wood burning fireplace insert/stove?
We live in a split level home with the family room on the half level (if that makes sense). Due to oil prices we are looking at wood burning fireplace insert. I have 2 questions regarding them
1) One of our kids has asthma. The fireplace inserts seem to burn with little or no smoke within the house. Has anyone used this with an asthma sufferer in their home?
2) One place we visited today was very insistent on getting one brand esp. since it didn’t have any seams. They stated that with seamed brands (like VT Casting and Jotul) was more prone to less efficient burning due to their seams. Is this true? We were looking at VT Casting since it is on our budget.
My sister installed one last year. She suffers form asthma too.
Although she keeps a water bowl on the ledge, she also uses a humidifier to compensate. The insert burns great. Gets the most heat out of the wood, but… you need to use only really good hardwood that has been seasoned a good 2 years.
Even with the electric circulate, it does not adequately heat upstairs. So they just use an electric blanket and turn off the electric heat upstairs completely. It will save money versus the cost of heating oil and natural gas.
ALSO- be sure to clean your flue annually!!\
I don’t know about the seam bit. I think it’s a crock. That guy wants you to buy his brand.
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My sister installed one last year. She suffers form asthma too.
Although she keeps a water bowl on the ledge, she also uses a humidifier to compensate. The insert burns great. Gets the most heat out of the wood, but… you need to use only really good hardwood that has been seasoned a good 2 years.
Even with the electric circulate, it does not adequately heat upstairs. So they just use an electric blanket and turn off the electric heat upstairs completely. It will save money versus the cost of heating oil and natural gas.
ALSO- be sure to clean your flue annually!!\
I don’t know about the seam bit. I think it’s a crock. That guy wants you to buy his brand.
References :
If your wood burning appliance is working properly, you shouldn’t get any woodsmoke in the house. If smoke comes in, something is wrong. The thing about seams in the stove sounds like a crock. Jotul is a very good make and their stoves work well. I’m not too familiar with VT. I think the design of the stove, including its draught controls, probably has more to do with efficiency than seams or lack of them. Do a little more research.
References :