Hi folks- long time lurker here. I wanted to get your feedback on potential options for me to replace my TEMCO DV5200MBN (converted to LP) gas fireplace. I posted in the wood fireplace section for feedback from that group on wood stoves, and now I'd like to get some feedback on pellet stoves!
Let me explain my set up in detail. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My house is a ranch home that we bought new in September of 2007. Since it's a ranch, we only have a single wide floor to heat.
My current propane fireplace sits in the center of the living room in a boxed out mantle configuration that extends in from the exterior wall (into the room) by 27.75" (see pics). The living room is centrally located in the house. The framed area that contains the firebox is about 82" wide. The actual opening of the firebox measures approximately 40.5"W x 36.5"H. The TEMCO DV5200MBN is rated between 17,000 to 25,000BTU. It is vented through a vertical vent that exits out of the roof. I believe it's exhausted through a 7in dual pipe, with a 4in flue. There is a tile (ceramic)hearth that extends forward from the fireplace - approximately 26"x64". The existing rough-in framing dimensions for the TEMCO are as follows:
Opening Height: 34³⁄₄” (883 mm)
Opening Width: 36” (914 mm)
Depth: 19¹⁄₂” (495 mm)
25,000 BTU is not enough heat for a house during a Pennsylvania winters. What I am looking for are alternative options that would be more economical, such as pellet. I'd like to throw enough heat to heat the first floor, especially when temps dip below freezing and the heat pump is no longer economical to run.
I'm also not married to the vertical venting, and probably would favor direct venting out the back through the exterior wall.
What I am most curious about is if there are alternative insert pellet options that I can use in place of my existing propane unit? Since the fireplace already extends into the living room by 27.75", I really don't want a standalone stove that sits on the hearth in front of the previous fireplace...I just think aesthetically that wouldn't work for the room. So I'm looking for inserts that would work in place of this propane unit.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
I've included pics below.
Floor plan:
Let me explain my set up in detail. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania. My house is a ranch home that we bought new in September of 2007. Since it's a ranch, we only have a single wide floor to heat.
My current propane fireplace sits in the center of the living room in a boxed out mantle configuration that extends in from the exterior wall (into the room) by 27.75" (see pics). The living room is centrally located in the house. The framed area that contains the firebox is about 82" wide. The actual opening of the firebox measures approximately 40.5"W x 36.5"H. The TEMCO DV5200MBN is rated between 17,000 to 25,000BTU. It is vented through a vertical vent that exits out of the roof. I believe it's exhausted through a 7in dual pipe, with a 4in flue. There is a tile (ceramic)hearth that extends forward from the fireplace - approximately 26"x64". The existing rough-in framing dimensions for the TEMCO are as follows:
Opening Height: 34³⁄₄” (883 mm)
Opening Width: 36” (914 mm)
Depth: 19¹⁄₂” (495 mm)
25,000 BTU is not enough heat for a house during a Pennsylvania winters. What I am looking for are alternative options that would be more economical, such as pellet. I'd like to throw enough heat to heat the first floor, especially when temps dip below freezing and the heat pump is no longer economical to run.
I'm also not married to the vertical venting, and probably would favor direct venting out the back through the exterior wall.
What I am most curious about is if there are alternative insert pellet options that I can use in place of my existing propane unit? Since the fireplace already extends into the living room by 27.75", I really don't want a standalone stove that sits on the hearth in front of the previous fireplace...I just think aesthetically that wouldn't work for the room. So I'm looking for inserts that would work in place of this propane unit.
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
I've included pics below.
Floor plan:
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