Stoves.. Insert vs freestanding

Renno123

Hi all, I have just started shopping for a stove to replace an open fire in a very cold and old stone house.

First place I went to recommended an insert stove, however the second place said they were useless.

Is there any performance difference between a freestand and insert stove? I prefer the finish of freestand but budget will ultimately dictate.

Thanks.

Triangle

Renno123 wrote: »

Hi all, I have just started shopping for a stove to replace an open fire in a very cold and old stone house.

First place I went to recommended an insert stove, however the second place said they were useless.

Is there any performance difference between a freestand and insert stove? I prefer the finish of freestand but budget will ultimately dictate.

Thanks.

Yes, there's massive differences. The inserts don't give off the same heat as similar sized freestand.

Renno123

Triangle wrote: »

Yes, there's massive differences. The inserts don't give off the same heat as similar sized freestand.

Oh interesting! So an 8kw insert would not give off the same heat as an 8kw freestand?

Why is this?

pale rider

Renno123 wrote: »

Hi all, I have just started shopping for a stove to replace an open fire in a very cold and old stone house.

First place I went to recommended an insert stove, however the second place said they were useless.

Is there any performance difference between a freestand and insert stove? I prefer the finish of freestand but budget will ultimately dictate.

Thanks.

The freestanding one will give terrific heat in comparison to the inset stove, just look at the size of the grate and you will see the difference.

No contest and cheaper to boot.

Yes, I have one and we have to leave the door to the room open…

youtheman

It ain't rocket science!. A stove is essentially a box with 6 surfaces. If it's freestanding then you have all 6 surfaces giving all heat into the room, if it's insert then you just have one surface.

10-10-20

My parents have a cassette stove rated at 5kw, but I'd only consider it capable to outputting about 1kw into the room. It's desperate.
It's possible that it wasn't fitted correctly, but I can't tell without causing a mess.
A fancy chimney-heater, but they love the flames.

cruizer101

Unless you have particular reason to go for insert freestanding are better.

In my case I'm looking at insert because can slot it into existing fireplace without too much work, room isn't too big so don't need the extra heat, OH likes open fire and really doesn't like look of freestanding but can probably sell her on an insert.

If you were open to either though freestanding better choice.

Schorpio

Just to offer a different opinion - we have an inset stove (6.5 kW iirc) and we're delighted with it. There is loads heat. It keeps a good chunk of the house warm, not just the room its in.

Regarding the statement that a freestanding stove is better because of its exposed sides - while there is probably some truth to this, it's important to note that the inset stove has gaps around all of its side, and a vent at the top. So the heat still radiates into the room, rather than being absorbed by the walls. I reckon the difference vs. a freestanding unit is smaller than you'd think, but that's just based on my own experience.

6541

You need to be really careful with stoves. Loads of cowboy installers out there. You really need to get involved in every aspect of the stove install. Do not leave it to the installer. Our installer used a sub standard connecting pipe between stove and flexi flue. We built a nice stone fireplace around the stove. 2 years later everything ripped out as the pipe had imploded making the use of the stove impossible as it was a hazard.
Lots to consider with stoves !