YAHIT: picking a pellet burning insert

[whoiswes]

okay, I've been doing my homework on a new insert for our fireplace, and I've all but settled on a pellet-burner. We're gonna be heating about 1500 sq ft in Kansas City, and this will be our primary source of heat in the winter - gas is too expensive and our furnace is anything but efficient (60% AFUE at most). I will eventually be replacing that with a heat pump, but, for now, I'm looking at inserts.

I've compiled a lengthy list of inserts that will work for our needs, and I would like some opinions, if you have them.

Harmon Accentra or Invincible (expensive but great reputation and warranty)
Quadra-Fire Classic Bay 1200I
Breckwell p2000i
Lopi and/or Avalon (same parent company) - various models

There you go - offer me some advice if you got any.

BTW, I already have been on a couple of home improvement boards and hearth.com - there isn't much activity in these places, so if you know of a better source of info, please post.

Thanks!

 

[Klixxer]

I would go with the Breckwell, good stuff.

Nowdays i have a heatpump instead though.

 

[whoiswes]

thanks for the vote - anyone else?

 

[Sundog]

The Breckwell looks like a good model, but so is the Quadra-Fire.

We installed a Quadra-Fire wood burning insert a couple or years ago for the exact reasons that you have stated. I do not have a single complaint about the unit. I can get the entire house to 75-77F when it is -10F outside.

And you have done the CORRECT thing (I was just looking at the specs for the Quadra-Fire Classic Bay 1200I. It is rated to heat up to 2500 sq ft and you are going to be heating about 1500 sq ft. :thumbsup: You will not have to run the fans at full speed.

Not only is it a pellet burner but a corn burner!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: Excellent. With corn prices these days I have seen people heat their entire house for the entire winter off of corn burners for under $100-$150.

 

[whoiswes]

sundog,

thanks for the info! glad to hear from somebody who actually has a quadra-fire - i haven't been able find a whole lot of feedback on them...

i will call my local guys and see what corn prices are like right now - having the dual fuel option would be a nice feature to have...and they supposedly make the house smell like popcorn! this house has smelled like worse things (wet dog, for instance...).

thanks!

 

[whoiswes]

bump...???

 

[woowoo]

www.hvac-talk.com
Fireplace forum....

 

[slag]

You might see a bigger RoI if you were to do something like change out your windows for something more energy efficient or reseal around your doors or something as opposed to buying an insert.

Just my 2 cents.

slag in lawrence

 

[hevnsnt]

hevnsnt from the OP

 

[whoiswes]

Originally posted by: slag
You might see a bigger RoI if you were to do something like change out your windows for something more energy efficient or reseal around your doors or something as opposed to buying an insert.

Just my 2 cents.

slag in lawrence

that's also in the works...we're trying to figure out a way NOT to run the furnace this winter...

that, and my fiancee really wants to have a fireplace that works...

Originally posted by: woowoo
www.hvac-talk.com
Fireplace forum....

that's exactly what i was looking for. thanks!

 

[whoiswes]

update: we ended up buying a Harmon Advance FREESTANDING fireplace - we're going to put it in front of the existing fireplace.

we went this route for several reasons - mostly so we can take the fireplace with us if/when we move and the new owners aren't interested in it. it won't be quite as clean an installation as an insert, but it looks 10X better than the accentra and was actually about $400 cheaper.

anyways, i wanted to say thanks again to everyone - i appreciate(d) the advice.