Large fireplace opening, looking for a wood burning insert

[chellim1]

Large fireplace opening, looking for a wood burning insert

Our fireplace is huge. It measures 48" wide at the front x 38" tall to the top of the glass doors. It's even taller in the middle where it is rounded at the top.

I would love to throw more heat into the room and less up the chimney.
Any suggestions for a fireplace insert that will fill a large space and not look ridiculous?

I'm in the St. Louis, MO area and would consider used, if in good condition. Thanks!

 

[begreen]

With that big opening you have many options. I would think that a freestanding stove would work well and look nice in there instead of an insert. The hearth will need extending regardless. It's pretty shallow as it is. The hearth rug doesn't qualify for this. But there are solutions, premade or custom.

 

[cmonSTART]

+1 on the hearthstove idea.

 

[begreen]

How big is the room and how open is it to the rest of the house? How many sq ft do you want to heat?

 

[weezer4117]

With that big opening you have many options. I would think that a freestanding stove would work well and look nice in there instead of an insert. The hearth will need extending regardless. It's pretty shallow as it is. The hearth rug doesn't qualify for this. But there are solutions, premade or custom.

X2- it boils down to your prefernece but if your asking for opions, i to would utilize the large fireplace for a free standing stove instead of a insert. for many reasons including- easier to maintain (clean, service, etc..), convection heat, and in my opionin looks.

 

[chellim1]

BeGreen,
The room is maybe 20' X 18'. It is open to the kitchen on one side. On the other side is the garage and a small bathroom. Off the rear is a sunroom and there is an office/library room on the 4th side. I think I would easily heat that area, but the bedrooms are upstairs. 3000 square foot.

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming. I will consider a free standing stove, but would probably rather have a large insert but am open to consider both.

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Dix]

Welcome to the forums, Smok


I have both an insert and a free standing stove, heating 2000 SF (it's a long, offset split ranch, ). With my twists & turns, I need 2 stoves. It sounds like you might get away with a free standing.


Where are you? It would help to add your location to your profile ( the stuff under your user name ;-) )

 

[agartner]

+1 on the freestanding stove. Eliminates the need for any type of blower which is usually necessary with an insert, and all that free masonry in the fireplace likes to "bank" the thermal energy from the stove and then release it over time - well after the fire has gone out.

 

[chellim1]

Do you think a used "regular" buck insert would work? It's from the early 80s, measures 36" wide by 25" tall. It would need a fair amount of "surround" both on the sides and above it. I have plenty of room in the chimney for an 8" SS liner but I don't know anything about taking out the damper (which is narrower and only open when I have a fire) to accommodate the liner.

Thanks,

 

[RNLA]

Yes a freestanding stove and block off plate for the chimney. Stainless liner too. Please try to get an EPAcertified stove...

 

[EJL923]

If your going to heat more than just a room, go for the free standing stove. e.g., if the heat will move around the house well. I have an insert and thought that heat would pretty much stay downstairs. Well, the heat moves well and now the stove is undersized. What happens with an insert if it is undersized is short burn times because your keeping it loaded up all the time to get extra heat.