Small Fireplace with Specs - What Fits?

[NJisland]

Hey all,

Long time lurker first time poster. I recently moved to a new (old circa 1918) house with a masonry fireplace. Of course, I want to install a wood stove insert. Unfortunately, my fireplace company told me that there isn’t an insert that will fit my fireplace. So, I came here for a second opinion. I am attaching the measurements I took. One area of concern from the company is that there is slight concave on the back wall of the stove. The fireplace has a height of 18” at 18” depth.

I hope someobody here is aware of something that can fit. Please let me know if any additional measurements or images would be helpful.

 

[begreen]

There is no hard rule that an insert has to have a surround face. Some can be installed without it and look fine as long as the fireplace doesn't have a deep lintel that partially blocks the flue exit on the insert.
This looks like a solvable issue. Can you post a picture of the whole fireplace area for sighting of other potential issues?

Are you looking for a budget insert or one of a particular style? How large of an area would the insert be heating? Is this room or area open to the rest of the house or closed off by doorways?

For starters, look at the Osburn 1700-i insert. It's depth is adjustable so that only about 13" is inside the fireplace.

 

[DBoon]

Lopi Answer might work

 

[NJisland]

There is no hard rule that an insert has to have a surround face. Some can be installed without it and look fine as long as the fireplace doesn't have a deep lintel that partially blocks the flue exit on the insert.
This looks like a solvable issue. Can you post a picture of the whole fireplace area for sighting of other potential issues?

Are you looking for a budget insert or one of a particular style? How large of an area would the insert be heating? Is this room or area open to the rest of the house or closed off by doorways?

For starters, look at the Osburn 1700-i insert. It's depth is adjustable so that only about 13" is inside the fireplace.

Thanks begreen. I attached some images. If there’s another angle that may be helpful, let me know.

At my last house I had a freestanding BlazeKing Ashford that I liked. I enjoyed the low slow burns and aesthetics. I don’t necessarily need another BlazeKing, or even a catalytic type stove again, but I would like something that I can get overnight burns with and ideally be able to adjust the heat output.

The fireplace is on the first floor of a three story house. The house is about 2000sqft total and around 750sqft on the first floor. The first floor is pretty open but with doors that lead to the entry way and up the steps. I have multi zone hydronic baseboard heating. But I like the heat output from wood stoves and have a decent supplier of wood.

I’ll take a look at the osburn. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[begreen]

It looks like the True North TN20i might just fit in there also. It would have the advantage of being a N/S loading stove. This could be installed without the surround if too tight.

The Regency i-2450 might fit with some grinding down of the back side bricks an inch.

 

[NJisland]

Thanks begreen and DBoon. I checked out the various stoves. Between the Osburn 1700, Lopi Answer, True North TN20, and Regency I-2450, the True North and Regency caught my eye for their larger volume and ability to hold longer cuts of wood. However, I don’t think the Regency will fit width wise towards the back of the stove.

Does anyone have any recommendations for finding someone to do the installation? Should any reputable chimney sweep be able to do it?

I also forgot to one of your original questions begreen, I am not looking for a budget option, but I also don’t want to spend more than I have to. I see this as a long term investment that I hope to enjoy for decades.

 

[begreen]

A certified sweep can do the install. Check CSIA listings for your area.

 

[NJisland]

Thanks for all the insight. I’m leaning towards one of the inserts. According to my measurements some of them will work. The fireplace company that I originally went to is suggesting I consider rear venting freestanding stoves. I like the freestanding stoves because of the radiant heat without neeeding a fan. But I don’t think I will get the floor clearance without extending the hearth. I don’t think my wife will accept the decrease in aesthetics for its increase in performance. Does anyone have any thoughts on suitable options for freestanding stoves?

To add… winter is almost over, do stoves typically go on sale in the spring or summer or are the prices pretty stable throughout the year?

 

[begreen]

Maybe. It depends on the dealer and the state of their inventory and external forces. Between pandemic supply issues and tariffs, stove prices have gone up a lot in the past few years.

 

[stovelark]

Might not want to hear this, but I'd listen to the mrs. An insert always looks like it belongs in a fireplace, where some stoves do not. Always the buyer's decision, but a smaller insert would look great there. If an overnight burn is a desire/must, the insert may not work out. I too like the Osburn inserts, good stoves for the money spent. Of course, any cast insert will be more appealing (generally to most folks). Get a qulaity liner, ensure the damper area is sealed off around the liner and consider electrical needs for most inserts which will have blowers. Good luck.

 

[DBoon]

General advice - make sure you get an insulated flue (liner). That was a game changer for the Lopi Answer. That would be true for any stove.

Freestanding stoves that are on the smaller side and need reduced front clearance and that rear vent are few and far between. Woodstock Keystone and Fireview have a side-door (reduced front clearance) and rear vent. There may be others.

 

[bigealta]

I vote free standing stove. My wife moved here from NYC and she thought woodstoves were hillybilly! She said Absolutely no stove and wanted the open fireplace. Luckily the fireplace smoked like crazy and was unusable.

The woodstove stayed and She Loved it within a week or 2. She loves the heat from it and does not like being cold.
It was a complete 180 in her attitude toward the woodstove.

This was a case of she didn't know what she didn't know. And a bit of misguided preconceived notions.

 

[NJisland]

Thanks to all for the insight regarding stove prices, installation practices, and options. I was leaning heavily towards a wood stove insert. But the sideloading Woodstock stoves might be a game changing; if I can convince my wife. Now I have more to think about.

 

[Egbert Souse']

I vote free standing stove. My wife moved here from NYC and she thought woodstoves were hillybilly! She said Absolutely no stove and wanted the open fireplace. Luckily the fireplace smoked like crazy and was unusable.

The woodstove stayed and She Loved it within a week or 2. She loves the heat from it and does not like being cold.
It was a complete 180 in her attitude toward the woodstove.

This was a case of she didn't know what she didn't know. And a bit of misguided preconceived notions.

My wife, while offering less push back than yours on installing a stove, now loves it. I did have to get an enamel finished stove to get her to go along with it but man are we glad we did with the winter we've had.

OP: I installed a Hearthstone Craftsbury last year. Small stove with rear exit option. Might work for you. https://www.hearthstonestoves.com/product/craftsbury/

You'd simply need to add ember protection to the front of your current setup.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

Did you look at the dimensions of the Blaze King Princess Insert? Because it's not a flush mount insert, a good portion sits on the hearth, and only part of the firebox has to go into the masonry firebox. It's a pretty decent sized insert, but it can fit into smaller fireplaces because of its design. Because you're used to the turn-down of a Blaze King, you'd probably appreciate keeping that ability. I can't tell from your specs above whether it would fit, but I figured it might be worth checking since it doesn't sit all the way back.

 

[BKVP]

About 12" in and 12" out...

BKVP