Looking for LAST fireplace insert

[BlackLocust]

I have an old Ember Hearth which was installed in 1986 and has been used at least 35 of the last 40 years. The firebox walls started to bow a couple years ago and now I'm noticing cracks, so it's time to replace it. It was installed when I was a kid so I've never had to shop for or replace one and I'm unsure on the brands. This next stove should be the last one for me so I'd like to have something efficient with a large enough firebox to last overnight (the Ember Hearth could last 8-10 hours). The Buck, Blaze King, and Jotul brands seem to pop up quite a bit. Would like to get some recommendations from you guys.

• Specs: My house is only about 1600 sqft - 800 in the partial basement and 800 upstairs. Stove is in the partial basement which also contains the living room and kitchen. I have a gas furnace and keep the recirc fan going on cold days to move the heat around. I live in central Indiana. Burn a lot of red oak, black locust, black walnut, and a little sassafras and poplar. Fireplace entrance is 30" high and 42" wide. I have an 8" double lined stove pipe in a 20' chimney. The firebox of the Ember Hearth appears to be roughly 3.3 cubic ft with a 19" opening. It's a pain to clean but I'm used to it.

Planning to buy this year.

 

[begreen]

That's a good long run for the old stove. I recommend keeping with KISS stoves. The Pacific Energy Summit insert is worth checking out. Also look at the large Osburn 3500 insert.

 

[mellow]

Most modern inserts will use a 6" insulated liner. The Buck 91 will use 8" but will probably heat you out of your house.

For a setup like that the Blaze King inserts would be a good fit for long burn times. You will however need to make sure your wood is truly seasoned with these newer more efficient stoves. The cool thing is when it is burning all you see is heat waves out of the chimney, can't even tell you are burning wood vs that older insert you have now.

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

Kuma makes nice hybrid inserts that run pretty easy. I have a freestanding that I love

 

[stoveliker]

I would suggest to have the liner replaced; maybe it's still good, but assuming it's 40 years old, I suspect it's best to replace it (which you'd need to do anyway if you get a 6" flue insert).

Make sure the liner is insulated (needed for safety/code, but also performance of the stove), and that you have a block-off plate in teh quote for the new insert. That's a metal plate sealing off the chimney (outside of the liner) so the heat doesn't go up there. It also should have some insulation (rockwool or ceramic stuff - not glass fiber) on the plate..