Really big privet hedge makes long burning firewood, and anyone who wants some is welcome to come out and cut their own. I expect tgray came here in hopes of a local answer, fair enough! (Ashes as fertilizer also are a ON topic tie in.) Not every blower will fit every insert, so you'll need to have a sketch with dimensions of any potential air circulation spaces. In Knoxville there are two resources; the more knowledgeable is on Old Broadway and they sell a lot of different kinds of inserts and are more likely to be able to help you. The second is west, on Kingston Pike, just up from the Home Depot and they sell a lot of pretty woodstoves. We have two Dutchwest woodstoves and got the blower for the second one from them; the salesman didn't want to sell us the blower because he didn't think most folks who bought the stoves used them for heating, just as decorator accents. After that bit of ignorance, if there had been another local source, we would have walked out the door. Almost felt like going to some nurseries. Ann

Look into cultured stone

I had a Pacific Energy insert installed in a 55 year old home last spring for $3600 including some chimney repairs and a full stainless steel liner. It heats fantastic- with an insert a blower is a must to get efficient heat. My heat pump hasn't kicked on yet and we've been in the 20's a couple of times. I agree that spring would be best. This is the exact worst time to buy a wood stove/insert as everybody and their uncle are considering the same thing. Go ahead and take that tree down and split that wood, though. It won't be ready to burn until next season anyway, so use the time betwen now and then to research inserts. A lot depends on your existing chimney and the size of your fireplace- I would schedule an inspection and an at home consult to narrow down your possibilities, then hit the web . I've included a link to a very busy forum that can give you tons of information and suggestions. They will likely ask for a photo of your fireplace so get one ready. Here is a link that might be useful: Hearth Forums

We had wood burning, and while I very much enjoyed the sights, sounds, warmth of a wood burning fire, we converted to gas. I do not miss the dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the fireplace. While we had wood, we were able to cut our own firewood which was a satisfying project at our ages then. I suppose we could still do it now, but cutting, loading, hauling and splitting wood aren't very high on my list of satisfying chores these days - and ordering, buying firewood has become expensive. Truthfully, we don't use the gas fireplace that often. This sprawled out one story house (1955) isn't hard to heat with natural gas radiant in the ceilings. I have the fire going during storms, or for the ambiance occasionally and when expecting winter guests and wanting the house to feel welcoming.