Opinions wanted on Drolet and Century

[entropy]

Hello folks,

I have looked at these 2 inserts for purchase. I am unable to go higher then $1200 in price for a stove. I know this puts me in the "economy" line of inserts. I have a split level (total sqft 2600) and the downstairs is always chilly in winter, to the point of being unusable. The downstairs has a big family room with 1 bedroom and laundry area.

here are the 2 inserts I am considering.

1. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3706810&cp=2568453.2627947.1260958 <----- I love the price on this one, well within my means.

2. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200325829_200325829 <------ this one looks very good for the price, although it is at the top of my range financially.

Any thoughts on either brand? They are both made by the same company, sbi-international I believe. Any opinions on sbi-internationals products?

This will be the first wood stove/insert I have ever owned and operated.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Dave

 

[BrotherBart]

I would tend toward the Drolet just because the top plate is thicker steel and Drolet has a good reputation. Don't forget that with either one you have to purchase the surround panel for the front of the fireplace separately for another $99.00.

 

[rhyano]

Go for the Drolet. I just installed that insert in my fireplace last weekend and it works awesome.
The construction of the Drolet is extremely solid with 1/4" plate steel construction. I was/am very
impressed with its construction. The heat output is fantastic also.
Im easily maintaining stove top temperatures of 500 deg. for an hour easy and burn times
are excellent depending on how much I load it up.

 

[southland]

Rhyano, that Drolet looks good installed. How loud is the fan? I considered both of these inserts for my second fireplace, but I found a nearly new Napoleon at a good price. I didn't find much info on the Century insert, but there was a lot of positive feedback on the Drolet on Northern Tools' web site.

 

[rhyano]

The fan on the Drolet is loud enough to be heard (its not silent) but it is by no means too loud.... in that you can carry on a conversation in the living room where the insert is at. The fan noise does not bother me at all. I have heard good things about the Napoleon inserts as well. You will probably be happy either way.

 

[entropy]

Burning,

How much did they charge you for shipping and off loading? They are offering a special on the shipping price, but then they have an option for a lift gate truck with no price specification. I like the drolet as well, reviews all seem positive.

Could you elaborate on the delivery options you used and the money they charged if you don't mind.

Thanks

 

[dgold]

I own the Drolet insert as well. I'm very happy with it. It'll easily keep my 3500 sq-ft home at 70˚F and keep my central heat from firing up. I live in Northern Maryland. I think it looks great - I personally like the flat black finish & simple lines (not into all the shiny brass & chrome myself).

The only drawbacks are:
1. I wish the firebox was larger. it's hard to keep the fire going through the night, but I can usually get it going again pretty easily w/ the hot embers that are left for me
2. The thermostat which controls the fan takes a long time to start up. At first this really bothered me. I've learned not to care as much.

As for the noise of the fan, at full blast you can definetely hear it. We usually have it going at about 1/3 to 1/2 speed. From there I leave my central air fan on all the time and use my central air system to distribute the heat. In other words, I only rely on the stove's fan to get all the heat into the room, not to get the heat out of the room. Hopefully that makes sense.

Here's the most important tip though that I wish someone had told me: Any EPA approved stove will probably work well (they're all very efficient). The most important thing is to have plenty of well seasoned wood. If you intend to buy a stove, get your wood first and your stove second. You can order your stove and have it installed in a week. Well seasoned wood takes months.

Enjoy it.

 

[shawng111]

Another vote for the drolet, I purchased a Drolet Savannah last year and just had it installed last friday, I know it's not an insert but I would imagine there quality is shared with all there products. It is very well built and upon close inspection it is quality through and through. It doesnt have anything fancy but it burns wood very well and I was quiet suprised a firebox with only 1.5 cf would heat our house so well. In any case go for the Drolet. Good luck!

 

[westkywood]

Another vote for the drolet, I purchased a Drolet Savannah last year and just had it installed last friday, I know it's not an insert but I would imagine there quality is shared with all there products. It is very well built and upon close inspection it is quality through and through. It doesnt have anything fancy but it burns wood very well and I was quiet suprised a firebox with only 1.5 cf would heat our house so well. In any case go for the Drolet. Good luck!

I had a Drolet Savannah last year. I could never get it to burn longer than 4 hours. For it to burn even and fully, I had to really stick the air to it. The wood in the back of the stove never really burned good unless the air was open atleast half way. I used the same pipe as I'm using now for my PE Super 27 which works flawlessly (great draw & no smke in the house), so I know it wasnt the setup.
I cant speak for the Drolet insert. It may work just fine.

 

[shawng111]

Another vote for the drolet, I purchased a Drolet Savannah last year and just had it installed last friday, I know it's not an insert but I would imagine there quality is shared with all there products. It is very well built and upon close inspection it is quality through and through. It doesnt have anything fancy but it burns wood very well and I was quiet suprised a firebox with only 1.5 cf would heat our house so well. In any case go for the Drolet. Good luck!

I had a Drolet Savannah last year. I could never get it to burn longer than 4 hours. For it to burn even and fully, I had to really stick the air to it. The wood in the back of the stove never really burned good unless the air was open atleast half way. I used the same pipe as I'm using now for my PE Super 27 which works flawlessly (great draw & no smke in the house), so I know it wasnt the setup.
I cant speak for the Drolet insert. It may work just fine.

I must admit that the savannah likes to be run hot to get the most of it but so far i have nothing to complain about, i am averaging between 5-7 hour burn times but i am using well seasoned oak as well, but really it only has a 1.5 cf firebox so i'm not going to kid myself thinking we will get more than that. I'm not sure why your wood never burned well in the back, the stove does seem to like smaller splits but again at 1.5 cf not suprising.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I would tend toward the Drolet just because the top plate is thicker steel and Drolet has a good reputation. Don't forget that with either one you have to purchase the surround panel for the front of the fireplace separately for another $99.00.

Is there no budget 30-NC-like insert?

 

[westkywood]

Another vote for the drolet, I purchased a Drolet Savannah last year and just had it installed last friday, I know it's not an insert but I would imagine there quality is shared with all there products. It is very well built and upon close inspection it is quality through and through. It doesnt have anything fancy but it burns wood very well and I was quiet suprised a firebox with only 1.5 cf would heat our house so well. In any case go for the Drolet. Good luck!

I had a Drolet Savannah last year. I could never get it to burn longer than 4 hours. For it to burn even and fully, I had to really stick the air to it. The wood in the back of the stove never really burned good unless the air was open atleast half way. I used the same pipe as I'm using now for my PE Super 27 which works flawlessly (great draw & no smke in the house), so I know it wasnt the setup.
I cant speak for the Drolet insert. It may work just fine.

I must admit that the savannah likes to be run hot to get the most of it but so far i have nothing to complain about, i am averaging between 5-7 hour burn times but i am using well seasoned oak as well, but really it only has a 1.5 cf firebox so i'm not going to kid myself thinking we will get more than that. I'm not sure why your wood never burned well in the back, the stove does seem to like smaller splits but again at 1.5 cf not suprising.

Yeah I cut the wood pretty small. It seemed to burn better if I out it in sideways. I think it helped the wood in the back get more air. It's not a bad stove. I was just wanting something I could load and leave for 8 hours. I burn wood pretty much 24-7..

 

[BrotherBart]

Is there no budget 30-NC-like insert?[/quote]

The 13-NCI is an insert version of the 13-NC. The 30 is so tall and deep it would probably address too limited a market because of fireplace sizes.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

The 13-NCI is an insert version of the 13-NC. The 30 is so tall and deep it would probably address too limited a market because of fireplace sizes.

Someone should recommend it to the OP.