fireplace insert question
 

Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.
Kudos
Steve

--

"not Steve Buscemi" wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I
don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.

Regular fireplaces are often net heat losers - it only feels warm near the
fire, but sucks in cold air from all your house door and window leaks.
Inserts with proper circ. fans can be quite efficient, and can actually warm
rooms and houses, unlike conventional fireplaces with unlimited fresh air
draft. Check that the used unit is not cracked, a not uncommon reason for
selling, and a separate flue liner up the chimney may be required, as well.
Also, consider a freestanding woodstove that sits on the hearth. We have a
freestanding woodstove with its own stack, and it is a great heater, very
small, but rated at 43000 btu. And check your local codes. Some insert
models are ok, some don't pass EPA pollution requirements for local areas.
I know this answer muddies the water, but there are so many variables!
Another excellent resouce for woodstoves and inserts, in general, is
newsgroup: alt.energy.homepower

I bought a home where the original owners had a wood burning insert then
converted to gas logs. I want to go back to wood burning.

What should I look for to make sure all is OK, I have looked and no apperant
damage or cracks can been seen so far.

Thanks,
"Roger" wrote in message
news:LZ07d.150542$D%.6085@attbi_s51...

"not Steve Buscemi" wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I
don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat
it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are
the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.

Regular fireplaces are often net heat losers - it only feels warm near the
fire, but sucks in cold air from all your house door and window leaks.
Inserts with proper circ. fans can be quite efficient, and can actually
warm
rooms and houses, unlike conventional fireplaces with unlimited fresh air
draft. Check that the used unit is not cracked, a not uncommon reason for
selling, and a separate flue liner up the chimney may be required, as
well.
Also, consider a freestanding woodstove that sits on the hearth. We have a
freestanding woodstove with its own stack, and it is a great heater, very
small, but rated at 43000 btu. And check your local codes. Some insert
models are ok, some don't pass EPA pollution requirements for local areas.
I know this answer muddies the water, but there are so many variables!
Another excellent resouce for woodstoves and inserts, in general, is
newsgroup: alt.energy.homepower

This is a copy of a response I had recently to a local newsgroup
post.

It is not legal to install any stove or insert that is not EPA
"certified". Watch out for older units. There should be a label
on the stove indicating certification. The certified units
produce a lot less smoke out the chimney than older designs.
Permits may be required for installation. Without a permit, your
insurance could be at risk.

A stainless liner from the stove out the top of the chimney will
help the unit have good "draw" so that the smoke tends to go up
rather than in. It also makes cleaning easier, as you don't have
to pull the unit out of the fireplace to clean the smoke shelf.
All the crud drops back into the stove. I have to take some
firebricks out of the top of mine when cleaning, but that's a lot
easier than removing the stove from the fireplace. They are very
heavy.

Keeping the stovepipe clean is important. As it plugs up, the
smoke has much more tendancy to come into the room when adding
wood, etc. Mine tends to plug right at the top, where the pipe
comes out of the chimney into cold air.

You will get pollutents into the house, even if you are careful
to open up the draft before opening the door and to open the door
slowly. It may or may not be enough to bother you.

Most inserts have a fan available to blow air past the back of
the unit to get the heat into the room. If you get one without
the fan, it may not heat well. The fans tend to be expensive, so
if you buy a stove without a fan, know what it will cost to buy
one first.

If you get a used stove, it may look ugly. Stove paint is
available at stove shops which can make a big difference.

Bob

"not Steve Buscemi" wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my
fireplace. I don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out
some heat it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular
fireplaces are the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to
share.
Kudos
Steve

--

"not Steve Buscemi" ) writes:
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.
Kudos

We got a Regency model I2400M with fan. We have not lived in this house a
whole winter, but with use at Christmas and March break I know it heats
this house down to at least -15C. My belief is that the fan is quite
necessary, otherwise the heat has a hard time getting into the house with
only one exposed face. Leaving the fan off in spring/fall might be an
advantage so that the fireplace can be hot enough without overheating the
house.

We also have a wood/oil furnace which
is not EPA that uses more wood and leaks smoke into the house when the
door opens. It will still be necessary to use it on the coldest days, but
it will be run full out when in use so smoking will be minimal.

All in all we are happy so far and I expect to use about 1/3 to 1/2 as
much wood as was used in the wood furnace. Plus I get to watch the flames
dance when I am reading the paper.

Jonathan

"Roger" wrote in message
news:LZ07d.150542$D%.6085@attbi_s51...

"not Steve Buscemi" wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I
don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat
it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are
the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.

Regular fireplaces are often net heat losers - it only feels warm near the
fire, but sucks in cold air from all your house door and window leaks.
Inserts with proper circ. fans can be quite efficient, and can actually
warm rooms and houses, unlike conventional fireplaces with unlimited fresh
air draft. Check that the used unit is not cracked, a not uncommon reason
for selling, and a separate flue liner up the chimney may be required, as
well. Also, consider a freestanding woodstove that sits on the hearth. We
have a freestanding woodstove with its own stack, and it is a great
heater, very small, but rated at 43000 btu. And check your local codes.
Some insert models are ok, some don't pass EPA pollution requirements for
local areas.
I know this answer muddies the water, but there are so many variables!
Another excellent resouce for woodstoves and inserts, in general, is
newsgroup: alt.energy.homepower


Could you name the brand of stove you have ?
We have 2 fireplaces in the house, basement and living room.
We are looking at putting a gas replacement in the living room.
But I would like to replaces the 50+ year-old fireplace with something that
could heat the place durring an emergence, and maybe even double as a stove
top if necessary.

What you descrbe sounds very interesting.

The stove available is made by Harrowsmith??
It goes into the existing firplace hearth.

wrote in message
...

"Roger" wrote in message
news:LZ07d.150542$D%.6085@attbi_s51...

"not Steve Buscemi" wrote in message
wsgroups.com...
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy a used wood burning insert for my fireplace. I
don't
use my fireplace much but thought that if this thing puts out some heat
it
may be worthwhile. How much more efficient than regular fireplaces are
the
inserts in heat output?
Anybody have any reccomendations or experiences they'd like to share.

Regular fireplaces are often net heat losers - it only feels warm near
the
fire, but sucks in cold air from all your house door and window leaks.
Inserts with proper circ. fans can be quite efficient, and can actually
warm rooms and houses, unlike conventional fireplaces with unlimited
fresh
air draft. Check that the used unit is not cracked, a not uncommon
reason
for selling, and a separate flue liner up the chimney may be required,
as
well. Also, consider a freestanding woodstove that sits on the hearth.
We
have a freestanding woodstove with its own stack, and it is a great
heater, very small, but rated at 43000 btu. And check your local codes.
Some insert models are ok, some don't pass EPA pollution requirements
for
local areas.
I know this answer muddies the water, but there are so many variables!
Another excellent resouce for woodstoves and inserts, in general, is
newsgroup: alt.energy.homepower


Could you name the brand of stove you have ?
We have 2 fireplaces in the house, basement and living room.
We are looking at putting a gas replacement in the living room.
But I would like to replaces the 50+ year-old fireplace with something
that
could heat the place durring an emergence, and maybe even double as a
stove
top if necessary.

What you descrbe sounds very interesting.