What brand of Fireplace Insert? Wood or
I’ve been looking at the Lopi fireplace inserts for starters.
I’ve also seen the Pellet/Corn inserts that can burn up to 50/50 mix of both pellets AND corn…. They have a wood version that a full 24″ wide fire box…and heats at 74,000btu up to 2,500sq.ft.
Turn key price for insert, Single wall Stainless Steel 6″ pipe up through the old chimney, sealed & rain cap, two blowers, brass door/trim, etched glass scene, and installation is about $4,500…. Is that good or high?
What brand do you like or would change to? Price? Wood or Pellets?
Thanks,
Bill
Replies
is it too high?!?!
IIRC, you are in south Texas. Why in the world you need ANY heat is beyond me, let alone why spend that much for an appliance to get it.
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IIRC = if I recall correctly.I lived in Hamlin TX for a while, and Lubbock for two years.
Compared to CO and up here, I just don't think of it as cold.But if you get free wood, go for a wood insert, rather than so much bucks for a pellet or corn that you have to pay for fuel. Run yourself some calcs on the actual likely payback time
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Bill,
I'm looking at a corn burning stove, according to other responses a bushel of corn will burn for 24 to 48 hrs, at least thats what several folks said when I asked this question several days ago. If that is true, and at the price of corn (3.75 a bushel) then that is the way to go. Even if corn prices rise again, its still a better bargain.
My wood burning fireplace insert (Country Flame) is rated at 10500 to 51400 BTU, extra large firebox that holds up to 29" firewood and has a heating capacity to 3000 sq ft. It DID NOT live up to its expectations. My fire dies out by early morning 3-4 am and I wake up to a cold house. The last few years, I have been using slightly over a cord per month. Check the price of firewood in your area unless you can get 2-3 cords of free wood every year. My home is 4200 sq ft (2000 sq ft upstairs.) I am unhappy with its performance. Maybe its my home or the fireplace insert but thats why I will be building an energy efficient 1600 sq ft home in the near future.
If your wood is free, is it oak or pecan?....thats the only two woods i know of that are supposed to burn good in fireplaces, but I'm not a wood expert.
by the way, I paid 2850.00 for my wood insert plus 70.00 for delivery & installation. It is vented into my existing chimmney so I didn't have to buy any vent pipe.
hope this helps.
http://www.quadrafire.com/
Thanks, Mike, for the link.
I usually find Red Oak or Pecan, but I had an old Mulberry cut down. Mulberry really pops and sputters....but it's free...
I'd like to hear more of brands, run times, and costs. With the stainless steel 6" flue all the way out, then the pipe is capped and then chimney chase is sealed, the wood insert doesn't have to be pulled out for cleaning. The direct flue pipe means any cleaning of it lets the build-up fall back into the insert's firebox....
Bill
Thanks again.
bump