New here - wondering if insert is a smart decision

[JA600L]

Have you ever operated an EPA certified stove before?

 

[JA600L]

Thanks for all the information/suggestions/etc. To answer a few of the questions - this would be a supplemental heat at best. There could be a week or two when I don't use it because we are so busy. I enjoy a nice fire and my kids do also but the reality is I don't see keeping a fire going 24/7 during the winter. Also, Richmond, VA average lows in Dec and Jan are 31 and 28 degrees respectively. Not like we are freezing to death (but figures this last winter was considerably colder). I started looking into the insert option because I figured if I am going to make a fire, might as well have it be useful instead of costing me money (especially at night with the damper open all night as the fire goes out). And yes, I do have a generator for when we lose power, which has happened once in the last year for 4-5 hours.
How hard is installation of one of these? I usually do most of my own work around the house - electrical, plumbing, etc. and I have a nice Millermatic 252 mig for when I work on my jeeps - building axles, bumpers, and such. Not afraid of a little work..... The only part that is iffy is being on the top of a 40ft ladder pushing/pulling the liner down.

You may want to check with your insurance company to see if they require professional installation or not. Do they know you are using your fireplace?

 

[jpcjguy]

Good point on the insurance company requiring professional installation. I will check. They know I have a wood burning fireplace - I have to assume they think I use it.....

 

[jpcjguy]

Have you ever operated an EPA certified stove before?

No I have not....

 

[Hogwildz]

If most major utilities of your household (heating and cooling) depend on electricity, first thing to buy is a generator.

I think you may find most would opt for the wood burner first. Most homes heating & cooling depends on electricity, but more have wood burners than generators.
Not saying a generator isn't a good thing to have in some cases, but a genny isn't necessary to burn wood, which is a main reason for purchase for many wood burners, to heat and even cook without power if/ when needed.

 

[Starstuff]

I was also quoted 6k+ for a full install of a Pacific Energy Super insert by a local dealer (I'm up in So. MD). They weren't willing to negotiate even when I showed them comps. I went online and found this site and a seller based in Washington State. Even with expensive delivery and a liner, it was still $500 cheaper that the stove alone from the local dealer (before taxes!). I moved it inside myself with the help of neighbor. Installed in half a day and was burning that night. I haven't looked back and have heated my home entirely with wood for two years. You sound like a handy guy who knows what he's doing. If you've got some arm strength and aren't afraid of going on the roof, you can do it yourself. I do suggest insulating the liner.

Re: home insurance. Not sure about yours, but my agent (Encompass Insurance) said that there is nothing required for inserts. A freestanding stove would require proof of professional installation.

I really like my PE Super. It throws a ton of heat, burns all night, and looks beautiful, but if I could do it all over, I'd just get an NC-30 Englander insert from Home Depot for a third of the price. Good luck and welcome. Hoarding wood will become an obsession.

If money isn't an issue, consider a Blaze King catalytic. I think cat stoves are probably perfect for this climate and you may be able to heat your entire house if you keep it going regularly.

 

[Smoked]

I moved my mantle so I could install a free standing stove on my hearth and I bet if you look at mantle clearance numbers, you will have concerns there. Advice from this site was that the PE Summit insert had some of the lower mantle clearance numbers. I almost ordered one before I decided to relocate the mantle at the last minute. I personally like not having to deal with a blower. ACME stove has a shop out west of Short Pump. They had a nice selection but don't think they had PE. They had Jotul, Buck and Hearthstone inserts and seemed like decent people. If there is a Blaze king dealer out there one of their inserts could be very good. The folks on this site really seem to love the burn times of the larger cat stoves from Woodstock and BK. For me, the woodstock stoves were too tall and I did not really have a BK dealer close here.

 

[Grisu]

but if I could do it all over, I'd just get an NC-30 Englander insert from Home Depot for a third of the price.

I don't know of any Englander 30NC insert. They have an insert version of the 13NC but that is considerably smaller than the 30NC.

Not sure about yours, but my agent (Encompass Insurance) said that there is nothing required for inserts.

I got a similar response from my insurance. Fireplace or fireplace insert did not make much of a difference to them.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

I think you may find most would opt for the wood burner first. Most homes heating & cooling depends on electricity, but more have wood burners than generators.
Not saying a generator isn't a good thing to have in some cases, but a genny isn't necessary to burn wood, which is a main reason for purchase for many wood burners, to heat and even cook without power if/ when needed.

What happened to us many times when a squirrel got fried in a fuse box outside or when a thunderstorm wipes out power, the generator becomes handy. Keeping your food frozen with a stove is not that easy. If you have little ones like the OP, a space heater running on a generator when a snow storm gets you without power for a number of days might be useful as well.

 

[Dmitry]

If you gonna keep TV where it is, I think Large Flush Travis industry insert will be perfect for you. It has largest viewing glass I could find, it has many options your wife would like to choose from( Faceplates etc) .They don't sell them online so dealer is your only choice. Yes, it's expensive, but I got mine on sale using "coupon" for about $3500 plus some optional faceplates etc. I think you can save some money on "professional" installation by dealer and invest it in insert. I've bought top of the line smooth SS liner, insulation,Roxul insulation for firebox block off plate and it was still much cheaper then dealers basic install with no block off plate, no insulation etc. You got some time before winter, talk about discount with dealer, do research on this site , folks around here gonna help you if ll have any questions. If you are handy and have knowledge that can be found at this forum you can do better install and know that everything is how it should be.
P.S.: Beware that you gonna catch yourself watching the fireshow in your insert rather than TV screen.

 

[KB007]

A nice big insert would do wonders in that spot. Obviously I'm somewhat biased towards a Regency i3100. You should be able to get a good insert, liner and install for much less that 6 grand. Unless you're getting the solid gold door and weekly ash disposal options of course

Also agree that the wood burner is probably the priority over a genny. Genny is nice to have to power things in an outage, but with wood burner you can at least make some heat to keep the house warm. Genny and tfr panel are a good thing to have, especially if you're on a well.

 

[Blazing]

I'm an hour south of where you live. Installed a blaze king princess insert and absolutely LOVE this stove. Your more than welcome to come take a look anytime.

 

[Huntindog1]

After reading lots of these Fire Place Insert Postings the PE Summit would be your best bet for usability.
I have read about inserts that wont hold the amount of wood it should as the odd geometric size of the box.
The PE Summit is a Square Box if I am not mistaken and you can load wood North/South or East/West with a 18" length Split.

Some stoves you will be cutting 24 inch logs to be able to fully load the stove.

So do call about the firebox dimensions you will be glad you did.

Nice to be able to load North / South as you dont have to worry about a piece rolling out on you or falling forwards against the glass.

 

[Starstuff]

I don't know of any Englander 30NC insert. They have an insert version of the 13NC but that is considerably smaller than the 30NC.

Oops. You're right; I meant the 13NC. It would be far too small for the OP, but for my 1600 split level, it would have been just fine (all the bedrooms are upstairs), and I could have saved a couple thousand dollars.

For the OP, I too think the PE Summit would probably be your best bet for a non-cat insert. PE stoves are absolutely beautiful and extremely well-engineered. You'll find lots and lots of threads about them here on hearth.com.