Looking for the largest viewing area on a wood fireplace insert?
hillsc
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
User
8 years agohillsc
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Jotul C550 - Viewing area
Comments (1)You might try the chat room in for an answer to your question. They have wood burning enthusiasts there who like to talk....See MoreStandard fireplace with a wood burning stove insert
Comments (2)Thanks for the information! I know what it's like to have a regular fireplace, and I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about going without a wood stove because the last house I lived in had a fireplace and it had a ventilation system where you'd just flip the switch and the fan would come on. It did a great job with pulling all the smoke and soot up, but the heat went with it as well. I've got someone coming to inspect the chimney and clean it out, and I've already found a replacement stove that I'm hoping to have put in within the next few weeks. This particular situation just threw me for a loop because I've never had a fireplace or wood stove in a basement before. If everything works as planned, I'll keep my fingers crossed for lower electric bills this winter!...See MoreSelecting a Wood Fireplace Insert
Comments (31)I'm a compulsive shopper. I way way way way way overthink any purchase of more than $100, and I live in terror of not getting the best deal possible. I have been known to waste $5 in gas to save $1 in groceries. So when, like many homeowners, I was caught last Winter with my pants down and heating oil $4/gallon, I started wishing I had something else. We don't have a good spot for a stove, which would have been my 1st choice, but we did have a wonderful masonary fireplace/air conditioner so we decided to go that route. So I started to do my homework to pick the "best" insert for my fireplace. I wanted ease of install, plain black w/ no frills, STEEL FIREBOX, the most glass. I narrowed it down to two: PE Summit and Lopi Freedom (I found the Regency dealer too late). After figuring the demensions and installation constraints I realized the Summit wasn't going to fit easily, and that I'd have to do som major demo to get it to fit. I wanted the biggest firebox I could get. I also wanted the option to completely flush mount the unit, and that was something the Lopi would allow me to do. I went with the Freedom,(not the bay I swear those things look so gawdy in the pictures). It was more when factored on a price/cubic ft of firebox but I really wanted the largest firebox I could get. Larger firebox=more heat right? Well, yes and no. You can get more heat but you may not want it. My insert is in a room about 300sqft, and at a perpetual 80 degrees. The rest of the main floor of the home fluctuates between 65 and 72, depending on how long I'm burning hot and how many fans I have blowing. I expected this. I think I could've easily gone with a smaller insert, because save for 1 overnight burn I'm tending the fire every 2 hours anyway, so I could just as easily toss in more wood at that time. Also, I did the survey/install myself. An experienced dealer may have known from experience whether a larger Regency (in hindsight my fist pic) or PE Summit would have fit, but I was hung up on flush-mounting the stove into the hearth. I love the stove. Its a quality/lifetime item. The large glass is great, and I don't miss the hearth at all. It stays clean with dry wood, and if I choke it down and it gets dirty I run it hot the next morning and it burns right off. I'm buring my own wood from my land. If you have to buy wood I'd suggest you get a pellet stove. This being said, to do it again I'd get the mid-size Regency or PE. Afte all the concern of wanting to flush-mount the insert (little ones) we mounted it forward, so we could have a stovetop. It was the right decision, and when the power went out for 7 days it was a really really good decision. I can't move all the heat this stove puts out, and the other ones are just as good and cheaper. The regency is close to the same insert, and the blower is standard on their unit. My friend has the mid-size Regency, and he saved $500 over what I paid, which is like getting free installation. DO NOT BOTHER WITH AN INSERT IF YOU DON'T GET THE BLOWER. Trust me, you'll be disappointed and you're wasting your money....See Morepellet vs. wood vs. gas fireplace insert
Comments (22)I purchased a used Quadrafire Castile pellet stove for the basement. I have a high efficiency heat pump and strips but wanted something for back up that would run off of a small generator if we have an extended power outage. I purchased 2 tons of pellets last winter and when the temps were below 30 or if we were in the basement we ran it on low which is around 1lb or 7500btu/hr. I would turn it to medium when was below 20 and ran it on high when it was in the teens or below and the heat pump was locked out which is 8lbs per hour. The warm floor made the house feel more comfortable which allowed the stat to be a little coolder. It is not hastle free by NO means. It requires regular cleaning and maintenance and the pellets can be a pain for some to deal with. I enjoy going down stairs and sitting in front of it after being outside and freezing all day. I grew up with heat from a wood furnace once you get used to that warmth a heat pump or even heat strips doesn't compare when it is in the teens outside. If the cleaning and maintenance is not kept up then the efficiency will head toward the toilet. There are some models that can go a week or more with no problem and others that need the ashes dumped daily. It isn't horrible by any means but it is not just a pour in the fuel and forget it device. The ability to have a heat source that will operate on stored fuel and less electrical power than a 200 watt light bulb it is pretty hard to beat....See MoreUser
8 years agohillsc
8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agohomepro01
8 years agogabdoyle
6 years agoKrysta Saintz
3 years ago
Related Stories
LIVING ROOMSHow to Convert Your Wood-Burning Fireplace
Learn about inserts and other options for switching your fireplace from wood to gas or electric
Full StoryCONTEMPORARY HOMESHouzz Tour: A Big Sky Country House Embraces Wide-Open Views
Generous glass opens this Montana home to the rugged scenery, while wood keeps the look warm and inviting
Full StoryTILETop Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look
Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles
Full StoryPAINTINGKnotty to Nice: Painted Wood Paneling Lightens a Room's Look
Children ran from the scary dark walls in this spare room, but white paint and new flooring put fears and style travesties to rest
Full StoryCONTEMPORARY HOMESHouzz Tour: Dream Views Wow on Seattle's Lake Washington
Expansive glass brings nature's glories inside this contemporary home, while generous wood celebrates the beauty of the outdoors
Full StoryARCHITECTURECity View: Chicago's Contemporary Design Will Blow You Away
Take a whirl through the Windy City's interiors and you might be surprised — they're not all in the conservative camp
Full StoryMODERN HOMESHouzz Tour: Creek Views Star in a Modern New York Home
Natural materials, all-white interiors and generous windows put the focus on forest and water in this weekend home for a family
Full StoryPHOTO FLIP60 Kitchen Sinks With Mesmerizing Views
Check out this parade of views from the kitchen sink and tell us: Which offers the best backdrop for doing the dishes?
Full StoryDREAM SPACESWorld of Design: 15 Swimming Pools With Dream Views
Join us on a refreshing tour of spectacular swimming pools from Sydney to Moscow
Full StoryROOM OF THE DAYRoom of the Day: A San Francisco Living Room Enjoys the View
A reconfigured entry, expansive windows and modern furnishings create an inviting living room with stunning vistas
Full Story
hillscOriginal Author