his existing fireplace dimensions are around 32" w x 30" h x 18" d. Again, thanks.

 

[SeattleRider]

Mikey,
I am right outside of Seattle as well and my fireplace is on the outside wall . I picked BK Princess over Lopi primarily because of the the ability to burn for a longer duration but if you only want the insert as a supplemental heat source then Lopi and others are an excellent choice.

I would mention Enviro as well, I really like the product just don't like the local dealer .

 

[Oregon aloha]

Don't forget the Kuma line of inserts. Hand made in Idaho. They can adjust to your hearth from flush to out over the hearth. They also can be use without the surround as not to take away the look the the fireplace.