So I've got a couple more leads on some good inserts. I found a last years Lennox Performer c210 with blower and surround, floor model, for $1250. That's a steal(especially considering that it's less than 10 minutes from my house). I've found away to solve the overhang issue with my hearth not being flush with my opening. I've also got about 2 and 3/4 inches extra height for an offset box to move the flue back to the chimney opening. I've found two boxes that wil fit so far. It'll be a REALLY tight fit, but should work. Second stove is the Quadra Fire 2700i that's about 6 hours away. The guy finally emailed me back, and they still have it, used for 2 seasons, and he's asking $995 and will negotiate. I'm just trying to verify that's what the stove really is. He said the overall height is 22 which won't fit, but I'm trying to get a side pic of the unit to see if the front hangs down like the manuls says it does.
But after reading more and more on here, I'm starting to rethink this whole thing. I've got a 2000+ sq ft house, split level, with a walk out basement. Insert will go in one end of the the basement(fully finished with celotex styrofoam insulation between the block and drywall, not the best, but better than plain block), directly under the upstairs living room and kitchen. Bedrooms are all upstairs on the other end of the house.. The room that it will go in is about 400 sq ft, give or take hundred. What I was really counting on helping the most was the fact that cold air return on my heat pump is only about 15ft front the front of where the insert would go. I had planned on that helping circulate the warm air thru out the house, but most on here seem to think that it doesn't work very well. I'm just wondering if this insert will really save my that much doing the winter heating months. All electric house with a 3 ton, 14 seer, 8.0hspf new heat pump. Last summer electric bills were $250 to $350. Fall and Spring it runs $125 to $200. Winter, it ranges from $400 to well over $600. Any input on whether this is worth the money to me and if it is, if both stoves will fit, which is better, the QuadraFire or the Lennox C-210? Thanks again for the input.
But after reading more and more on here, I'm starting to rethink this whole thing. I've got a 2000+ sq ft house, split level, with a walk out basement. Insert will go in one end of the the basement(fully finished with celotex styrofoam insulation between the block and drywall, not the best, but better than plain block), directly under the upstairs living room and kitchen. Bedrooms are all upstairs on the other end of the house.. The room that it will go in is about 400 sq ft, give or take hundred. What I was really counting on helping the most was the fact that cold air return on my heat pump is only about 15ft front the front of where the insert would go. I had planned on that helping circulate the warm air thru out the house, but most on here seem to think that it doesn't work very well. I'm just wondering if this insert will really save my that much doing the winter heating months. All electric house with a 3 ton, 14 seer, 8.0hspf new heat pump. Last summer electric bills were $250 to $350. Fall and Spring it runs $125 to $200. Winter, it ranges from $400 to well over $600. Any input on whether this is worth the money to me and if it is, if both stoves will fit, which is better, the QuadraFire or the Lennox C-210? Thanks again for the input.