We have been using our Lopi Freedom wood burning fireplace insert for four (4) years and I’d kiss it if it wouldn’t sear the lips off my head. It’s not the most efficient on the market (Vermont Castings makes some good stoves but the large one looks girly), but it’s still the real deal. Last evening the temperature dipped to -10C (14 degrees of Fahrenheitness), but we were all warm as toast. We normally keep the house at just below 20C (68F), but with the stove operating it’s easy to boost the temperature to 25C (77F) or higher. Terrific!
What’s nice about a wood burning stove is the utter analogness of the beast. It has big, chunky controls; nothing digital in this bad boy. It’s got a lever to control air input and a lever to control exhaust output. It’s got a door to throw in logs. It’s got a blower to kick the heat out. It’s the perfect thing for a closet Luddite and the most non-sissy heating system you can possibly imagine.
I am not denying that using a wood stove requires work. Logs have to be cut, split, hauled and stacked. It’s an art form getting a proper fire going (and maintained). Sometimes there’s smoke. Ah, but it’s so worth it.