Wood Stove vs. Inserts.

[ProfessorM]

another thing to think about if you go with the largest one they make is how will you get all that heat out of that room and into the rest of the house. If it is not an open floor plan then you may cook yourself out of the living room. My stove is in a room not used too much and i use a few small fans in strategic areas to get the heat to other places. You wouldn't be comfortable in the room that the stove is in as it is too small for all that heat. Just some food for thought

[mikecc]

We got a Avlon free standing wood stove (middle Size) .
Using it as a semi-insert. Removed the damper and piped with flex pipe direct up thru the existing flue.
Only problem is there is no ashbin & the stove must be cleaned out every 3 days. Plenty of heat the house is 2800sf get the blower attachment & ceiling fan to circulate the heat better.

[pmueller]

I got an old Russo that was made in Randolph back in the day. Have it sitting in the fireplace. Heats the house great, has a blower, can also use it as a coal stove. Not as sexy as the new ones on the market, but for thirty years old it works great. Fill my oil tank every other year. Like Mike said, use blowers and fans strategically and it will get heat to the rest of the house.

[MBFish]

thanks for all the responses. Will keep you updated if/when I make the move. thanks, MB Fish