Thoughts on replacing a Lopi 1250

[Suburbanguk]

Just moved into a 1,600 sq ft house near the coast in Downeast Maine. Home has 2 sections, about 1,200 original sq ft (600 downstairs/600 up), and a back add-on a little under 800 so ft (400d/u). The original section (1930) is heated by an oil furnace with forced air and a Lopi 1250 in the front living room.
The back is heated by a 35,000 btu propane wall furnace and floor vents to the upstairs (plus any other air we can direct that way).

The Lopi has a top vent, but is set up to go through the fireplace through an s-curve. Our chimney guy is not concerned since it catches a good draft, as long as we clean it out regularly. I’d really prefer something that rear vents for a better profile and so we can get it a few inches back into the hearth (front legs are on slate pieces at the moment).

We plan on using it most of the time in the winter.

My wife wants a larger stove, but I am afraid we’d just heat ourselves out of our 12x23 9ft ceiling living room, without getting enough heat to the colder parts of the house.

any guidance/suggestions appreciated!

 

[kennyp2339]

Check out woodstock stoves, they come both in top mount and rear mount venting options, also the soap stone stoves are highly radiant.

 

[EbS-P]

What is the height of the fireplace? And what kind of budget do you have?
I might burn it this winter and see how you get along. Otherwise I would suggest a Blaze king insert. Or maybe a a used Jotul F500 v2 (not the new one) as you can get a short leg kit if your opening height is more than 28”(don’t hold me to that number but it’s close.).
Evan

 

[begreen]

I'm surprised that drafts well at all, particularly in milder weather. Have you considered putting in an insert instead?

 

[Suburbanguk]

Fireplace is 31” tall. We’ve talked about an insert but really like the look and heat of a freestanding stove. Also, we do get out fair share of day+ power outages, so may rely on the stove alone at times.

also, house is almost 2000 square feet, not 1600.

 

[begreen]

Some inserts can be installed without the surrounding shroud for a more freestanding look. Just a thought. It will open up more choices. Inserts that project a bit out onto the hearth will usually heat ok in a power outage. This is not a large area and heat will convect naturally up the stairwell. Getting heat to the addition house however, probably will need fan assistance.