Fireplace insert?

[Jokarva]

Does anyone have a fireplace insert in use?

We have a fireplace in new home that puts out decent heat (has blowers built into the stacked stone surround), but we know it could be a lot better. Went to a fireplace shop today...$4500 for an installed insert! That's just way, way more than we thought it might be.

So if anyone is using an insert can you tell me if you think it's worth it? If it'll pay for itself in the long run then it's still only a maybe, otherwise we'll just stick to the fireplace.

[sawman65]

i have a regent insert it heats my whole home (ranch) during this weather 20@nite 35 in the day during the cold times 10 and below i have a wood cook stove to heat the kitchen up i love mine. but got it used and did the install myself

[WhiteWillow]

Oh my gosh. $4500???? That is absolutely insane.

[WhiteWillow]

I just did a search on Google for "used fireplace inserts" Here is one of the pages that popped up: http://for-sale.yakaz.com/used-firep...serts-for-sale You may want to do a search yourself. Maybe even post on Craigslist?

[unregistered41671]

We had a pre fab fireplace and decided to use a free standing wood heater. We had to build the hearth out a little more but it was a few hundred bucks. We just ran a pipe out of the back of the heater and then up into the triple wall chimney pipe. Been using it for 23 yrs. We are warm on really cold nights.

[Jokarva]

Originally Posted by WhiteWillow

I just did a search on Google for "used fireplace inserts" Here is one of the pages that popped up: http://for-sale.yakaz.com/used-firep...serts-for-sale You may want to do a search yourself. Maybe even post on Craigslist?

Thanks for that site!

I have looked on Craigslist, but we really don't know what we're looking for. Judging by that shop's prices on other stuff I think they're just way overpriced on everything. Buying used might be a good option, installing it ourselves won't be...unless we plan to burn the neighborhood down. We have roofers at the house now, chances are they'll know of a reputable installer that can give us an estimate.

Thanks everyone!

[fireweed farm]

You can't really cook on an insert in case of power outage.
And check with house insurance provider before buying used anything. House burns and policy may be void.

[ceresone]

We've used a Country Flame for 20 years, heats our big house excellent--cost over 2500 back then, and its more than paid for itself.

[farmerbrian]

We just had an insert installed. New units are expensive, and so is the venting.

4500 sounds a little high but not much. We paid 4000 for ours with everything included. Its a large high-end stove and it cranks out heat. We are very happy with but I am sure you could find less expensive units out there.

You cant cook on them but have a another woodstove for cooking.

[Batt]

We have a Buck fireplace insert with blowers that works quite well. We had bricklayers come out an build a fireplace around the insert, lined the chimney, and bricked the outside of the chimney. We paid $350 for the insert and $2700 for the brickwork. BTW, bought the insert off of the barterboard on this site.

[ai731]

Originally Posted by fireweed farm

You can't really cook on an insert in case of power outage.
And check with house insurance provider before buying used anything. House burns and policy may be void.

You can't cook *on* an insert, but you can certainly cook *in* one - in a cast iron dutch oven

[Country Lady]

We have a Buck 81 model insert, we bought new 6 years ago. Our house is 2350 sq. ft., and Buck's brochure reads this model will heat between 1600 to 2700 sq. ft. The EPA tested output BTU/H is 45,000.
We purchased a Buck because this brand is the only model our local fireplace store carries. We've been more than pleased with it and it heats our house quiet well. If the temps drop down real low, the bedrooms will get a little chilly and we give the insert a little help with the central heat, but this is rarely the case. The layout of our house is good for insert heating. Our kitchen and living area is all open with the fireplace in the middle of the house. The bedrooms are off this main area, so there's no long or crooked hallways to limit the heat from getting down.
With what we've saved on propane, it's more than paid for the insert, wood splitter, chain saw, etc. Of course, I won't leave out the work involved in cutting, splitting, stacking, feeding the insert, etc., but the heat from wood is worth it though. We're pleased.

[Sawmill Jim]

Have seen some inserts that stick out about 16'' in front you can cook on them . Don't remember the brand

[hhhandyman]

We have a Lopi Revere insert that we have used as our main heat source for the last 6 years. It's the smallest insert that Lopi makes, but the largest that would fit our existing fireplace. We paid about $3,000. for the insert, glass door, fan unit, and 50' of 6" stainless chimney liner; cost us an add'l $200. to have the existing metal chimney extended 5' taller to meet code.

We put 10 full cords of hardwood thru that little insert each year to heat this drafty old farmhouse. We figure the unit paid for itself in the 1st 3 years.

[TheMartianChick]

We have an Avalon wood insert in our house. It heats the 1100 sq. feet in our our downstairs completely. We bought it back in 1998, (I think) and it cost around $3200 to purchase and professionally install. Though we bought it to heat the downstairs, we often open the door to the upstairs and let the excess heat rise.

Living in the snow belt, our natural gas heating bills were always high. Now we can heat our whole downstairs (and then some) with $600 worth of wood for the whole winter. When we first installed the unit, our winter gas bill was about $1900 for the first floor. Now we just pay for the gas that we use to cook with and to heat the hot water. We ocassionally turn the heat on if we go away for the weekend or something. In that case we set it for 50 degrees.

In contrast, the upstairs has a separate gas meter and no fireplace insert. We will pay about $2500 for minimal heat during the winter this year and to heat hot water for the upstairs bath.

[Jolly]

How about $750?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2426_200442426

[Jokarva]

Originally Posted by Jolly

How about $750?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2426_200442426

Wow, thank you! Good prices and good reviews too. Some of the reviews also mention the install of the stainless liner, either a diy or very reasonable cost. The shop we went to charged nearly $2000 for install of 15ft of liner/flue, our chimney is probably 25 ft tall...I didn't ask how much extra that would cost.