I have a standard wood-burning fireplace. It's ok, but is terribly inefficient. Has anybody done any conversion to a standard wood-burning fireplace? I've heard of these wood pellet stove inserts, but I haven't seen any on the net or in person. Converting it to gas will probably be very expensive.

Just want to know is there are any options out there.

Many thanks!

I can't help you with the wood pellet method, I'd think that would be expensive also, someone has to produce those pellets but I know several folks that have installed wood burners with circulating fans/heat exchangers and they love them. All depends on whether or not you've got a source for firewood and want to split that wood. If you're buying wood ready to go, that is expensive!

I grew up doing that in KS, no intent to ever do that again. Of course, the wife thinks fire places are romantic but by the time I got through cutting the wood and getting a fire rolling, I was to tired to take advantage of the opportunity.

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Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarrassing. They talk!

Alot of folks bought Pellet stoves up here two years ago when heating oil got so high. They seemed like an excellent deal at the time. The only problem....
No one can get the pellets. For the last 3 years the stores up here have only gotten enough pellets in to give you your startup pack when you buy a stove.
I think Proudfoots finally has some for this winter but they are having to truck them in from Washington.

I have one and it is great, mine is a freestanding one not an insert but same principal. I used to buy my pellets from this farm store by my house but now Wal-Mart carries them so I might try buying there.

My folks live in the PNW and they have a pellet stove, which is quite common out there for winter use (cool, damp winters). It works great and pellets are readily available most anywhere for a good price. Their's also has an auto-feeder with a large hopper. Start the fire, set the feeder to whichever speed you want (faster = more heat) and forget it. You also don't have to worry about finding firewood, and also the legalities of transporting firewood due to emerald ash borer.

You should have little problem finding a wood-burning stove insert for your WBFP. They are quite common. While in HS my folks traded our neighbor our WBFP for their WB stove insert. Both were a direct fit. The insert worked fairly well, but I think the free-standing units are the way to go.

My house has a free standing wood burning stove (buck stove) and it will heat you right out of the house it gets so hot. Due to emerald ash borer and the fines for transporting firewood I'm not sure how much the pile that came with the house will last. State fines are $4K and federal fines are higher, although I'm unsure how much. I just checked federal fines are up to $250K and/or imprisonment. KS is not a quarantine state, but for those in MI, OH, IL, IN, PA, MD, be aware.

[This message has been edited by Rainman (edited 10-24-2007).]

Emerald ash borer??? A gay citizen of OZ???

quote Originally posted by carnut122: Emerald ash borer??? A gay citizen of OZ???

It came over from Asia in 2002, has killed over 20 million Ash Trees and is continuing to spread.

If you're caught transporting firewood you will be stopped and must explain where the wood is from, where you have been and where you are going (possibly having to provide proof of where the wood came from). Individuals or businesses found violating the quarantine are subject to fines ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years for moving regulated ash materials, including firewood.

[This message has been edited by Rainman (edited 10-24-2007).]

These guys have what you are looking for. Don’t know anything about them or how well the pellet stoves work.

Now a wood stove insert is great as far as how well they heat with the blower system they heat very well.

If the pellet stoves are any good I can’t see why they would not work just as well.

http://www.lopistoves.com/p.../pellet_inserts.aspx

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