The Jotul Kennebec insert is about $1,500. No problems with ours, had it installed in Dec. Fan with high and low settings. Most of the units are very similar I've found and it comes down to appearance and how it looks in your house.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jotul

We are going with the majestic super hearth series wood burning fireplace. Probably the 48 inch or 52 inch. We plan to have a gas log, but you could use wood if wanted. ( I am tired of the carry wood/ash situation ). What we found with our local dealer is a 3 burner ( his design ) system that has a very tall flame pattern. ( over 2 ft )!!! The fire kicks a lot of heat out into the room. The sysytem can also have outside air supplement the fire box. We were going with the Town and Country fireplace till we saw this arrangement. NEVER saw a 3 burner before. The logs are 30 inches and have 13 in the firebox!!!! Give this a consideration. We are in SW Michigan. Goooooood luck!!!!

Southview: Instead of going with a cheapie pre-fab zero-clearance non-EPA certified appliance and then retro fitting it with gas logs, you should consider just purchasing a gas fireplace. The gas fireplace will heat and will probably save you money because you won't be purchasing one thing and then another to try to fix it.
Have you looked at all the posts on here about gas logs? Most people say they don't actually heat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Harman gas fireplaces

Thank you for your replies!
theplayer -- my understanding is that insetrs are used to "fill" an existing masonary fireplace. What we have is just the opening, with drywall sides/back. (see link below.) We need to put there a zero-clearence fireplace.

southview -- the super-hearth does look great! However, the existing opening cannot accommodate it without modifying the wall framing. I would rather not get into that kind of work. Also, that model cannot take either a fan or a sealed door for efficiency.

I appreciate your input!
Zevi.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Have you actually gotten an installer to come out to look at the space available to see if it is possible to do what you want to? It doesn't look possible to me from what I see.

Xanndra,

The picture is a bit misleading because of the angle. From the back-side wall of the "cavity" to the "face" of the living room wall it is about 25". The height is about 50" (I don't have the exact numbers here).

Originally, I planned on the Heat-N-Glo EM42. I had installers from three different stores come over and measure. The problem, as I found out, was the fact that the house has a 2x6 framing. Great for strength - lousy for the fireplace! It causes the fireplace to be "pushed" forward so that the required offset in the chimney (to get it back into the center of the chase) requires framing modification to the header of the fireplace cavity -- raise it 12" !

Only one of the installers was willing to do the framing work too, and none of them actually thought about alternative, more "shallow" fireplaces.

Then the 4th installer came, and he immediately suggested the alternatives -- didn't waste time on moving the header and such. That's why I preferred him.

Hopefully I'll resolve things soon...

Cheers,
Zevi.

I just got back from the fireplace store. Stood in front of the M fireplace and alot of heat was coming off on me!!! You can get a glass door for it and use their outside air attachment. This allows door to be shut when burning.
Zanndra - Thanks, but I want a fireplace that looks like a REAL fire box with NO metal on the top and sides. THE REAL LOOK !!!

southview - What do you mean by the "M fireplace"? (Majestic? which model?)

Thanks,
Zevi.

Zevi - See my 12:56 2/10 thread - - Majestic, woodburning, super hearth , 48 - 52 inch.

southview -- OK, I was hoping that you also had a chance to look at the model I was considering (Majestic PureEnergy BFC36) and you were just telling me how great it was... ;-(

Zevi ;-)

Hello zevi,

After a quick look it appears that the Heat-N-Glo Northstar may actually be a re-branded Quadrafire 7100. I may be wrong but they are very, very, similar.

Before settling on a CFM/Majestic, you might want to go to www.hearth.com and read what people are saying about them in the community forum there. BTW, CFM's stock price has plumeted over the last 12 months.

Take a look at the Security Chimneys line of BIS models - particularly the BIS Ultima. The BIS line are all EPA certified. The Ultima should fit in your budget and your framing. http://www.securitychimneys.com Lennox also markets this fireplace as the Lennox Brentwood so you should be able to find someplace that carries this fireplace near you.

Whatever you do, make sure you buy a wood burning fireplace that is EPA CERTIFIED and definitely spend a few extra bucks for the optional blower. I say this not such much for the environment itself but rather because EPA CERTIFIED firplaces are the most efficient fireplaces. Clean air is a side-benefit of high efficiency.

Good luck!

Have you looked at anthracite coal inserts? Look at Hitzer or Keystoker. I have a model from Hitzer and love it. Heats the whole 1800 SF house and we have had it running 24/7 since November. Coal is cheap and available in Michigan. I live in SW Michigan. Anthracite has the most BTU per ton of any other solid fuel. There's a 700 year supply in Pa. so supply is there. Anyway, I hope you got what you wanted...Dave

Most realistic Gas fireplace I have evr seen is the Napoleon Madison Direct-Vent that is new this year. You can get it with Cast Iron twin glass doors that look just like the wood burning version.
http://www.napoleonfireplaces.com/Webshare/Brochures/Madison.pdf

If my wife weren't afraid of gas appliances I would get it in a heartbeat.

We bought a BIS Ultima:
Has a blower fan
Has a sealed front door
Has an outside air kit
Is EPA certified (high efficiency)
Isn't too big-fits inside the space and allows hotter burns when the weather is warmer
Has the option of an insulated chimney liner for better draft and less deposits, although it is more expensive.