Largest possible EPA certified stove/insert

[caddis44]

Building new home in the mountains and want an open hearth Rumford fireplace but codes won't allow it. Must have EPA certified unit. Which ones have the largest front opening and firebox for viewing? Heat output not important to me -- just want the most ambiance possible.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

There are EPA certified fireplaces. I imagine they would have the most ambiance.

 

[Charles1981]

Insert wise the Vermont Castings Montpelier wins big time.

Hes talking ambiance and aesthetics only here... Lots of users here don't have much love for VC brand these days, but there are a number of happy Montpelier fans out there.

 

[Charles1981]

Hrmm i guess the Merrimack from VC is bigger. I always thought it was vice versa.

 

[bholler]

really code in denver says no open fp? that sucks not that i would want one i would always take a stove or insert but it sucks that you can have one

 

[Hogwildz]

If heat output isn't a concern. Save your money and buy a nice gas or electric fireplace.
VC is a lot of money for a product that has more complaints then compliments. And another problem with a company that may or may not back their warranty, depending on the company owner at the time you may need warranty coverage.
There are plenty more options out there with decent price ranges and nice looks.

 

[Huntindog1]

Regency 5100 4.42 cu ft firebox.

http://www.regency-fire.com/Products/Wood/Wood-Stoves/F5100.aspx

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/regency-5100-the-first-few-months.104350/

 

[BrotherBart]

really code in denver says no open fp? that sucks not that i would want one i would always take a stove or insert but it sucks that you can have one

The Denver area is a "EPA non-attainment area". Air pollution over the acceptable level. Estimates are that five percent of it is from wood smoke.

 

[begreen]

Welcome caddis. Do you want an EPA stove or an EPA zero-clearance fireplace? If you are looking for a fireplace that is EPA certified and has a large fire view, then look at the Fireplace Xtrordinair Elite 44, BIS Tradition, Quadrafire 7100, Kozy Z42, Pacific Energy FP30, Regency EX90, and Valcourt FP9.

 

[Hogwildz]

Some large fireboxes:
Buck Model 91 4.4
Buck Model 94NC 4.4
Blaze King King 4.32 free standing
Hearthstone Equinox 4.0 freestanding
Kuma Sequoia 3.6 either free standing, or insert.
Englander NC30 3.5 Freestanding
PE Summit 3.0 Freestanding & insert

Any many many more.
Take your pick

 

[Grisu]

Building new home in the mountains and want an open hearth Rumford fireplace but codes won't allow it. Must have EPA certified unit. Which ones have the largest front opening and firebox for viewing? Heat output not important to me -- just want the most ambiance possible.

Now, any EPA-approved stove/fireplace will give you also plenty of heat. The largest possible units may easily roast you out of your home if it is built to be energy efficient. What size home are you building? How well will it be insulated?

Make sure to check the exact emission requirements for your county. I have heard of some in CO that allow only a few current stove models with the lowest particulate emissions.

Make also sure you have plenty of dry wood with an internal moisture content of less than 20%. No matter which EPA-approved stove/fireplace you buy, it will need dry wood. It would not hurt to order that now and have it stacked at the construction site for drying.

 

[rideau]

Woodstock's Progress Hybrid has a modified Rumford design, in my opinion, with a slanted fireback that throws a great deal of heat out the large window, and gives a beautiful fireview as well as great heat output. It's a wonderful stove.

ICC/Excel also manufactures fireplaces, and has a Rumford that has a door that slides down and encloses the fire. I believe it would meet your code requirements. They also have other, larger units. Worth taking a look.

They are not inexpensive, but many of them are very impressive.

 

[begreen]

Thanks rideau, I knew I forgot an important one:
http://www.renaissancefireplaces.com/
(broken link removed to http://www.icc-rsf.com/en/opel-3-fireplace)

 

[caddis44]

Woodstock's Progress Hybrid has a modified Rumford design, in my opinion, with a slanted fireback that throws a great deal of heat out the large window, and gives a beautiful fireview as well as great heat output. It's a wonderful stove.

ICC/Excel also manufactures fireplaces, and has a Rumford that has a door that slides down and encloses the fire. I believe it would meet your code requirements. They also have other, larger units. Worth taking a look.

They are not inexpensive, but many of them are very impressive.

Codes in the area we are building require EPA Phase II certification (Colorado phase III). I'm not aware of any open hearth fireplaces that meet this code, including the Renaissance Rumford. We want basically the largest door that we can open to have a direct view of the flame. Gas logs are an abomination. Will probably go with some type of insert rather than freestanding. I appreciate all the suggestions and will check them out.

 

[begreen]

Just so that we have terms correct. An "insert" goes into an existing fireplace. You need to have an existing masonry or in some cases ZC fireplace to install one into. That is not the same as a standalone zero-clearance fireplace. ICC's RSF Opel3 ct is EPA phase 2 approved as is their Delta 2.

 

[caddis44]

Just so that we have terms correct. An "insert" goes into an existing fireplace. You need to have an existing masonry or in some cases ZC fireplace to install one into. That is not the same as a standalone zero-clearance fireplace. ICC's RSF Opel3 ct is EPA phase 2 approved as is their Delta 2.

Thanks for those suggestions. We do want to have it flush with the stone work. The Delta 2 looks like it might work, but it's not actually Phase II certified -- it's "exempt" because of burn rate, although it has the required low emissions. Not sure if I could get that by codes.

 

[begreen]

Look at the other fireplaces for full EPA 2 certification. You have lots of choices.