New BK in mid 2022 or 10 y.o Travis now?

[SnowSnob]

Thank you for all the info you guys share on the forum. I've been reading for awhile trying to understand which unit to pick and how I will use it. I think I can get a job at the store selling stoves now, but still lack actual experience tho. Lol
Please help me to decide. I started a search for a new insert in August but with some ugly experiences at local dealers it took much longer to get somewhere and of course now to get BK it will be Feb 2022 past the heating season. But today I checked FB marketplace and see 10 year old Travis Flush Wood Plus(not Cat) EPA II approved that looks like in very good condition for $1500 including the liner.
Exposed ranch built mid 50th but over the last 10 years I did a lot of improvements and it's pretty well insulated now. Fireplace is in basement and now both of us are working from basement so I think we would use it a lot.
1. Should I just wait and get new Sirocco or used Travis would do the job specifically costing a bit less. Even after tax credit it prolly will save me 2k.
2. I watched about every single youtube to see how do you connect the liner to the stove. Why I ask. Stove is 21 1/2" tall and fireplace opening is 23 5/8". Would it be possible to connect them? Manual says min opening should be 21 1/2- which is the ht of the stove.. Or do you connect flexible liner to the stove and then slide into the opening? Can anyone please help with this.

Thank you!

 

[begreen]

If the insert is in good condition then it can be a good heater. If you have a good supply of already fully seasoned and stacked firewood, it will help this winter. The fit is close so measure thrice including the height at the back of the insert.

Is this an FPX or Lopi insert? What is the exact model? With a tight install a typical method is to attach an adapter to the liner that allows it to be attached from the inside of the insert (with baffles removed).

 

[stoveliker]

I don't think we can tell you what you should prefer and when. We know the BK is a good insert. The other one (apparently) too.

However, as noted above, if your wood is not very dry yet, it may be hard to run any stove. So if that wait has to happen for the wood, then the timing factor would be less of a distinction.at the very least start stocking up on wood so it can dry before next wood heating season.

 

[ratsrepus]

Id wait for the BK. You dont really know how the used stove was treated.

 

[begreen]

You dont really know how the used stove was treated.

True, though a good visual examination will tell a lot. This is not a fragile stove and there not a lot of things to go wrong.

 

[SnowSnob]

If the insert is in good condition then it can be a good heater. If you have a good supply of already fully seasoned and stacked firewood, it will help this winter. The fit is close so measure thrice including the height at the back of the insert.

Is this an FPX or Lopi insert? What is the exact model? With a tight install a typical method is to attach an adapter to the liner that allows it to be attached from the inside of the insert (with baffles removed).

View attachment 286613

Ha! Thank you! Attaching from the inside of the insert is what I didn't know would be possible. That would explain things. I made a template from the cardboard to make sure it would fit.
It is Lopi Flush Wood Plus from what I can get. Maybe 961000212?

 

[begreen]

OK, I thought it was a variation on the Declaration insert which had arched double doors instead of the large single door, but it's a medium sized 2.2 cu ft insert instead. This is new to me, I didn't have it on file.

 

[EbS-P]

Tax credit on the BK would push me to wait. 1500 for a used insert is not a deal. If they take 8-900$ I’d probably do it but that maybe wishful thinking this year.

 

[begreen]

Tax credit on the BK would push me to wait. 1500 for a used insert is not a deal. If they take 8-900$ I’d probably do it but that maybe wishful thinking this year.

Note that this also includes what looks like about 20ft of rigid stainless liner and flex connector plus cap. That has a value of over $600.

 

[SnowSnob]

I'm pretty sure I would need oval liner for my oval clay flue, so the liner included won't be of any value to me. They are not willing to budge on the price, which given current environment may pay off. But I'm starting to lean towards waiting for BK with full warranty, and be more efficient, and tax credit, etc.
If used insert will be available in few weeks I'll check then if they would be ready come down some on price.
Thank you!

 

[begreen]

I'm pretty sure I would need oval liner for my oval clay flue, so the liner included won't be of any value to me. They are not willing to budge on the price, which given current environment may pay off. But I'm starting to lean towards waiting for BK with full warranty, and be more efficient, and tax credit, etc.
If used insert will be available in few weeks I'll check then if they would be ready come down some on price.
Thank you!

Yes, that would change the equation. What is the clayliner size on the fireplace?

 

[ABMax24]

Sounds like you want the BK, then wait and get the BK.

I was in a similar situation, and wound up with a non-cat, it's a good stove, an effective heater, and looks good, yet a part of me still wants a BK.

 

[SnowSnob]

Yes, that would change the equation. What is the clayliner size on the fireplace?

Inside the clay liner measures just a ted over 6" x 10". And of course some mortar overflown at the seams. Which I believe means I need oval liner, perhaps with several feet of flexible so I can do the kink just above the box or do the whole thing in flexible.
To complicate things more, I had to take down the chimney below the roof line few months ago when we redid the roof. It was in a really bad shape. Figured I would do class A thru the roof for less issues in a long run.

 

[SnowSnob]

Sounds like you want the BK, then wait and get the BK.

I was in a similar situation, and wound up with a non-cat, it's a good stove, an effective heater, and looks good, yet a part of me still wants a BK.

I was set on non cat but more I read here about BK the more open minded I became regarding the cat But given the right savings I absolutely would consider used non cat insert.

 

[begreen]

Yes, you'll need an insulated oval liner. This can be done with properly ovalized flex liner that gets an insulation blanket or with the DuraLiner system's oval pipe.

 

[SnowSnob]

Yes, you'll need an insulated oval liner. This can be done with properly ovalized flex liner that gets an insulation blanket or with the DuraLiner system's oval pipe.

Perfect. Thank you!