Looking for New Wood Stove Insert

[PantsOnFire]

If you are heating with a decent heatpump in our climate then the advantage of a low and slow cat stove is diminished. It makes more sense to run the heatpump in mild weather than to burn low and slow, especially if the firewood is purchased. You could save a lot of money and heat well when it gets cold with a Drolet Escape 1800 there if it fits the fireplace. At that price point the tax credit savings becomes moot.

No thanks on the Drolet stoves. The 1500 insert would fit but it has low efficiency, and there is no local dealer.

I agree with you on heat pump usage. Mine will still be the main source of heat, with a wood stove as supplemental heat in colder weather.

 

[EbS-P]

No thanks on the Drolet stoves. The 1500 insert would fit but it has low efficiency, and there is no local dealer.

I agree with you on heat pump usage. Mine will still be the main source of heat, with a wood stove as supplemental heat in colder weather.

I like my Drolet. DIY install included wrapping the liner with insulation. Install was straight forward. If price were no object I would Ashford or PE T5 insert. In your situation. Anything less than 2 cu ft is a 6 hour burn time.

 

[bholler]

No thanks on the Drolet stoves. The 1500 insert would fit but it has low efficiency, and there is no local dealer.

I agree with you on heat pump usage. Mine will still be the main source of heat, with a wood stove as supplemental heat in colder weather.

Again the difference in efficency is not going to be noticable at all. Real world operation and lab testing are very different

 

[begreen]

Again the difference in efficency is not going to be noticable at all. Real world operation and lab testing are very different

Indeed. FWIW, my recommendation was for the larger Drolet 1800i. A PE Super or a Regency i2450 would also work if a non-cat was being considered, but the value of the Drolet is hard to beat in the current market.

 

[PantsOnFire]

I like my Drolet. DIY install included wrapping the liner with insulation. Install was straight forward. If price were no object I would Ashford or PE T5 insert. In your situation. Anything less than 2 cu ft is a 6 hour burn time.

Having never installed a stove before, I don’t think this is the right time to learn. LOL. I do know of a local guy who does installs and services stoves, so he is an option.

 

[PantsOnFire]

Again the difference in efficency is not going to be noticable at all. Real world operation and lab testing are very different

I realize the stove efficiency numbers are similar to the mpg ratings for new cars. Your results may vary. But it’s something to use for comparison.

 

[PantsOnFire]

Indeed. FWIW, my recommendation was for the larger Drolet 1800i. A PE Super or a Regency i2450 would also work if a non-cat was being considered, but the value of the Drolet is hard to beat in the current market.

I looked closer at the Drolet 1500 insert because the 1800 was a tight fit for my fireplace. I don’t have a preference for cat or not.

 

[bholler]

I realize the stove efficiency numbers are similar to the mpg ratings for new cars. Your results may vary. But it’s something to use for comparison.

But you are talking about a few percent points. Even if you were running at those efficiencies you won't notice any difference

 

[EbS-P]

Having never installed a stove before, I don’t think this is the right time to learn. LOL. I do know of a local guy who does installs and services stoves, so he is an option.

I had not ever done one before either. Probably a skill I won’t ever get to use again either. If you have decent safe roof access and a relatively straight flue it’s not too tough. Lifting the insert is the most physical but there are other solutions than back muscles

 

[broadhead]

I had not ever done one before either. Probably a skill I won’t ever get to use again either. If you have decent safe roof access and a relatively straight flue it’s not too tough. Lifting the insert is the most physical but there are other solutions than back muscles

I did both of mine this year and plan to help my father do his. I think it’s rewarding and I can’t believe install costs.