Hello hearth.com - I'm so glad I found this forum it really is a wealth of info. I've done a lot if reading and I'm about ready to purchase a wood insert. My fireplace details:
Front opening 29-1/2" wide 25" high. 22" wide in the back and 28" deep.
It's a masonry fireplace built in the 60s with the house which is a single story ranch, appx 1700 sf. I have 2 acres of badly neglected woods in northern Fairfield county CT to work with.
Fireplace is at the end of the house in the living/dining area.
My goal is to reduce my oil bill, I dont need to rely on it for heat 24/7. But from reading this forum; I realize I should get the biggest stove that is reasonable. I was looking at the Lopi Answer as I like the idea of the convection chamber to minnize blower use (we are sensitive to noise as I've heard some loud blowers on other's stoves). Was also looking at the jotul winterport 350 but it has the same size firebox and I'm getting quotes for $400 more ($1800 for the Answer, $2200 for the Jotul)
My questions:
Any other stoves I should be looking at? The mid sized Lopi stoves may fit but I dont want the stove sticking out into the room like some of the cooktop stoves do. The PE vista may also be a good choice?
I plan on either building a sheet metal surround that is flush with the front if the fireplace OR just building a block off plate. Do I need both? Will the surround negate some of the heat from the convection?
Any shops in western CT I should check out? I got a recommendation to visit House of Warmth in New Milford which I plan on visiting this weekend.
Are the price quotes I'm getting reasonable or high for a self install?
Thanks!!
Front opening 29-1/2" wide 25" high. 22" wide in the back and 28" deep.
It's a masonry fireplace built in the 60s with the house which is a single story ranch, appx 1700 sf. I have 2 acres of badly neglected woods in northern Fairfield county CT to work with.
Fireplace is at the end of the house in the living/dining area.
My goal is to reduce my oil bill, I dont need to rely on it for heat 24/7. But from reading this forum; I realize I should get the biggest stove that is reasonable. I was looking at the Lopi Answer as I like the idea of the convection chamber to minnize blower use (we are sensitive to noise as I've heard some loud blowers on other's stoves). Was also looking at the jotul winterport 350 but it has the same size firebox and I'm getting quotes for $400 more ($1800 for the Answer, $2200 for the Jotul)
My questions:
Any other stoves I should be looking at? The mid sized Lopi stoves may fit but I dont want the stove sticking out into the room like some of the cooktop stoves do. The PE vista may also be a good choice?
I plan on either building a sheet metal surround that is flush with the front if the fireplace OR just building a block off plate. Do I need both? Will the surround negate some of the heat from the convection?
Any shops in western CT I should check out? I got a recommendation to visit House of Warmth in New Milford which I plan on visiting this weekend.
Are the price quotes I'm getting reasonable or high for a self install?
Thanks!!