Our local tractor supply has a good priced (and *already shipped*) Wood Stove in stock (seems to be the same as the Century Brand, it's "US Stove").
I was looking at getting the Century 2500 insert, but it'd be more expensive, and supposedly is a smaller unit than the one I see locally (and could get for roughly the same price).
Aside from the flashing/surround to cover up the empty space in my masonry fireplace, is there a big difference between a Wood Stove (if I yanked the legs off it) and a Fireplace Insert? The stove has a blower already, as does the insert, and most things seem similar, but I'm sure there's some kind of difference I'm missing.
I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this, but when I go to install, starting from the bottom, I'll need (besides the insert) a surround to cover up the empty space, a seal in place of the current flue, flexible single-wall chimney pipe that runs the length of the chimney, and then a cap (seal?) on top of the chimney that the pipe runs through and above a few feet. Then I presume a cap for the pipe itself.
Now, another question I've been wondering, is it possible to force the combustion air to come from outside somehow, rather than from inside the house? The house is sealed pretty well, so if I can take combustion air from outside (maybe direct down the chimney? I dunno), that'd be great.
I was looking at getting the Century 2500 insert, but it'd be more expensive, and supposedly is a smaller unit than the one I see locally (and could get for roughly the same price).
Aside from the flashing/surround to cover up the empty space in my masonry fireplace, is there a big difference between a Wood Stove (if I yanked the legs off it) and a Fireplace Insert? The stove has a blower already, as does the insert, and most things seem similar, but I'm sure there's some kind of difference I'm missing.
I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this, but when I go to install, starting from the bottom, I'll need (besides the insert) a surround to cover up the empty space, a seal in place of the current flue, flexible single-wall chimney pipe that runs the length of the chimney, and then a cap (seal?) on top of the chimney that the pipe runs through and above a few feet. Then I presume a cap for the pipe itself.
Now, another question I've been wondering, is it possible to force the combustion air to come from outside somehow, rather than from inside the house? The house is sealed pretty well, so if I can take combustion air from outside (maybe direct down the chimney? I dunno), that'd be great.