Noob here, considering many stoves: Pacific, Napolian 1400, Enviro 1700, so many!!!!!!

[Hubjeep]

Howdy all,
completely new to wood burning inserts here, between calling up random dealers and searching the web I found a few possibilities.

What do y'all think of the following?

Pacific energy, Pacific (lifetime warranty, if that means anything)
(broken link removed)

Napoleon 1402
(broken link removed)

Kodiak 1700
http://www.envirofire.biz/fireplace-products/wood/fireplace-insert.html#1700

This will be used in a 22X20' room with an arched ceiling which is 12' at the peak, this room makes up half the house.

Realistically the stove will be used a few times each week, prob not daily.

Please suggest other models if you like them better.

My Norwegian friend suggested Jotul, I have yet to price them. The above stoves appear to range from $1,200 - $2,000



EDIT UPDATE:

Called up a Jotul dealer, I was suprised they are not much more than other stoves and I have only heard good things about them.

The 450 is about $2,300 plus $300 shroud
(broken link removed)

The 550 is around $2,450, coming out later in the month, I like the single door design better.
(broken link removed)


Thanks,
John

 

[soxfan13]

I am getting the Jotul 550 installed next week. The price you were quoted seems about right. I got mine for a little less because the store was having a 15% off sale. Everything I have heard about it is good. I will let you know more soon.

 

[Burn-1]

This will be used in a 22X20' room with an arched ceiling which is 12' at the peak, this room makes up half the house.

Realistically the stove will be used a few times each week, prob not daily.


EDIT UPDATE:

Called up a Jotul dealer, I was suprised they are not much more than other stoves and I have only heard good things about them.

The 450 is about $2,300 plus $300 shroud
(broken link removed to http://www.jotul.com/en-us/wwwjotulus/Main-menu/Products/Wood/Wood-inserts/Jotul-C-450-Kennebec/)

The 550 is around $2,450, coming out later in the month, I like the single door design better.
(broken link removed to http://www.jotul.com/en-us/wwwjotulus/Main-menu/Products/Wood/Wood-inserts/Jotul-C-550-Rockland/)

OK 22'x20, (440 SF) is half the house? So the house is 880 SF? Or assuming the other half is two full stories that would make the total size of your house ~1,200 - 1,300 square feet. Even if you don't have the best insulation, that seems like a bit of overkill in terms of BTU output vs your likely heat loss.

Are you trying to just heat this room or your whole house? Given the marginal use of a few days per week, I'm assuming just that room. The Napoleon would probably be the best value but these are semi-permanent so you should get something you like to look at.

You can get a Napoleon 1401 insert from this website for a $532.98, a pretty good price. I don't know about shipping and the door is a separate cost and you can upgrade to a more attractive cast iron surround for $324. You wouldn't get dealer support or installation.

Have you considered a hearth mounted stove?

 

[webbie]

I think you should VISIT the dealers and poke your head into the units. Check out the attitude of the shop (pro attitude? answer questions?)......

Shopping for a stove by "forum" is discouraged because you are only getting a small subset of folks here - and they may be biased in many ways, including working for a manufacturer, or in my case taking ad money from a manufacturer (yes, Jotul is great, but they sponsor me!).......if they didn't pay their bills, I would have a worse opinion of them!

Nothing can substitute for hands-on with the particular models you are looking at.

 

[Hubjeep]

Firestarter-
PM sent.

Burn-1 -
the house is 950 square feet (just measured). I think it would be quite difficult to heat the back bedroom unless a duct with fan was installed at the peak of the living room to bring some warm air over there (not out of the question).

Thanks for the Napoleon link, that is the 1401, which they have a few of, but no cast surround available, I called up a Napoleon dealer who sells the 1402 (who knew about the 1401 on the homeclick site, but heard it was sold out) for $1189, satin door for $328, cast iron surround half price for $153, and mounting kit for $42, total with free shipping is $1715.

A hearth mounted stove would probably not work since my hearth only protrudes 10" into the room (see pic).

Opening is 37.5" (wide) 30" (tall) X 23" (deep)

Webmaster-
I agree, after being on forums for 8+ years I know some of the information has to be taken with a grain of salt, I would like to identify the brands, for dependability, efficiency, and usability.

 

[stoveguy13]

The jotul c350 is a nice unit for the spae you are looking to heat the c450 would do a real good job as well.

 

[Storydude]

I keep running into you all over the Algore there Hub!

 

[Hogwildz]

No matter what insert you put in there. You will need to extend that hearth. 10" is 8" shy of the 18" required from face of door. And that doesn't include the space on hearth taken up by whatever amount of the insert protrudes beyond the opening. I went extra wide on mine. At about24" I have good popped ember protection, and plenty of room to lay wood. Not to mention easier brushing up the debris that fall of the wood while handling it.

 

[derbygreg]

Pacific Energy makes an Excellent stove. I was set on the Quadra-Fire, but if I were to get a new house I would get a Pacific Energy. They are more expensive, but I believe in buying the very best stuff.

 

[Jimbob]

One thing to consider when looking for an insert is how easy the baffle is to remove. Removing the baffle makes cleaning the chimney liner (and the insert) a LOT easier.
The Pacific Energy baffle is easy to remove, but I don't know about the other ones. It would be a good idea to go check out each stove.

 

[Sandor]

What in the hell is the blow torch for? Is that your firestarter?

 

[Hubjeep]

Storydude - lolz, internets1

Hogwildz - I was planning on removing a few feet of carpet infront of the "step" and laying tile on the concrete floor.

Sandor - haha, yes, it lights the kindling, and BBQ grille just outside the door, those aim-n-flames always seem to stop working.


I do like the cast surround and brushed nickel door available for the Napoleon, does the Pacific have anything similar available?

 

[Burn-1]

PE makes a brushed nickel door but not many options for the surround other than matching trim.

 

[Hubjeep]

PE makes a brushed nickel door but not many options for the surround other than matching trim.

Thanks, I just called up a local dealer, looks to be about $2,400 plus tax for the unit with nickel door, and plain surround (decorative one is slightly too small for my hearth). Dealer also sells Napoleon, quoted me much higher than $1,700 I got from another one. I plan to go later today to check out the dealer who has both to see what they look like in person.

PE has a lifetime warranty, Napoleon has a 5-year, should I really be concerned with that?
EDIT: it looks like the Napoleon also has a lifetime warranty.
(broken link removed to http://www.napoleonfireplaces.com/Webshare/wood/wood%20inserts/1402.html)

 

[Hubjeep]

Howdy,
I went to look at stoves today and saw the Napoleon (gas version, did not have wood in stock), Pacific Energy - Pacific, and one I heard of for the first time, the HearthStone Clydesdale.

My first impression of the Pacific:
-Firebox and viewing area appear quite small.
-Logs are to be loaded front to back, only 18" max length.
-Door shut EXTREMELY nicely with a impressive gasket.
-Construction appeared excellent.
-It has some sort of stainless floating baffle that does not warp?

The Napoleon (only gas one on display)
-Has very decorative cast iron surround available.
-Logs lay left to right (18" max length)? (going by measurements here).
-Handle on opposite side I would prefer.

HearthStone Clydesdale
-MUCH bigger viewing area.
-Cast iron.
-Door not nearly as stout as Pacific.
-Accepts logs up to 22" laying across, which I am not quite clear if that is an advantage or disadvantage. Loading in with ends towards the door seems like it would allow for more wood in the stove, and no chance of any rolling out, instead of placing logs across and shutting the door, hoping none shift against the door (if this is even a problem).

What do y'all think about logs laying sideways versus loading ends first?

I would still like to see a Jotul 550

Thanks,
John

 

[moterhead3]

I have a 1402 Napoleon. Got it online, my local dealer wanted 1000.00 more. Installed it myself with help from this forum. Kicks butt.

 

[moterhead3]

That deal on a 1401 is great. I'd jump on that.

 

[Jimbob]

Loading ends first is definitely better, as the logs don't tend to roll out. The Summit can be loaded either way.
Some say side to side loading gives longer burns, but you can't fit as much in.
Some other terms people on here use;
North-South loading = Ends first
East to West = Side to side.

 

[Hubjeep]

Moterhead3 - are there any notable improvements between the 1401 and the 1402?

Jimbob - my house is just under 1,000 square feet, the Summit is prob way too big, ya think?

 

[swestall]

PE stands by their warranty so I think lifetime is more valuable than than 5 years. Hearthstone makes a nice product as well.
Looks like you need to include the cost of a liner and hearth modification in your calculations.

 

[moterhead3]

From what I see online it's just trim stuff. The basic stove seems the same.

 

[Hubjeep]

PE stands by their warranty so I think lifetime is more valuable than than 5 years. Hearthstone makes a nice product as well.
Looks like you need to include the cost of a liner and hearth modification in your calculations.

Any stove I choose will require a liner kit to run up the chimney, and carpet removed so tiles can be laid down to extend the hearth.

 

[wallis54806]

Here is another insert to consider. I had a Lopi Answer in my last home and it heated the 1100 sf quite well, even though it was located on an exterior wall at one end of the house. I am not sure why you do not hear much of Lopi on this forum, maybe because they are located on the west coast.

 

[Daniel]

Hubjeep:
My new Napoleon 1402 can take a 22" long log diagonally very convenient when I come across a random monster log in the pile, glass stays clean with hot fires, fire bricks have not cracked, baffles remove easily, blower cycles on & off, long ember life makes restarts easier, now if only this stove could add insulation to my front bedrooms I would be set.
But most importantly, this November's gas and electric bill was $85 less than last Nov. despite increased energy cost and colder avg. temps in 2007. I can't imagine what the bill would have been without the stove. Free wood makes the savings even greater. Contact some local tree guys to see if you can land some free wood to split for next season.

Dan

 

[Jimbob]

Jimbob - my house is just under 1,000 square feet, the Summit is prob way too big, ya think?

Yeah, I think so. I should have said the Pacific, instead of the Summit. Logs can be loaded straght into the Pacific also, just like the Summit.