Osburn 2200 bay window insert vs Flash Osburn Matrix ?

[Dmitry]

Hi, I almost pulled a trigger on a bay window osburn 2200 insert, but all of a sudden my wife saw the matrix model online and now she wants to get it since it goes with her design ideas. May be she is right since we don't have a lot of hearth space in front of it. Just 14 inches. I called professional installer and he advised me on 2200 since it "protrudes more to the room and gives more heat because of it" . I'm wondering if that is true since Matrix puts out more BTU and has larger fire box according to specs (75000 vs 70000).

Another of my concerns is if Matrix has enough of a glass area to enjoy the view of a fire. I love the magic of it. That's actually was main reason why I wanted 2200 in a first place.
I spent hours researching here on forums and all over the internet, I'm torn. Didn't see any reviews for matrix, noticed couple guys here own them and complaining about noise , but I think it applies to all inserts. Lot of good reviews for 2200.It's an older model, that's may be why.

May be someone saw both of them working , if not, may be owners can share their opinion , may be post some pics. I saw couple of them browsing forums , hoped to see more.


GOT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE

 

[weatherguy]

Your dog is waiting for some heat! How my square feet are you heating in your house?

 

[begreen]

Do you get a lot of power outages? An insert that projects into the room is going to convect naturally even without the blower. A flush insert, not so well. Would an Enviro Kodiak 1700 fit? If so that would be worth looking at too.

 

[Grisu]

Is that a full masonry fireplace? Is it on an exterior wall? You will need to extend the hearth either way as 16" is usually the minimum but if your inspector is ok with it that could be a removable hearth extender:
http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Wood-Stove-and-Accessories/Hearth-Extensions

I think some people were complaining about the side windows of the 2200 getting dirty easily. Not sure how much of it is due to wet wood though. Do you have dry wood to burn in the insert?

Other contemporary looking inserts would be the Pacific Energy Neo 2.5 and the Regency CI2600. Make sure they would fit before showing them to your wife.

 

[Dmitry]

The house is 2000 ranch with fireplace in a middle in a big room, knock some walls down so its open space -living room plus den, plus dining room, , living room with 12 feet cathedrals. No, we don't have lot of outages here. I know I got to extend the hearth , its too short for either of them.

 

[Grisu]

If you want to use the insert as a primary heater you may want to go large, approx. 3 cu ft in firebox size provided you can fit that in the fireplace. When you say middle of the room does than mean the fireplace is at an interior wall? And please confirm that it is a masonry fireplace. What are the inner dimensions of the chimney?What are the dimensions of the fireplace?

With 12' ceilings, do you have ceiling fans?

 

[Dmitry]

The fireplace is at interior wall between big room and rest of the house , I don't have ceiling fan but I plan to use some fans for circulating air .Never thought about going that big. I was looking at Osburn line since prices are available online and lot of people using it .the Osborn 2200 rated for 2000 sq ft. If I want to really
Heat it , what Number I shoud go for ? 2500? Was trying to price Regency ci 2600 but dealer couldn't even give me price right away: "I'll call you back, blah,blah."

 

[Grisu]

Sqft numbers are rather meaningless. The size of the firebox will determine how much wood you can burn and the amount of wood burned determines how many BTUs you will get out. For 2000 sqft in CT with an open layout and higher ceilings a firebox of 3 cu ft would not be overkill. Take a look at the Large Flush Hybrid Insert from Lopi/Avalon/FireplaceXtraordinaire (same insert, different outside look) for a modern looking flush insert. They have a pretty large glass door for a good view of the fire. Just make sure they would fit.

Make sure you have several cords of dry wood for the winter or whatever insert you buy you will not be happy.

 

[begreen]

I strongly recommend installing at least one ceiling fan. Otherwise heat is going to stratify at the peak of the ceiling.

 

[Dmitry]

WOW, you just blew my mind , they have 3 cu box , 300 sq ft of viewing glass and look beatiful, and all the technology in it . Im ecstatic about it . I'm just afraid to hear the price . It might be out of reach , do you know what the damage might be? I found a store 40 min away .

 

[Grisu]

WOW, you just blew my mind , they have 3 cu box , 300 sq ft of viewing glass and look beatiful, and all the technology in it . Im ecstatic about it . I'm just afraid to hear the price . It might be out of reach , do you know what the damage might be? I found a store 40 min away .

They are not cheap: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...arch-by-fireplacex.131101/page-2#post-1774061

 

[BrotherBart]

300 sq ft of viewing glass

Square inches, not feet. It ain't the National Aquarium.

 

[Grisu]

Square inches, not feet. It ain't the National Aquarium.

Yeah, at 300 sqft it is a forest fire right at the OP's porch.

 

[Dmitry]

Grisu,thanks. Read entire post that you gave me the link to and kept laughing : exactly my situation with cardboard faceplates, wife's illogical arguments etc. The price bites, comparing 2500 budget for Osburn and 4500 for Lopi is kinda puts me down. But since I'm going to go trough all the labor with installation and given fact that this is a long term investment it might be worth it. Still hard to swallow But I guess its better think that you bought unit somewhat bigger than you need than other way around. Out of 2000 sq ft,almost 2/3 is an open space, and I got big windows and glass entry door ( another illogical argument). I'm not planning on burning 7/24 now, but might in a future.

 

[begreen]

For a big bay view take a look at the Lopi Freedom Bay and the Quadrafire 4100 (or 5100), if they will fit.

 

[jeffesonm]

Obsurn Matrix would look nice in there. The glass is plenty big enough to enjoy the fire.

 

[Craig S.]

Obsurn Matrix would look nice in there. The glass is plenty big enough to enjoy the fire.

Agreed. Here's my install.