Comparing Vented Gas Stoves
We want to have a fire in an antique mantel we bought. We have concluded that the mantel will go on the outside wall and the fireplace will vent through the wall. We gave up on the idea of it looking like a fireplace, so now we are comparing all of the options.
The only thing that would fit in the fireplace and not catch it on fire are just for looks. If they put out any heat, they need clearance. They can’t have the mantel over and past them because heat rises. And it would catch the very old wood mantel on fire.
If you have ever tried to keep a fire going, you will be surprised at how easy it is to catch something on fire when you don’t want to. The flames don’t even have to touch it. If something flammable gets hot enough, it can spontaneously combust.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Photographer Baldwin
This is not a new idea.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
So, now this is the idea. Get a stove to put in front of the mantel that looks good and provides backup heat if we lose power.
Efficiency
Vented gas fireplaces have widely varying efficiency ratings. This measures how much of the gas you burn (and pay for) is turned into heat and how much is lost to combustion and ventilation.
The more the fire turns on and off, the more heat is lost to combustion. A vented fireplace allows some heat to leave with the fumes.
| Stove | Efficiency | Price |
| Regency Ultimate U39 | 86% | $2,792.98 |
| Regency C34 Gas Stove | 84% | $2,179.98 |
| Jotul GF 100 DV Nordic QT | 83% | $1,300.00 |
| Jotul GF 400 BV Sebago | 82.56% | $2,855.00 |
| Majestic Oxford Gas Stove | 81% | $1,849.99 |
| Hearthstone Stowe Standing Pilot | 80% | $2,449.99 |
| Enviro Westley | 80% | $3,699.99 |
| Lopi Northfield | 79.96% | $2,968.00 |
| Jotul GF 370 DV IPI | 79.3% | $2,999.99 |
| Lopi Berkshire | 78.13% | $3,427.00 |
| Ortal 60×80 | 78% | |
| Jotul GF 500 DV Portland | 77.02% | $2,991.98 |
| Jotul GF 400 DV IPI Sebago | 77.02% | $2,749.98 |
| HearthStone Waitsfield DX | 77% | $3,879.99 |
| Regency H35 Large Gas Stove | 76% | $2,869.98 |
| Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago | 75.60% | $2,749.98 |
| Jotul GF 300 DV Allagash | 75.30% | $2,379.98 |
| Jotul GF 300 BV Allagash | 75.30% | $2,541.00 |
| Jotul GF 200 DV II Lillehammer | 75.05% | $1,784.00 |
| Regency H27 Gas Stove | 75% | $2,449.98 |
| Hearthstone Champlain Standing Pilot | 75% | $2,749.99 |
| Jotul GF 160 DV IPI | 74.49% | $3,699.98 |
| Jotul GF 500 DV IPI Portland | 74.26% | $2,991.98 |
| Jotul GF 300 DV IPI Allagash | 73.57% | $2,379.98 |
| HearthStone Bristol DX | 73% | $3,429.99 |
| Jotul GF 305 DV IPI | 71.57% | $2,999.99 |
| Regency H15 Gas Stove | 71% | $1,819.98 |
| Enviro Berkeley | 69% | $3,899.98 |
Regency Ultimate U39 and C34 Gas Stoves are very efficient. But, I am not loving them.
The next most efficient is the little Jotul GF 100 DV Nordic QT we have in the log cabin. But that is way too small for our living room.
Next is the Jotul GF 400 BV Sebago with 82.56% efficiency. It is 26.5″ wide x 28.4″ high and 24″ deep. It puts out 40,000 BTU and we were given a price of $2,855.00. That makes it $1.43 a foot.
The Regency H15 Gas Stove is 20.69″ wide x 22.5″ high and 16.19″ deep. It heats 900 square feet with 18,000 BTU at 71% efficiency. It costs $1,819.98, so it costs $2.02 per square foot. The finish is porcelain enamel and it comes in other finishes.
The Hearthstone Stowe cast iron gas stove is 22.38″ wide x 26.19″ high and 18.5″ deep. It heats 1120 square feet with 22,400 BTU at 80% efficiency. It costs $2,449.99 so that makes it $2.19 per square foot.
3-Sided Fire
And then I saw the Lopi Northfield. It has fire on three sides. Wow! Beautiful!
I got all distracted finding stoves with three glass walls.
Stoves with 3-Side Glass
| Stove | Wide | High | Deep | BTU/20 | BTU | Efficiency | Price | $/Ft |
| Lopi Northfield | 21.25 | 26.25 | 17.00 | 1100 | 22,000 | 79.96% | $2,968.00 | $2.70 |
| Lopi Berkshire | 26.75 | 28.00 | 19.00 | 1550 | 31,000 | 78.13% | $3,427.00 | $2.21 |
| HearthStone Bristol DX | 22.50 | 26.39 | 16.00 | 1300 | 26,000 | 73% | $3,429.99 | $2.64 |
| Enviro Westley | 27.00 | 28.00 | 20.00 | 1450 | 29,000 | 80% | $3,699.99 | $2.55 |
| Enviro Berkeley | 30.00 | 31.00 | 23.00 | 2000 | 40,000 | 69% | $3,899.98 | $1.95 |
| Jotul GF 370 DV IPI | 15.25 | 45.50 | 18.75 | 1400 | 28,000 | 79.30% | $2,999.99 | $2.14 |
| Jotul GF 160 DV IPI | 17.75 | 35.50 | 17.75 | 1200 | 24,000 | 74.49% | $3,699.98 | $3.08 |
And Jotul makes some that have the tall narrow shape of the mantel!
They come in black or white and look very very Scandinavian because they are.
The tall one is too tall. It has to be under 40″ plus add the clearance.
But the small one might be really really cool!
| Stove | Wide | High | Deep | BTU/20 | BTU | Efficiency | Price | $/Ft |
| Jotul GF 160 DV IPI | 17.75 | 35.50 | 17.75 | 1200 | 24,000 | 74.49% | $3,699.98 | $3.08 |
| Jotul GF 370 DV IPI | 15.25 | 45.50 | 18.75 | 1400 | 28,000 | 79.30% | $2,999.99 | $2.14 |
And look at this one! I love it! The Jotul GF 305 DV IPI is 22″ wide x 33.38″ high and 16.25″ deep. It heats 1400 square feet with 28,000 BTUs at 71.57% efficiency. It costs $2,999.99, which is more than we plan to spend.
Did you notice that what we are looking at keeps going up and up and up?
Enough Heat for the Whole House
Cliff decided that if we are going to this much trouble and expense, we should go ahead and get something that will heat the whole house.
So these are the ones that will even come close to heating the house.
| Stove | Wide | High | Deep | BTU/20 | BTU | Efficiency | Price | $/Ft |
| Jotul GF 400 DV IPI Sebago | 26.50 | 28.40 | 20.50 | 1600 | 32,000 | 77.02% | $2,749.98 | $1.72 |
| Jotul GF 400 DV Sebago | 26.50 | 28.50 | 20.50 | 1600 | 32,000 | 75.60% | $2,749.98 | $1.72 |
| Regency C34 Gas Stove | 24.00 | 29.69 | 21.63 | 1600 | 32,000 | 84% | $2,179.98 | $1.36 |
| Hearthstone Champlain Standing Pilot | 30.00 | 31.00 | 23.00 | 1750 | 35,000 | 75% | $2,749.99 | $1.57 |
| HearthStone Waitsfield DX | 26.00 | 26.38 | 21.25 | 1850 | 37,000 | 77% | $3,879.99 | $2.10 |
| Regency Ultimate U39 | 26.00 | 30.00 | 17.63 | 1900 | 38,000 | 86% | $2,792.98 | $1.47 |
| Enviro Berkeley | 30.00 | 31.00 | 23.00 | 2000 | 40,000 | 69% | $3,899.98 | $1.95 |
| Jotul GF 400 BV Sebago | 26.50 | 28.40 | 24.00 | 2000 | 40,000 | 82.56% | $2,855.00 | $1.43 |
| Jotul GF 500 DV IPI Portland | 25.50 | 30.13 | 23.00 | 2000 | 40,000 | 74.26% | $2,991.98 | $1.50 |
| Jotul GF 500 DV Portland | 28.50 | 30.13 | 23.00 | 2000 | 40,000 | 77.02% | $2,991.98 | $1.50 |
Final Choices
These are the ones we narrowed it down to. These are all attractive and efficient. They can all work if the power goes out. (Our gas hot water heater won’t burn unless it has electricity for some of it’s sensors. SO stupid!)
They are all adjustable. Some fireplaces are on or off. Sometimes you want a fire without as much heat. With these, we can turn the flame lower and it puts out less heat without turning the fire off completely.
They all have doors that can open so that you can keep the glass clean without taking the whole stove apart. You can even leave the doors open.
Some of the numbers vary from the ones on the charts. Brochures and websites are contradictory on some of this stuff. What matters most is size, BTUs and money. That part looks right here and we will be sure to confirm before we buy it.
Jøtul GF 400 DV Sebago $2,855.00
26.5” wide x 28.5” high x 20.5” deep
Height optional legs 26.25”
Max Heating (NG) 32000
Heating capacity up to 2200 sqft
- JøtulBurner
- Jøtul Heat Fin
- Revolutionary new JøtulBurner™ delivers unsurpassed gas burner technology and flame picture realism
- Approved for open/closed door fire viewing with Safety Screen Barrier (Included with unit)
- No electricity required to operate the stove
- JøtulBurner
Installing our Jotul Direct Vent Sebago >
This is a second choice.
Jøtul GF 300 DV Allagash $2,466.00
22.5” wide x 28” high x 17.5” deep
Height with optional short legs 25.75”
Max Heating (NG) 26000
Heating capacity up to 1300 sqft
- Approved for open/closed door fire viewing with Safety Screen Barrier (Included with unit)
- Zero clearance rear vent capability
- 50% heat control turn down
- No electricity required to operate the stove
And we could put this in the bedroom.
Jotul GF 200 DV II Lillehammer $1,784.00
22.75” wide x 25” high x 17.25” deep
Height with optional short legs 25”
Max Heating (NG) 20000
Heating capacity up to 800 sqft
- Approved for open/closed door fire viewing with Safety Screen Barrier (Included with unit)
- Zero clearance rear vent capability
- 50% heat control turn down
- No electricity required to operate the stove
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