Posted: 10/1/2009 6:38:39 AM EDT
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My house was built in '94 with a Heatilator fireplace insert. I'd like to get a more efficient wood burning insert.
1. Recommendations? It has to look nice, and my wife wants to be able to see the fire. 2. Is this a job I can tackle on my own? How is the job done? Thanks! K ETA: On Tuesday I had a fire going all day as an experiment. By 7pm or so, I was feeling the warmth upstairs in the hallway that is open to the cathedral ceiling in the family room w/ the fireplace. I burned a shitload of wood (probably 2' x 6' of my stack). I'm looking for something that can supplement my nat gas furnace and lower my bills. I turned on the furnace yesterday. Last night it dropped to 37. Last year I had a $400 nat gas bill, and I need to lower that! Thanks! |
You can do it yourself if the access is reasonable. If it is not, it will be expensive to have someone else do it. You just need to buy an insert (there's a $1500 tax credit through the end of next year on qualifying models) and install it according to code. They come with instructions (and phone tech support), and as you already have one it is fairly safe to assume code was met when it was installed, so as long as you don't get one that is physically larger your clearances should be good. 
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it's pretty simple, but those things are HEAVY. you'll need friends to help out. Mine had a flexible chimeny liner, which made things much easier. also pretty simple to install, in principle. you'll need a chimney cap for the liner as well. Mine was an Olympic, good brand. pretty much top of the line. heard good things about Lopi as well. Just FYI, I got rid of my wood burner for a pellet stove insert. I'll never go back to wood.  |
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Go to the hearth.com forums. LOTS of info. Some of the manufacturers have reps that you can ask specific questions like ARFs industry forums.
What dealers are in your area? Even if it is an hour or two away go visit them, get their input on stoves, prices, etc. Do this sooner rather than later, as heating season is here. I have a freestanding Pacific Energy stove, but Pacific Energy and Lopi / Avalon both have quality insert models. Some of the stove literature has pictures of freestanding stoves placed in the fireplace opening. That setup looks OK to my eye, but It would depend on stove size and fireplace / hearth size. If you like the look it opens up more options with fancy cast iron stoves, etc. Flexible liner up the existing flue is one installation technique, the other is to have a plate installed in place of the damper and run liner or flue pipe to the opening in the plate. Saw you are in MI. If you are near the Grand Rapids area stop in at these two shops: Three Chimneys and Belden Brick and Supply |
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Quoted:
Saw you are in MI. If you are near the Grand Rapids area stop in at these two shops: Three Chimneys and Belden Brick and Supply Other side of the State. Btwn Ann Arbor and Detroit. The big question is if this is something I should tackle on my own. As a generally handy guy (do most of my car maintenance, framing and finishing my basement, etc) is this something that I should attempt? Is it something that I'll be able to complete in one day? Weekend? Do I need a ladder tall enough to get to the top of my chimney? K |
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Quoted: Quoted: Saw you are in MI. If you are near the Grand Rapids area stop in at these two shops: Three Chimneys and Belden Brick and Supply Other side of the State. Btwn Ann Arbor and Detroit. The big question is if this is something I should tackle on my own. As a generally handy guy (do most of my car maintenance, framing and finishing my basement, etc) is this something that I should attempt? Is it something that I'll be able to complete in one day? Weekend? Do I need a ladder tall enough to get to the top of my chimney? K If you have the man power, and are a generally handy guy, I'd say it'd be no problem to do in a day. remove the damper if necessary, drop the liner down the chimney, install the cap, place the stove, attach liner, drink beer. but then every home job i do always takes at least twice as long as i plan  . If you run a liner all the way up the chimney, you will need access to the top of it, as you have to put the cap on. you'll need to get up there periodically to clean the cap anyway. I cant comment on the method jchewie is referring to.Oh yeah, beware the dreaded "cold air lock". you wouldn't believe how fast it can fill your house with smoke |
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Saw you are in MI. If you are near the Grand Rapids area stop in at these two shops: Three Chimneys and Belden Brick and Supply Other side of the State. Btwn Ann Arbor and Detroit. The big question is if this is something I should tackle on my own. As a generally handy guy (do most of my car maintenance, framing and finishing my basement, etc) is this something that I should attempt? Is it something that I'll be able to complete in one day? Weekend? Do I need a ladder tall enough to get to the top of my chimney? K Sounds like you are strong and determined, if you have a strong buddy or two you can do it yourself in a couple of hours IF you have all the pieces there BEFORE you start. Get your quote broken down into materials and installation. Ask questions, and determine which pieces, if any, have to be custom fabricated - blocking plate, etc. Details of your current setup will determine this, and everything might be off the shelf. Visit another shop or two and get detailed quotes that have materials and installation broken out as well. Then decide if the additional install cost is worth your time and hassle. I can't recommend any shops over that way, but you should be able to find a couple more in the phone book or online. Take a look at Pacific Energy stoves. Two years ago they had the heaviest construction of everything I looked at, better than average fit and finish, one of the biggest fireboxes, and the best price by hundreds of dollars. www.pacificenergy.net I bought it from 3 Chimneys in Clyde Park. I don't have an interest with the shop now, but they made me a satisfied customer a couple of years ago. Give them a call if you don't connect with another shop your way. Heck, call Belden brick and supply in Grand Rapids (again, no interest on my part I was just impressed with the salesman's knowledge and helpfulness) and see what brands of inserts they are selling. If you do the install yourself you will need to be able to install a chimney cap at the top of the chimney. Regardless of whether or not you do the install yourself you should be able to reach the top of the chimney. If roof pitch or access makes it so you can't just stand on the roof and reach the top then buy an extension ladder from the big box store ... $150 to $200 depending on height. Pick up a chimney brush set so you can sweep your chimney out yourself at least once a year too. You'll make the ladder cost back in chimney sweep fees in a few years, plus you will be able to check for creosote buildup, put the cap back on when it blows off in a windstorm every 10 years or so, and clean the bird nests off before the start of each heating season. BTW, the thing that turned me off to the Lopi / Avalon stoves was that the logs go in sideways like a regular fireplace style. You can't pack the stove as full with that type because the top logs will have a tendency to roll out the open door. The woodburners that have the logs going in lengthwise don't have that problem. Definitely check out the hearth.com forums - here ETA - See the above post... liner is relatively quick and easy. A blocking plate is what you use if you do not use a liner. ETA 2 Check this page out. Read the article titled How to Install a Wood Burning Fireplace Insert and the one below it. |
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Quoted: BTW, the thing that turned me off to the Lopi / Avalon stoves was that the logs go in sideways like a regular fireplace style. You can't pack the stove as full with that type because the top logs will have a tendency to roll out the open door. The woodburners that have the logs going in lengthwise don't have that problem. Just FYI I had an Avalon Olympic and had no problem putting in 18" pieces front to back. had to get my wood cut to 16" though, cause my wood guy didn't seem to know how to use a measurin' stick. But yes, it would be a major PITA if you could only load side to side. |
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BTW, the thing that turned me off to the Lopi / Avalon stoves was that the logs go in sideways like a regular fireplace style. You can't pack the stove as full with that type because the top logs will have a tendency to roll out the open door. The woodburners that have the logs going in lengthwise don't have that problem. Just FYI I had an Avalon Olympic and had no problem putting in 18" pieces front to back. had to get my wood cut to 16" though, cause my wood guy didn't seem to know how to use a measurin' stick. But yes, it would be a major PITA if you could only load side to side. If you can get 16 to 18 inch logs in lengthwise and have half an inch to shut the door I'd consider it a candidate. IIRC the shop I went to had the big Lopi model burning at the time and they had a couple of logs in sideways. Since it was hot I didn't get out the tape measure and check the depth (Yes I am anal about some things), and never really considered either brand after that. |