Best Brand of Fireplace Insert or Wood Stove

[TomSeller]

Haven't had issues with them or heard of issues with my neighbors and family. They have been required in parts of the country for years.

Regency warranties them for 6 years, I forget what Lopi told me. I'm now thinking if they were a problem there would be a 1 year warranty or less. I am not sure how you would know if they are still functioning.

 

[sd455dan]

Regency warranties them for 6 years, I forget what Lopi told me. I'm now thinking if they were a problem there would be a 1 year warranty or less. I am not sure how you would know if they are still functioning.

Here's 1 way to tell (at least) on a Blaze king



Blaze King Secondary Burn - YouTube

The glow seen through the holes in the upper part of the stove is the catalytic converter.
Our stove still is on the original cat and is 9 years old, still works like the 1 in the video. It is no longer under warranty though.

The Regency, Kuma , Soapstones and other Cat stoves are better at extracting much of the heat energy from the wood gasses that would normally just escape in a non cat stove.


here is a Regency Cat

Secondary Combustion -- Regency Warmhearth - YouTube

and Soapstone Cat

Woodstock Soapstone Fireview- Catalytic burn - YouTube

You will get longer burn times and more heat out of every piece of wood burned in a quality catalytic stove.:2cents:

 

[TomSeller]

Here's 1 way to tell (at least) on a Blaze king

Blaze King Secondary Burn - YouTube

The glow seen through the holes in the upper part of the stove is the catalytic converter.
Our stove still is on the original cat and is 9 years old, still works like the 1 in the video. It is no longer under warranty though.

The Regency, Kuma , Soapstones and other Cat stoves are better at extracting much of the heat energy from the wood gasses that would normally just escape in a non cat stove.

here is a Regency Cat

Secondary Combustion -- Regency Warmhearth - YouTube

and Soapstone Cat

Woodstock Soapstone Fireview- Catalytic burn - YouTube

You will get longer burn times and more heat out of every piece of wood burned in a quality catalytic stove.:2cents:

Amazing to see the flames up high like that. I'm leaning towards the cat.

 

[coolreinfarm]

I have been thinking about the future a bit lately, I think a harman pellet will be in my living room within three years, I have been processing firewood since I was 8 years old, I'm going to be done with it soon. I just installed a generator, that's the first step for me to go pellet.

16 years ago I went from wood to pellet stove, like you processing firewood had taken its toll on my back. Pellets are a different kind of heat, very little radiant heat a lot of fan forced heat, you just have to get use to it. Your generator will handle it with no problem. Harmon makes a very good stove, somewhat pricey, good luck.

 

[atsah]

Amazing to see the flames up high like that. I'm leaning towards the cat.

What kind of chimney setup do you have? (hight off of the roof, any elbows, metal bestos or lines etc) That has a lot to do with whether or not a cat stove will work for you.

 

[TomSeller]

What kind of chimney setup do you have? (hight off of the roof, any elbows, metal bestos or lines etc) That has a lot to do with whether or not a cat stove will work for you.

One story, 1988 contractor owner build for himself, full masonry chimney with an inside square 9" tile liner and cap, everything looks to be in near new condition. Chimney itself as it goes through the roof is probably 2' x 3' or so. I am guessing the chimney extends 5' or so above the roof penetration, maybe 4' above the highest portion of the roof. No elbows. No metal bestos.

 

[RNeumann]

Every stove will have specs listed with minimums and maximums for length, elbows and diameter. Your setup is about as ideal as they come- probably not many that wouldn't work for you- cat or not

 

[Piston]

I really like the heat and quality out of my Woodstock Fireview stove, but I don't really love the looks of the blueish colored soapstone.

I need a bigger stove, and I'd really like a different looking stove, but I'm so happy with Woodstock I'll stick with them and go with the Progress Hybrid. I can't get over how much nicer the soapstone heats.

I really like the idea of the long burntimes on the Blazeking, but I believe they need power don't they? For me I want something completely independent of a power requirement. Might make for a nice basement stove though!

 

[TomSeller]

I like the look of the soapstone but I am in the market for an insert. Had I been looking at free standing, the Hearthstone soaps also look nice.

 

[Piston]

I was under the impression that Hearthstone did have inserts? I must have been mistaken.