Recommend a fireplace insert

[LONDONDERRY]

Greetings-
I'm looking to purchase a fireplace insert and I was woundering what everyone considers. Part replacment, service, maintance and installation are important factors for me because I will be doing all this this myself. I am currently looking at a Napolenan brand name, but I read they are difficult to clean and service.

Regards
Frank

 

[Todd]

There are so many out there but I like the looks of the Jotul's. They have the nicest looking surrounds of any others I've seen and are a well known respected stove manufacture.

 

[BrotherBart]

Since you can spend anywhere from $900 to $4,000 for an insert the first thing you have to do is nail down your threshold for pain as to price. We could recommend inserts all day long but if they don't fit your pocketbook, fireplace size and heating requirements it would be wearing off fingertip skin for nothing.

 

[RedRanger]

Check to see where the blower is located? If it`s in the rear of the insert-be a pita to have to pull it out to clean the fan once a year.

 

[LONDONDERRY]

Since you can spend anywhere from $900 to $4,000 for an insert the first thing you have to do is nail down your threshold for pain as to price. We could recommend inserts all day long but if they don't fit your pocketbook, fireplace size and heating requirements it would be wearing off fingertip skin for nothing.

So my price range is 1k to heat about 1200-1500 sq ft. or a basic split level ranch house. which means kitchen living room bathroom and 3 bedrooms. fireplace size is 26 inches high, 20 inched deep not including hearth adn 37 1/2 inched wide.
Does this help?

Thanks
Frank

 

[BrotherBart]

Englander:

http://www.englanderstoves.com/13-nci.html

Drolet:

(broken link removed to http://www.drolet.ca/product.aspx?CategoId=7&Id=428)

And the Napoleon are good inserts in the price range. Pretty much the same firebox sizes and all have good reputations. sonnyinbc is right about checking on that Napoleon to make sure the blower isn't in the back.

 

[bparry12]

I just purchased a Napoleon 1402 insert. I haven't installed it yet, so I can't report on its performance. However, I can confirm that the blowers are on the front of the insert. There are two 200CFM blowers; one under each of the side panels.

I also looked at an Enviro Kodiak insert, but chose the Napoleon based on the recommendation of a friend who has used a 1401 insert for years.

 

[begreen]

Didn't this get covered in another thread?

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/18376/

 

[mjlynch12]

Cochise, have you installed your Napoleon 1402 yet. I just received mine today, ordered May 24! and its missing the door pins. I'm wondering what the install was like.

 

[LONDONDERRY]

Cochise, have you installed your Napoleon 1402 yet. I just received mine today, ordered May 24! and its missing the door pins. I'm wondering what the install was like.

So where did you order it from and how much did it cost you? I've been pricing them out on-line from ~$1300 to ~$1600 All so what is the difference between the 1401 and the 1402 models?

 

[bparry12]

Cochise, have you installed your Napoleon 1402 yet. I just received mine today, ordered May 24! and its missing the door pins. I'm wondering what the install was like.

So where did you order it from and how much did it cost you? I've been pricing them out on-line from ~$1300 to ~$1600 All so what is the difference between the 1401 and the 1402 models?

I purchased my insert from a local dealer who was running a $500 off promotion on the insert, liner, and installation in May. I had the insert installed on Tuesday. Since the dealer performed the installation, I can't comment too much on it. However, I can say that it seemed to go smoothly and the installers didn't appear to run into any significant problems. It took two installers under three hours to install the liner, cap, and insert.

I ended up paying 1875 for the insert with the chrome plated door and 600 for the liner. The 500 dollar off promotion basically amounted to free installation.

The differences between the 1401 and the 1402 are mostly subtle ones. The panels that cover the blowers are slightly different. Napoleon appears to have made some minor improvements to some of the hardware such as the clips that secure the door glass. I think the big difference is that the 1402 uses squirrel cage blowers rather than fans to circulate air. The blowers are quieter and appear to be better quality than the fans.

I can post some pictures of the insert when I get home.

 

[esh21167]

How is the Napoleon difficult to clean? I seem to remember at the local stove shop, the salesman just pulled out the baffle and said brush the liner, then clean the debris from the insert. Just curious. I have one on order.

 

[karl]

If you're getting an insert. Don't be afraid to go a little bit bigger on the size. They aren't as efficent as a free standing stove.

 

[ControlFreak]

I've been running a Napoleon 1401 for about 11 years now. It's a very clean burning stove and works well with a 8-9 hour time between loads. I have since replaced the fans with computer type fans that are quieter than the originals and produce more airflow. It's an excellent product in my opinion. I like the flow dynamics in the firebox the most. The secondary air blows out from the center to the sides right across the refractory panels at the top. That produces a swirling airflow inside that mixes the gases and burns clean. The glass generally does not accumulate any creosote buildup. Minor white ash buildup on the glass comes off with non-ammonia based glass cleaner. Ammonia based cleaners will pit the glass. I know, I've done it and had to replace the glass because it developed a foggy etching when using the ammonia cleaners. The etching is too deep to buff out. I tried that too.

 

[jadm]

How is the Napoleon difficult to clean?

I had a Napoleon 1101 - which is the smaller unit than the 1401. Cleaning was no problem as the baffles did pull out easily. Where I had problems was with the blowers. On the smaller unit they are installed on the back which means the whole unit has to be pulled to clean them. The 1401 does have the blowers in the front.

Don't rely on what sales person tells you. I was told the blowers were on the side and easy to clean. THe 1101 was my first wood burner and I didn't know about this site then. I have since replaced mine with a Jotul...

 

[TMonter]

What kind of fireplace do you have? Is it masonry or is it Zero Clearance? That makes a big difference on what you can choose.