We are about to replace our gas fireplace with a wood insert. We live in VA so temps aren't too wild in the winter. We get some nights in the teens/single digits, but I'd say our winter temps average 20s at night and days in the mid-30s. It's quite breezy as well. We have narrowed it down to the Blaze King Sirocco 25 and the Hearthstone Green Mountain 90. The main difference being the BK is catalytic (and eligible for the tax credit) while the GMi 90 is not. My husband is concerned about the hassle of the BK and dealing with maintenance. I like them both and am inclined to go with the one that will cost less. This will serve as supplemental heat to a gas furnace. We will burn during the day and probably less so at night. Any thoughts?
Also, our hearth is taller than the BK insert and I have seen pics posted with the backer plate to extend upwards, but it doesn't seem to extend the width at all. This is the only pic I could find that illustrates what I mean. Is this the normal backer plate? I don't love that it isn't uniformly widened on each side.
![[Hearth.com] Blaze King Sirocco 25 vs Hearthstone Green Mountain 90 (insert) ??](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/1731104878695-webp.331644/ "[Hearth.com] Blaze King Sirocco 25 vs Hearthstone Green Mountain 90 (insert) ??")
Also, our hearth is taller than the BK insert and I have seen pics posted with the backer plate to extend upwards, but it doesn't seem to extend the width at all. This is the only pic I could find that illustrates what I mean. Is this the normal backer plate? I don't love that it isn't uniformly widened on each side.
