Struggling to choose an Osburn model after research - input appreciated

[ginkgotrees]

Greetings all,

I am very new member (just discovered this site this week) and have plowed through pretty much every post I can find on two Osburn models from here and around the web. I am weighing pros and cons of functionality vs. appearance and have encountered a strong sampling bias in terms of reviews, so I'll lay out my thoughts to get some input from seasoned members here whose collective knowledge has been awesome to read.

The gist:
We are replacing our original 1980 Buck Stove slammer insert (27000 model) in a brick mantle as part of a broader chimney repair and home energy/safety update. We are installing an insulated steal liner down the original chimney to connect to a new insert. I have read that this should also include insulating the flue area and adding a block off plate to seal the old chimney from heat loss and prevent insulation sag/dust.

More info:
The house is a 1980 brick construction, 1500 sq ft. single story craftsman. New windows last year, new roof this year, and planned new insulation in the crawlspace and attic in the coming months. We are located in Middle Tennessee which is a humid continental climate. We get hot wet summers averaging in the 80s-90s and cold damp winters that can amble through the 20s-30s during winter with occasional peaks in the 50s and drops to single digits. Floor plan is attached, fireplace has exterior wall chimney and is at one end of house in the living room with high (15') vaulted ceilings, rest of house has ~8' ceiling heights and bedrooms are on far end. We also plan on a sunroom addition within a few years that will likely bring the house up to 1800 sq ft. We generally use the current Buck insert as supplemental heating to our electric heat pump, and usually temperatures are mild enough that the pump does not need to kick on at all. Though deep freezes are becoming less common in TN, a swipe of the polar vortex south can bring many iced trees down onto lines and cause power outages.

The options:
I think we have narrowed it down to either the Osburn 2400 or the Osburn Matrix - quite a split between options, it seems. Our installer originally recommended the Regency i2400 model; if we did go with Regency it would likely be the larger i3100 model, but we generally do not like the appearance. We want something geometric and linear to match the brickwork. I have photoshopped the Osburn models in with approximately true dimensions to get a sense of what they would look like. Most models should fit as we have quite a large opening at 30" high, 42" wide, and around 25" deep.

Pros/cons:
There are far more reviews of the Osburn 2400 than the Matrix leading to a sampling bias for the two models. We like that the 2400 has a larger firebox, better convective heating when power is out, and a stronger multivariate speed fan. We like the sleeker look of the Matrix, the larger viewing window, left-side handle and door opening, and the fact that it there is a 4" projector option that gives it better convective ability during power outages compared to other flush-mounts. The only negative review of the 2400 I have seen was a basement install, and the only regret I see for most inserts is people wish they got the bigger firebox. The negatives I have seen for the Matrix include the slower single fan speed/noise and its overall heat output. Our Buck is a jet engine, so any new fan will likely be quieter. As for the heat output, I saw some posts (especially jeffersonm) that had lots of glass or aged insulation to contend with. I am more concerned with our high ceiling that tends to be a trap for the warmest, lightest air. We do have ceiling fans to help circulate air. We also have to look at the unit year round, and there is not much need for fire from April through October.

Other questions I have:
What are options for the handedness of insert doors? The Matrix handle is on the left which we prefer due to wood storage location, and the 2400 seems to be on the right. I cannot find any info door positioning is interchangable during purchase. I also cannot find any information on the blower speeds/cfm of the Buck 27000. Knowing that would give a better comparison to the 2400's 144 high speed vs. the Matrix's one speed 90 cfm.

In summary:
We like the look of an extended Matrix the best, like the larger firebox of the 2400, and are unsure how either will hand high ceilings and asymmetric heat distribution through the house. I expect our installer to say we will roast with the Osburn 2400, but that does not seem to be a complaint around here for a 1500 sq ft. home. Truthfully, we really want the Matrix to be a good match. If anyone has experience with either unit under a similar floor plan/ceiling height, I would appreciate your input.

Edit: we are not too thrilled with the maintenance of catalytic stoves and prefer to consider non-cat models.

Image:

 

[begreen]

The Osburn 2400i is a venerable and proven good heater. It may do a better job of heating the area in a power outage because it projects further out onto the hearth. The Matrix is a flush insert and a good heater, but it will have greater reliance on the blower to deliver the heat. Another big stove with the handle on the left is the the Pacific Energy Summit insert.

The ranch floorplan looks like it could use some assistance in heat distribution. Read up on moving the heat threads here for suggestions.

 

[tadmaz]

I would look at a lot of other brands, even if the dealers are far away. If you don't need to go flush, I would have something stick out as far as possible.

 

[ginkgotrees]

The Osburn 2400i is a venerable and proven good heater. It may do a better job of heating the area in a power outage because it projects further out onto the hearth. The Matrix is a flush insert and a good heater, but it will have greater reliance on the blower to deliver the heat. Another big stove with the handle on the left is the the Pacific Energy Summit insert.

The ranch floorplan looks like it could use some assistance in heat distribution. Read up on moving the heat threads here for suggestions.

Thanks for the tip. I will be looking at options for air circulation. Our air intake is down the hall near the bedrooms. We usually run the fan when having a fire to recirculate air, though I have read that pushing cool air toward the fire is more effective than trying to draw warm air away.

I have glanced at PE Summit but do not know much about it. Is it non-catalytic? We don't want the hassle of catalytics at this time and do not foresee our area requiring them in the near future.

 

[ginkgotrees]

I would look at a lot of other brands, even if the dealers are far away. If you don't need to go flush, I would have something stick out as far as possible.

Thanks. I have glanced at a few other brands and have started looking into Pacific Energy. I see a lot of recommendations for the Clydesdale, but we do not prefer its appearance. We like a clean black metallic look that is not overly industrial, and we definitely want an insert over a stove. I can poke around a few other brands, though it certainly is overwhelming to look at them all. Flush-mount isn't strictly necssary, we just liked how it looked. Our hearth is 24" from mantle to carpeted floor, so luckily we aren't restricted by anything other than preference (and cost for very high end models, but those far exceed needs in terms of appearance and function).

We plan to tackle this over summer so additional input is appreciated.

 

[ginkgotrees]

I have been poking around the PE summit (and super) specs and this might be exactly what I'm looking for - sleek appearance if still traditional with the heat output that could handle high ceilings and be coaxed through the ranch floor plan with some assisted air circulation.

The summit seems a little overkill (vs. the super) if it is rated to heat nearly 3000 sqft, but the main regret I see from most people of any stove model is they wish they got a larger firebox. We think smaller inserts will also look weird in the mantle because the bricks run along the whole floor and up to the vaulted ceiling. Photoshopped image attached for visualization, and thanks to aouke's thread on the Summit that provided the best photoshoppable image I could find online. =) This model is a contender and we have a dealer nearby.

Other thoughts are appreciated.

 

[begreen]

Don't go by marketing info for sq ftg heated. There are too many variables for that number to be meaningful. The Summit, the Osburn 2400 and the Regency 3100 inserts all have about 3 cu ft fireboxes.

 

[yooper08]

If you like the Osburn 2400, keep in mind that you can adjust how far it sits on the hearth when you install it. At most, it can stick out 7" from the face. At minimum, it'll stick out 3.75" from the face.

 

[ginkgotrees]

New If you like the Osburn 2400, keep in mind that you can adjust how far it sits on the hearth when you install it. At most, it can stick out 7" from the face. At minimum, it'll stick out 3.75" from the face.

Thanks for that info! I don't think I saw that anywhere while searching, and that would have been handy to know. In the end, we didn't really like the look of the Osburn much, it did not not look right with our mantle setup.

After a bit more searching through posts on this forum, though, I was swayed to go with the PE summit insert. I liked the firebox size, the continuously variable fans, and the fact that the fans are on the side to allow for passive convection from the bottom in the event of a power outage. It matched what we were looking for and we found a dealer nearby, so here's a photo of the finished install. I had them also install a block-off plate and add insulation around the box. I have a separate question about the insulation work but will make a separate post.

Thanks for the tips! We love the look.