Trying to decide between the Napoleon Oakville X4 (Model GDIX4) and Heat n Glo Escape (Model Escape-35-IFT) to replace a 30 year old gas insert in my house. Difference in quoted price (getting a good deal from a friend) on both of them was negligible so cost isn't a factor. Hoping to hear any insight from folks that own/have owned either.
Kind of in the odd position of heat output not being too big a deal. It's just a supplementary heat source for the living room and since we'll be having a TV over it (following all the needed guidelines) we'll likely never crank either one up to max 40k BTU's. Only reason we're really getting a 35" size model is due to looks....we want the smallest frame/backerplate we can get around our 36" masonry opening and the biggest viewing area....plus we want the flame to still look nice even if the insert is on low which it will be the majority of the time. Kinda considered electric (it'd be like 1/3 the price) for a bit but the look of the "flame" on those just isn't gonna cut it.
If one of these two models is known to have less durability issues than the other that'd be a good deciding factor as well.
Kind of in the odd position of heat output not being too big a deal. It's just a supplementary heat source for the living room and since we'll be having a TV over it (following all the needed guidelines) we'll likely never crank either one up to max 40k BTU's. Only reason we're really getting a 35" size model is due to looks....we want the smallest frame/backerplate we can get around our 36" masonry opening and the biggest viewing area....plus we want the flame to still look nice even if the insert is on low which it will be the majority of the time. Kinda considered electric (it'd be like 1/3 the price) for a bit but the look of the "flame" on those just isn't gonna cut it.
If one of these two models is known to have less durability issues than the other that'd be a good deciding factor as well.
