Wood Stove vs. Inserts.

[ProfessorM]

I have a free standing and a pellet stove. I think the insert is probably very comparable to the free standing plus like said above you don't loose a lot of floor space and have clearance issues with furniture and small children touching it and such. Either way I think you will be happy. Way more efficient than using the fireplace. The only downfall in the living room is dust, wood debris, muddy foot prints, etc. But if the wife ok's it you are clear. Look at Avalon stoves. I love mine but they ain't cheap, none of them are.
http://www.avalonstoves.com/default.asp
good luck P.

[Slingah]

I have an insert we bought at Lowes for about 8 beans...probally not the most efficient one on the market, but for me works fine.
The glass door stays clean, mostly because I burn at full tilt most of the time, has a blower and would heat with out it if power failed.
I have a cape and once it's going it will heat the room it's in and like 5/0 said it bleeds off into the rest of the house. I basicly shut the oil heat off once stove is lit. Like Proffesor stated...a bit messy...but well worth it...nothing like wood heat

[MBFish]

Thanks for the replies guys, 5/0, I am in the beginning stages. I checked out a place in Weymouth, The Fireplace Shop, they seem to know their stuff. I looked that the Summit Model from Pacific Heat, their largest insert. The brochure rates it a 97,000 BTU and able to heat a 2,000 sf home. These figures are identical to the free standing one of the same size. Anyways I got some more homework to do, I don't want to make the wrong choice. thanks, MB Fish.