Need a small fireplace insert - Enviro Meridian or Napoleon NP145?

[JB2]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to enter the world of pellet heating. An insert will work best in our house for a variety of reasons, but I have been stymied by the small size of my 1940s fireplace. The depth is okay (16.75") but the width at the back is problematic - 18" at the back, 22" at 12 inches from the front, 20.25" at 14 inches from the front.

I found the forums in my search for options, and they have been very helpful, but not much stove specific discussion. I am wondering if people have comments on the Enviro Meridian vs the Napoleon NP145 - both seem viable. Reliable? Ease of cleaning?

Any other recommendations are welcome. We started looking at Harmans at the recommendation of our chimney sweep, and liked both function and ease of cleaning, but our fireplace is just too narrow toward the back.

Thanks

 

[Woody1911a1]

Going on 3 full yrs with my vistaflame vf100 which is the same stove as the enviro meridian and couldn't be happier . the only repair was a door gasket in year 2 . very well made stove .

actually i looked at the napoleon when first researching stoves and wasn't impressed .

 

[JB2]

Thanks. Will be able to take a personal look this weekend. Any concerns about ease of cleaning and maintenance?

 

[relxn88]

If your fireplace hearth is even with the floor (older fireplaces weren't raised and were at floor level) you could use a regular standalone and not have to use an insert pellet stove. It might look out of place or it might not. You would also be able to buy a much more powerful stove than the insert(which usually is around 40,000 btu max). Just a thought.

 

[Lake Girl]

Depending on the fireplace set-up, many consider a rail system for their insert to make moving the stove when cleaning and servicing easier. Also give some thought on how to hook-up an OAK (outside air kit). Can be run along side liner to the top of the chimney (needs to be lower the exhaust), out through an ash clean-out, drilled through back of fireplace. Obviously depends on location of fireplace within your space...

 

[JB2]

Your comments are all helpful - Thank you.

We do have a hearth that is even with the floor, and have considered a standalone stove. Advantages seem to be power and perhaps ease of cleaning and repair, and it opens up some options we like. The complications are the need to extend the hearth (to do it well from a design perspective probably means cutting out some flooring and retiling) and the floor space of course. The fireplace is oddly situated in the room - it is a center chimney, but placed to the right of the room right next to the door to the kitchen (you can see the doorframe at the right of the photo).

Two specific questions you trigger:
1. On rails - is that something that is useful to add in our installation, or is it more useful with a raised hearth?
2. OAK: Is there a reason to prefer up the chimney vs using the ash clean-out?

Again, thank you. The forums have helped me think this through.

 

[JB2]

One more piece of information. I talked to a dealer today who recommended adding a 1 to 2 inch fabricated steel extension to the face of the fireplace to allow the insert to mount out further. Is this a viable solution or nuts? Something that would pass code or create other issues?

 

[stovelark]

I'd go with the Meridian myself, altho the Napoleon is a fine heater too. Enviro just chopped price of Meridian a few hundred dollars too, that might help. Meridian been around many years, good burn engine. The new cast iron model fs is out, the insert comes out later this year. Putting an extension on the face of the fireplace to make one fit is ok, would look better too rather than having that gap at the opening.

 

[JB2]

Thanks Stovelark

Leaning to the Meridian, although we haven't seen it yet (will be in next week at a local dealer). The first dealer we visited in theory sells enviro but blew it off - pushed us toward Quadra and didn't seem remotely enthused about selling a Meridian. As a novice I liked the looks of the Quadra burn and ash handling system better, and it looked easier to get behind for service (panels open right up without screws or fuss) but there isn't a model that fits without significant extra work.

Two questions if you don't mind.
The dealer above was also pushing back about adding OAK. Not really necessary ... almost never do it. My understanding from the forums is that it is a plus on any stove including inserts, right?
The Meridian seems to have a small ash pan, and what conversation there is on the site seems to say it can need more frequent cleaning because of the burn pot design. Do you see either of these as issues?

 

[CygnusX1]

I've had a Meridian insert for 12 years and almost zero problems.

All inserts have a smaller hopper and smaller ash pan. It's not a huge problem, you just have to fill the hopper more often. If you buy quality pellets, the small ash pan isn't an issue.

Get the OAK, I didn't have one for 2 years and noticed a huge difference. The house was less drafty as the stove pulls air from the outside instead of cooler air inside to the stove.

 

[stovelark]

Hi JB, as an insert they're all kinda small ashpans compared to the sister free standing version. That's kinda funny going away from the meridian to the quad, I'm assuming the CB1200? That's our most popular stove too, very similar design too. They both are a copy of the original Whitfield Advantage 2T. All are workhorses too, put the Napoleon in there as well. I love the CB1200, hard to find a better value for the money. Don't forget the quad 100 coupon online too. We sell the 1200CB with std panel for 2789, plus the 100 coupon, makes a great value. I'd say either of those 3 stoves will do you well. About the burnpots, the Enviro burnpots and liner work great, the real key is pellet quality anyway. Good pellets equal good heat and low ash, poor pellets mean more ash and more cleaning, doesn't matter what burnpot design you are using. About OAK- most installers will shy away on an insert, more work. They can't hurt in my opinion, but my own insert does not have one and works fine. Good luck, either stove a great choice.

 

[JB2]

Just a note of thanks. Next step is to finalize my dealer and move this forward.

 

[BrotherBart]

Next step is to finalize my dealer...

 

[Lake Girl]

Keep us posted on the final stove choice and the install...