New Drolet Escape 1400 or older larger Napolean insert

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Hi Guys,

I am trying to figure out if I should get a brand new Drolet Escape 1400 wood insert. I see Menards has it on sale in Detroit for $650.00.

(broken link removed to http://www.drolet.ca/en/products/wood/escape-1400-insert)

Or if I should go with an older used Napolean fireplace that I can buy from a local dealer (friends of the family) so they are offering a good deal on the used stove, installation, and materials. They are also going to provide 1 year warranty on the stove, re-paint, re-buff the gold door and brass fixtures.

The used Napolean I am looking at is Model number NFI-D (Deluxe), which is the same my father-in-law has and was installed around 1995. It gives out some nice heat even though it is older and obviously not EPA.

I have attached a picture I found online of the smaller version (NFI-C Classic), the deluxe version has same look except is bigger and has two blowers. Here is link to an old manual for these stoves.

http://www.napoleonproducts.com/downloads/fireplaces/manuals/obsolete/nfi-c-nfi-d-manual.pdf

I can't really find much information on these stoves online, you see alot of them in Canada, Ontario so I wonder if they were not so popular in the US at the time.

So I am stuck at crossroads, the Drolet 1400 only has a 1.8 c/ft firebox but is new technology and EPA certified. I can also get it brand new for about $1000 once I throw in taxes, duties, and exchange rate to bring it back into Canada. While the Napolean NFI-D has a very large firebox, I am going to guess it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.5-3.5 c/ft. It is older but I can get it out the door for $500.

I like the idea of brand new and efficient but I also know that Napoleon is a great name and I like the idea of a larger firebox. (I also am not worried or concerned about whether the chimney is puffing out clean or dirty smoke).

Curious what other people think? (And for everyone's information, my fireplace opening is 28" height x 33" wide x 23" depth at the floor and 20" depth about 3/4 of the way up.)

 

[begreen]

The 1995 unit could be EPA, but at that age you want to examine it closely for aging. Look for sagging baffle, tubes, etc. Other inserts to consider in this price range are the Englander 13NCi and the Century CW2900

 

[Huntindog1]

Your in colder climate up there how big is your house and hows the insulation, is it well insulated?

 

[Mark Richards]

Drolet is a Canadian company (SBI). You should be able to find there stoves in COSTCO canada. I saw the Drolet Baltic for sale there. Also SBI, of canada, makes Century Stoves as well as Enerzone Stoves(I think). So look around up there to avoid the duties and tax rate stuff. Good Luck. I have the Drolet Escape 1800 (freestanding) heating my house

 

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Huntingdog, it is a ranch house so total square feet is about 2200 (this includes main floor and basement). The main level was re-inulsated about 5 years ago (walls and attic), basement I would say is average.

Mark Richards, ya I looked at Costco,but the Drolet 1400 insert is running about 1400 while Menards is selling it for 650. Does not make sense but it is what it is. I will keep century and enerzone in the back of my mind when I am looking around. Thanks.

The main goal of this wood stove insert is to basically supplement the heat from the gas furnace which we purchased about 5 years ago. So I am only planning on lighting the thing when we get home from work and filling it up at nighttime and repeating the next day when we get home.

 

[Mark Richards]

WOW!! Thats crazy. Costco Canada sells the Drolet Baltic, which is many times the heating capacity (3 cu ft box) of the Drolet1400 for $1199.00. Too bad you need an insert, the Baltic is a great stove by all accounts. Good luck in your search!

 

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Mark Richards, just checked costco canada website, wish they had a few other fireplace inserts for sale. Stoves are good prices but the one fireplace insert seems to be high.

Wondering is there a Canadian online wood stove dealer much like .woodlanddirect.com from the US. Just curious where Canadians find the best deals.

 

[husky345 vermont resolute]

ct has drolet stoves