Need help deciding, Buck Stove Model 74 ZC or Quadrafire 2700i?

[Combatcarry]

I am looking to supplement the heating for a 2100 s.f. +/- living area (over an unfinished basement). Our current heat pump is undersized and during cold periods (cold for northeast Georgia) it will not keep the home comfortable and will only maintain about 62 degrees overnight. I never feel warm enough in the winter and our existing pre-fab fireplace won't cut it.

Our prefab fireplace has an opening just large enough for a Quadrafire 2700i. I have researched all of the models that will fit our and have settled on the 2700i. I met with a good installer who can either put in the 2700i, or upgrade to a Buck 74 ZC. If we install the Buck he will remove all of the existing fireplace and install a new hearth, stacked stone, and mantel. To upgrade to the Buck will cost an additional $1900.

I'd really like a fireplace that will keep coals overnight so that I can re-fire quickly in the morning before going to work (this gives me concern that the 2700i firebox may be too small). However, our main living area is directly in front of the fireplace so I'm afraid the Buck 74 ZC will run too hot and drive us out of the living area (where we like to be).

I don't mind spending the extra $1900 as long as its worth it. It will upgrade the look of the living room from our marble fireplace. I wonder if it will increase our resale value? It seems to me that most people don't care about the particulars of a wood burning fireplace when buying a home.

All input is appreciated... I'd like get the insert ordered this week. I'm very excited to have a new fireplace.

 

[velvetfoot]

The Buck looks good to me. I had a 2700i. It was good but I think you'll like the Buck.

 

[begreen]

If the floorplan is relatively open I wouldn't worry too much about overheating the house. You don't need to burn continuously unless it's very cold outside. Make shorter hot fires with a partial load of wood for those chill chasers and then let the fire go out. For us, during mild weather this could be just 4-5 medium sized splits. FWIW, the difference in firebox capacity between the two is minor, only .3 cu ft.

 

[velvetfoot]

the difference in firebox capacity between the two is minor, only .3 cu ft.

As I recall, my 2700i was 1.7 ft3. The Buck website says 2.6 ft3. My recollection may be poor, but my current Hampton 300i has a 2.3 ft3 firebox and the difference is significant.

 

[begreen]

My bad I was looking at the smaller 20ZC. Quadrafire lists the 2700i as 1.8 cu ft. You are correct, the Buck 74ZC is 2.6 cu ft.. Thanks for catching that. The principal is the same, we are using a 3 cu ft stove in a 2000 sq ft house with a mild climate. It works great.

 

[velvetfoot]

It'll look better too.

 

[aansorge]

The quadrafire 2700i is a 1.8 cu. ft insert. Too small IMHO. I'd go bigger. Can you knock it all down and go with a free standing stove? That is what I am in the middle of right now and almost finished...https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/blaze-king-install-help.110550/

Freestanding is nice and if you need to knock it down anyhow, it'll save you money going with a freestanding stove. If you think free standing stoves aren't pretty, check out a Woodstock stove or a Lopi cape cod. Or a Jotul...

 

[wesessiah]

i'm a little late to the party, but a little info on the model 74... i believe the given 2.6 cubic feet is without figuring in the secondaries. the average (slopes down towards the back) height is about 10.25" so it comes out to something around 2.2 cu. ft. of usable firebox. i measured last year, but don't recall exactly what the measurements were. i believe 22.5x16.5x10.25. the height at the back of the firebox was around 9.5" at the rear, and height at the front was around 11". that being said, i'm pleased with the stove, just waiting on more winters to go by to make a review here.
what are your fireplace dimensions? i run the 74 as a hearth stove with the flue pushed back just far enough to get past the lintel to run the liner up the chimney. getting a 22.5" tall 460 pound stove crammed into a 27" opening with two people was no fun task, lol. back to the dimensions, the buck is 27 5/8" x 22 1/2" x 22 3/8, so it has more of a square shape than a good bit of stoves. my 27" lintel really limited me. my wife didn't want it free standing, i didn't want it as an insert, so i had to find a stove with either really short legs, or no ash pan and not use legs. in the category of stoves with a 2-2.5 cu. ft. firebox, pickings were slim.

 

[wesessiah]

i measured again, and the firebox is 22.75" x 15.75" x 10.75" so 2.23 cubic feet of usable space. the height is 9.75" at the rear, and 11.75" at the front. you can get 16" splits in n/s above the first row. the 15.75" is for a couple inches up from the bottom due to the primary and the lip below it, but it's about 16.5" deep above that. that would give about 7" of clearance that you could use 16" splits.. i'm not doing the math, but leaving a little bit of room for the glass and having splits past the primary on the sides would probably give 2.3 cubic feet or a little better. i load the bottom row n/s and the top row e/w (i believe in what is called tunnel of love here fashion) and on exceptionally cold nights i'll put the 16" or better towards the sides to get it loaded up. anyway, just figured i'd post this up since there isn't much buck model 74 information floating around outside of advertised specs.

 

[Combatcarry]

I ended up installing the Quadra-Fire 2700i. I have not had cold enough weather yet to try it, but it is a nice looking, well built stove. It is on the small side but I am only looking to supplement our heat pump. I hope I made the right decision. I didn't want to oversize the stove.

 

[MontyPot]

How did your smaller stove work out for you? I'm contemplating either a Buck 21 or larger Buck 74. I have over 2000sq ft of space but it's located in the family room so concerned about being blasted out of there, even though it's open on two sides. Any thoughts? Please hurry, as I have the 21 purchased and only until tomorrow to change my mind! lol My wife wants it for supplemental heating on the forced air system, but I'd rather run it longer into the night to really cut down on gas usage.

 

[MontyPot]

It's going into an existing useless fireplace by the way, but I'll have it basically free standing without a surround.