Wood Insert Choices

[Shamrock132]

Hello,

We're looking to convert our fireplace to a wood insert. After talking to a couple shops and looking online, the choices seem endless! Looking to get any opinions or advice on the ones we've seen so far. We live in eastern MA. Our house is 2 stories, about 1300 sq ft, built in the 50's with an external chimney. 2 shops gave quotes on Regency, Vermont Castings, Napoleon and Hearthstone. Ideally we would use it a few times a week, more as a supplement then a primary heat source.

The first 2 quotes were for a Regency Alterra and Vermont Castings Montpelier. This shop recommended non cat stoves, saying that unless we were planning on really keeping the fire going for days at a time, it wasn't worth the savings and maintenance. They said that larger stoves might be too hot for our space. They mentioned the Regency has an adjustable air control while the Montpelier doesn't. They quoted about $6800-7000 installed for both, with the Montpelier being a little more. Both would be ordered with a delivery sometime in December.

The second shop gave quotes for stoves they had in stock. A Napoleon Oakdale EPI3, and a Hearthstone Clydesdale. The Napoleon is on clearance as it's discontinued. I'm slightly familiar with Hearthstone as we have some family with a Heritage stove that's about 25 years old, they love the soapstone and how it has a gradual heat. These stoves were estimated around 7300-8000. They mentioned that the Clydesdale is one of the few inserts that qualifies for the tax rebate.

Would love to hear any thoughts or any stoves that we should consider. Thank you!

 

[Trevor Tahclep]

Are you looking for a catalyst insert or non-catalyst insert, very important as the catalyst burners require more maintenance, the Hearstone as an example has 2 catalyst to maintain and eventually replace, one each side. As you will probably live with your chosen insert for many many years to come it is an important consideration.

 

[begreen]

The Regency Alterra is a good looking flush insert. It's a little small but should be ok for supplemental and ambience fires. Also consider the Osburn Matrix 1900 in this size range. The Napoleon Oakdale EPI3 is larger and was a good basic heater. It will have longer burntime and can push out more heat if needed. The Vermont Castings Montpelier is a single-burn rate stove. You fill it and light it and let it manage the fire. This is not the best for 24/7 heating, but ok for ambience fires. The Pacific Energy Vista or Neo 1.6 insert is a good choice in this size. The Clydesdale is a hybrid cat stove. So far the reviews are mixed for performance. In hybrids, the Lopi Medium Flush is a more reliable performer.

 

[Shamrock132]

Are you looking for a catalyst insert or non-catalyst insert, very important as the catalyst burners require more maintenance, the Hearstone as an example has 2 catalyst to maintain and eventually replace, one each side. As you will probably live with your chosen insert for many many years to come it is an important consideration.

I'm not sure to be honest. The stove wouldn't be running 24/7 as the primary heat source, more for ambiance/supplementing the oil heat a few days a week, and if the power went out, which is pretty rare where I live. In every day operation is the cat stove more work to keep at the correct temperature?

 

[Shamrock132]

The Regency Alterra is a good looking flush insert. It's a little small but should be ok for supplemental and ambience fires. Also consider the Osburn Matrix 1900 in this size range. The Napoleon Oakdale EPI3 is larger and was a good basic heater. It will have longer burntime and can push out more heat if needed. The Vermont Castings Montpelier is a single-burn rate stove. You fill it and light it and let it manage the fire. This is not the best for 24/7 heating, but ok for ambience fires. The Pacific Energy Vista or Neo 1.6 insert is a good choice in this size. The Clydesdale is a hybrid cat stove. So far the reviews are mixed for performance. In hybrids, the Lopi Medium Flush is a more reliable performer.

Yeah I think were leaning away from the Montpelier and to the Alterra at the moment, only concern is visually the fireplace is on a wall that is brick, instead of just a brick chimney so it might look small and out of place. Ive heard good things about Lopi, but the closest dealer is about 45-50 min from us. The first shop we talked too said that the Pacific Energy might be too big for our house? The spect look about the same as the Alterra to me, I can ask them what they meant.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[begreen]

Yeah I think were leaning away from the Montpelier and to the Alterra at the moment, only concern is visually the fireplace is on a wall that is brick, instead of just a brick chimney so it might look small and out of place. Ive heard good things about Lopi, but the closest dealer is about 45-50 min from us. The first shop we talked too said that the Pacific Energy might be too big for our house? The spect look about the same as the Alterra to me, I can ask them what they meant.

Thank you for the advice!

PE makes inserts in a variety of sizes. The Neo 1.6 is only 1.6 cu ft., definitely not large, more like a small medium.

 

[stoveliker]

I'm not sure to be honest. The stove wouldn't be running 24/7 as the primary heat source, more for ambiance/supplementing the oil heat a few days a week, and if the power went out, which is pretty rare where I live. In every day operation is the cat stove more work to keep at the correct temperature?

While a cat stove or insert could work, in this case I would go with a conventional but solid tube stove. Sized right, it'll give a nicer viewing spectacle than a cat stove.

 

[Trevor Tahclep]

The first shop we talked too said that the Pacific Energy might be too big for our house?

Thank you for the advice!

Be careful he may not have a PE in stock and is guiding you to what he does have. Among the many things the PE has going for it is that fantastic '' one piece stainless baffle and secondary combustion air feeder '' it is so simple when it comes to its construction, maintenance and cleaning which you will need to do at minimum once per year with any stove. No air tubes and clips/pins to bugger around with, no expensive C-cast or vermiculite baffles that crack, break and eventually need replacing. You do not have to always fill the fire box, like all stoves you can operate it with a partial load in it to be more comfortable if need be. Just a few points to consider.