Hello! Husband and I live on Long Island and are spending our second winter in our home. It's a 3000 SF beast of a cape cod with addition of a den converted from 1 car garage. We have two fireplaces, one masonry and one not (sheet metal- aluminum maybe?) both on first floor. Between the price of oil and energy inefficiency of our home, we're spending closeto $6000/yr on oil alone- and that was with a CRAZY mild winter last year. Doubt we'll be so lucky this year.
We're considering installing an insert into the masonry fireplace (it's the more central of the two) and are really at a loss. Every dealer has a different product and a different opinion. Every time I think we've made a decision, a review changes our minds. The units we're currently considering are the Vermont Castings Merrimack and the Lopi Freedom Bay. Both costing $4500-5000 installed.
So my newbie questions are as follows...
Will this really cut down the oil bill if we burn full time? I work from home so I can keep the home fires burning, so to speak, but by the same token, I want to be warm!
Any opinions on one of these units over the other?
Any other units we should be considering?
If you're in this area, any recommendations on a reputable dealer?
MANY thanks for any insights you can offer!
Lauren
We're considering installing an insert into the masonry fireplace (it's the more central of the two) and are really at a loss. Every dealer has a different product and a different opinion. Every time I think we've made a decision, a review changes our minds. The units we're currently considering are the Vermont Castings Merrimack and the Lopi Freedom Bay. Both costing $4500-5000 installed.
So my newbie questions are as follows...
Will this really cut down the oil bill if we burn full time? I work from home so I can keep the home fires burning, so to speak, but by the same token, I want to be warm!
Any opinions on one of these units over the other?
Any other units we should be considering?
If you're in this area, any recommendations on a reputable dealer?
MANY thanks for any insights you can offer!
Lauren