Hello everyone,
I live in SE PA, where we have 3 months of "cold" and 2 months of (chilly) where I'd like to be able to provide almost all needed heat for my home. I'd like to heat ~1600 square feet, am well-insulated, and have several ceiling fans. My goal is to use less than $200 a year in heating oil.
My fireplace will be in a room that's roughly 11.5 feet wide by 35 feet long that contains my family room, eat-in kitchen, and kitchen. My one concern is with making the family room unbearable, though it has an immediate ceiling fan and 9 foot ceilings.
Here's what I'm looking at:
Lopi Republic 1750 - With blower, black door, and surround, ~$1900-2000
Enerzone 2.3 - Appears darn near identical to the Lopi Republic. But I see no reviews on this brand...and it's the same price as Lopi.
Lopi Freedom - Quite a bit larger. The dealer stated that this one was "Lopi's original and best constructed" unit, and therefore was about $500 more expensive. The quote, including a blower, was for $2700 for this unit.
I like Lopi's reputation and the price point seems good for the republic, and it seems like it'll fit my needs. I like the damper bypass for servicing needs and to, apparently, reduce smoke blowback when loading it up.
Is the Freedom better aside from greater overall mass and size? In other words, for my application is it worth another $500-600 (I recognize this is a judgment call).
Lastly, I've gotten quotes from 2 dealers on installing a liner: $1300 from one, $1500 from another. Sight unseen, just based upon a continuous 20-25 foot chimney run with a 6" flue opening. It's straight up. Lifetime warranty and all that crap.
Does this sound right? $1300 to me sounds more appropriate, including installing the insert.
Thanks for any and all help everyone. All recommendations welcome!
Joe
Edited to make this easier to read
I live in SE PA, where we have 3 months of "cold" and 2 months of (chilly) where I'd like to be able to provide almost all needed heat for my home. I'd like to heat ~1600 square feet, am well-insulated, and have several ceiling fans. My goal is to use less than $200 a year in heating oil.
My fireplace will be in a room that's roughly 11.5 feet wide by 35 feet long that contains my family room, eat-in kitchen, and kitchen. My one concern is with making the family room unbearable, though it has an immediate ceiling fan and 9 foot ceilings.
Here's what I'm looking at:
Lopi Republic 1750 - With blower, black door, and surround, ~$1900-2000
Enerzone 2.3 - Appears darn near identical to the Lopi Republic. But I see no reviews on this brand...and it's the same price as Lopi.
Lopi Freedom - Quite a bit larger. The dealer stated that this one was "Lopi's original and best constructed" unit, and therefore was about $500 more expensive. The quote, including a blower, was for $2700 for this unit.
I like Lopi's reputation and the price point seems good for the republic, and it seems like it'll fit my needs. I like the damper bypass for servicing needs and to, apparently, reduce smoke blowback when loading it up.
Is the Freedom better aside from greater overall mass and size? In other words, for my application is it worth another $500-600 (I recognize this is a judgment call).
Lastly, I've gotten quotes from 2 dealers on installing a liner: $1300 from one, $1500 from another. Sight unseen, just based upon a continuous 20-25 foot chimney run with a 6" flue opening. It's straight up. Lifetime warranty and all that crap.
Does this sound right? $1300 to me sounds more appropriate, including installing the insert.
Thanks for any and all help everyone. All recommendations welcome!
Joe
Edited to make this easier to read