Recommendations....

[Easy Living]

Ok so after doing a great deal of research I have narrowed my search for a wood insert to the BK Princess, Regency CI2600 and the Regency Hampton HI400 (almost identical from what I can see as the CI2600).

I would like the insert to have longer burn times to continue heating while I am sleeping or gone to work.... however I do not feel like breaking the bank, even though the Regency models are quite pricey. I am also looking for any other options people would recommend.

Currently, in my brief inquiries, I got a quote for the BK Princess @ 3700 and for the HI400 @ 4300. Perhaps the higher prices are because I am searching stores in the Philadelphia suburb area. Does anyone recommend a place to purchase? I do not mind a drive to save money.

Thanks for the feedback, I look forward to your recommendations.

Oh, and I want an insert with a good viewing window (I know the BK is fairly small but I love the burn times and reviews). I am trying to heat a 2500 2 story house, but want something that will mainly heat the lower level... roughly 1100 sq ft as some of the heat will migrate upstairs.

 

[begreen]

With the BK the fireview is not going to be the main show. The glass tends to darken unless the stove is being pushed for heat. Most of the show is a glowing cat. The Regency CI2600 is new and appears to have short burn times without some sort of restricting plate.

For a good fireview in 3 cu ft I'd look at the Pacific Energy Summit, Osburn 2400i, Lopi Freedom and the Regency 3100i as alternatives. The Hearthstone Clydesdale is 2.5 cu ft with a big fireview and a good reputation.

 

[Easy Living]

Thanks for the response begreen, I forgot to mention the quote I received for the Summit @ 2600 for the unit, black surround and blower. I have done some research but no real results on the burn times for the Summitt..... also I am a little concerned about some posts I read about the weld cracks! The BK is very appealing due to the real long burn times on lower settings. I am just unsure if this would heat the area I want on say a medium setting.

 

[prezes13]

I would love to have a bk stove. I think the whole "magic" of bk stoves is that they offer the most even heat output out of all the stoves, therefore once you have your house warmed up it will keep the temp steady.unlike most stoves that will get everything warm in the beginning and then things will start cooling off when the fuel starts to burn down. It's just my theory.

 

[Jo191145]

This is a decent stove. Wait times are loooong and there are no dealers. Drive to NH or have it shipped.
http://www.woodstove.com/ideal-steel-hybrid

 

[begreen]

Thanks for the response begreen, I forgot to mention the quote I received for the Summit @ 2600 for the unit, black surround and blower. I have done some research but no real results on the burn times for the Summitt..... also I am a little concerned about some posts I read about the weld cracks! The BK is very appealing due to the real long burn times on lower settings. I am just unsure if this would heat the area I want on say a medium setting.

The Summit should heat the area fine as would any good 3 cu ft insert. FWIW, the cracks showed up for a short production run and appear to have been addressed by PE a few years ago.

 

[Osagebndr]

I burn a summit freestanding . It heats my 2600 sqft. Bi level nicely. Nice fire view also . Although I wish had taken a better look at the bk king

 

[Easy Living]

What are you looking at for sufficient heat and burn times?

I burn a summit freestanding . It heats my 2600 sqft. Bi level nicely. Nice fire view also . Although I wish had taken a better look at the bk king

 

[Osagebndr]

I'm getting 8 hrs max heat when it's -9-20* out. When it's above 30 I get 12+ hrs heat time . Considering a lot of my high btu wood( oak, hickory,ash and BL) is not as dry as it should be I don't think I'm getting all the stoves performance that I could be

 

[Easy Living]

All things considered that's not terribly bad. I'm wondering if the insert would see similar results

I'm getting 8 hrs max heat when it's -9-20* out. When it's above 30 I get 12+ hrs heat time . Considering a lot of my high btu wood( oak, hickory,ash and BL) is not as dry as it should be I don't think I'm getting all the stoves performance that I could be

 

[Osagebndr]

You might want to research it through the home page there is a search box , just type in what you want to search for. Check out BK also and enerzone 3.4. I've learned that whatever heat setting I have my stove set for can reduce or increase my burn times

 

[begreen]

In general for better heating stay away from flush inserts. Some of them are decent heaters, but they are very reliant on their blower to do this. In a power outage you want an insert that convects well naturally. This feature is also nice for mild weather burning. It's nice to have the fire with no blower noise.

 

[Easy Living]

Begreen, that is a great point I had not really thought about. I am leaning towards the Summit or the BK princess. I'm going to message some members on their experience

In general for better heating stay away from flush inserts. Some of them are decent heaters, but they are very reliant on their blower to do this. In a power outage you want an insert that convects well naturally. This feature is also nice for mild weather burning. It's nice to have the fire with no blower noise.

gree

 

[Osagebndr]

I think you'll be happy with either one . Dry wood is key to good burning with both and especially the summit in my experience so far