First a little background, I live in northern Baltimore County Maryland and am looking to put in a wood fireplace insert to heat most of my house. The house is fairly new, but only moderately insulated. I have a first floor, two story family room where my masonry fireplace (36W x 28D x 29H) is located. On the second floor there are bedrooms and a balcony overlooking the 2-story family room. Since the 2-story family room is open to the first and second floors the heat can easily rise upstairs. I have ~1000 sq ft to be heated on each floor. I have electric within 6 feet of the fireplace for a blower. I have don't have a strict budget for this and would like to find the price/performance value point then go a little higher.
So my questions are:
1. Brands that are trusted and known.
2. Must haves for my installation (I think I read about some kind of fireplace block to keep heat from going up the chimney)
3. Proper sizing and selection of insert
4. Local dealer and installer or web order and local installer?
5. If anyone is local, experiences with a local dealer who knows their stuff?
6. What range of cost am I looking at?
7. Anything else I'm forgetting?
Lots of questions, but I'm new to this. I'm sure this stuff has been gone over many many many times, but please don't tell me to just search, it's nearly impossible for me to filter through all of it and find the little pieces of info I need.
Thanks!
So my questions are:
1. Brands that are trusted and known.
2. Must haves for my installation (I think I read about some kind of fireplace block to keep heat from going up the chimney)
3. Proper sizing and selection of insert
4. Local dealer and installer or web order and local installer?
5. If anyone is local, experiences with a local dealer who knows their stuff?
6. What range of cost am I looking at?
7. Anything else I'm forgetting?
Lots of questions, but I'm new to this. I'm sure this stuff has been gone over many many many times, but please don't tell me to just search, it's nearly impossible for me to filter through all of it and find the little pieces of info I need.
Thanks!