Sick of my gas bill

[axiomnj]

Hey guys,
New to the forum here so I hope this is in the right spot. I currently have a wonderful (sarcasm) pre fab fireplace. It is a FMI Baja 3600. Im looking to get an insert for supplemental heat. Ive looked at the quadrafire 2700i ACC, Regency I1200, a Loti (sp?), and have even resorted googling "extra small fireplace inserts. Which brings me to my problem, every insert I have looked at is too large for my prefab. The closest I came was the I1200 but the rear width was too large. I just wanted to pick some brains, as I am running out of ideas. I have considered getting a ZC stove, but for what I want the insert for, that route is more money and effort than I care to spend.

Heres a link for my current prefab: http://www.desatech.com/manuals/Woodburning Units/model_01516_manual_54070C.pdf


Below is a picture of the fireplace. If I do in fact get an insert, yes I will be addressing the haphazard electronic placement I did. Also, no space heater jokes -.-

Thanks everyone,
Garrett in NJ

 

[Ashful]

Paging begreen & Hogwildz...

 

[weatherguy]

Would it be feasible to put a free stander in another area of your house?

 

[axiomnj]

unfortunately no. i was reading some other posts on here about freestanding stoves that are able to partially be installed inside the fireplace? i think my hearth is somewhat too shallow for that though.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

What about putting up a new chimney?

 

[axiomnj]

the layout of my house wouldnt facilitate a new stack. its either i make this space work or no fireplace unfortunately.

 

[BrotherBart]

Can't even guess without knowing the inside dimensions of that thing.

 

[gandrimp]

How about a free standing with a rear outlet like this (broken link removed to http://jotul.com/us/products/stoves/jotul-f-400-castine#technical-area) then use your chimney.

 

[gandrimp]

It looks like your firebox is 28 3/16" to the underneath side of the top . The castine is 28 1/2 tall, but the rear outlet is below that. The castine is a nice stove.

 

[axiomnj]

brotherbart,

the link in my OP is all the dimensions for it. The Height is 21 7/16. Front W is 29 3/4. Rear Width is 17. Depth is 15 1/4.


Gandrimp,

Im not opposed to a free standing stove. Id rather an insert if I can (just personal aesthetics). My hearth is about 20 1/4" deep. Now when the pipe leaves the rear outlet, Im assuming its exposed correct? Sorry, I'm really elementary at this. I appreciate the help.

 

[BrotherBart]

If the Regency H2100 Hearth Heater won't get it done I think you are out of luck.

http://www.regency-fire.com/Files/Specifications/R-H2100.aspx

 

[fossil]

If that's all wood around the fireplace opening, I'm afraid that, no matter what you decide is feasible heater-wise, all that wood is in jeopardy of having to be removed. Welcome to Hearth.com! Rick

 

[axiomnj]

yea its all garbage trim. i do plan on tiling, moving the tv up a tad, and changing the mantle. We just bought the house about 2 years ago. Forced hot air + Cathedral ceiling room where the tstat is = my gas meter is at risk of taking off its spinning so fast.


Bart,
If I'm reading that correctly, is that pretty much an external insert? Id have to extend my hearth as mine is only 20 1/4" at the moment. Also do they make a leg kit for that? the opening of my fireplace sits up about 4-6 inches.

 

[BrotherBart]

Legs are available specifically for that purpose and the spec I linked too says the hearth extension only need to be 18 inches and change.

Look at page 8.

(broken link removed to http://www.regency-fire.com/Files/Manuals/I3100-908-332.aspx)

 

[axiomnj]

oh i mustve misread the hearth thing...i thought it meant 18 inches past the door of it

 

[Charles1981]

can you create a hearth pad (taking out some of the wood floor) and install a free standing rear vented wood stove (as has been already mentioned)? Here is a photo of my setup to give you an idea. I don't have a hearth because the floor is concrete....

 

[axiomnj]

yea i have the room to make a bigger hearth. at least i have some options...i thought i had zero haha

 

[Charles1981]

If you don't mind the stove taking up room I would go with a free standing stove extended outwards from the fireplace imo. But It gets pretty dang hot above the stove and that whole area may become off limits to putting a television and having expensive electronic equipment near by. The radius 1-3 feet around my stove especially above it (where your TV is) is frequently >100. Of course electronics should be able to handle that but I still worry about it...

 

[Charles1981]

Couldn't he get a top vent stove and effectively "punch" a hole in the wall (where the TV is) to gain access to the chimney (so long as appropriate structures and heat sheilding was applied)? If there were problems with a rear vent stove making into the current opening?

 

[axiomnj]

another question i have is does the btu rating of the new whatever i get need to not exceed the btu rating of my prefab? because i cant find a btu rating for my prefab.

 

[begreen]

What are the actual fireplace firebox dimensions we have to work with?

 

[axiomnj]

The Height is 21 7/16. Front W is 29 3/4. Rear Width is 17. Depth is 15 1/4.

if you need more info

http://www.desatech.com/manuals/Woodburning Units/model_01516_manual_54070C.pdf

 

[begreen]

It would be tight, but an Enviro Kodiak 1200 might fit. Two other small guys are the Lopi Answer and the Country Striker C160. Checking them out now.

 

[axiomnj]

the kodiak and the lopi are too large...i was (after the suggestion) considering the Regency H2100. my question was do I have to make sure my prefab fireplace is rated for a certain btu?

 

[axiomnj]

i just read about the country striker c160. It seems to be able to fit if I remove the firebricks on the inside. I was under the impression this was a no no but it says I can do it in the instructions.