I have been attempting to find the correct wood burning stove for my application, but have received many different answers from a number of manufacturers and installers. I want to do this in a cost-effective and SAFE manner. Please help!

I have an existing zero-clearance fireplace in a wood framed chase, going two stories up. It has a 12” lined chimney. Inside, there is a real stove façade, bluestone hearth and wood mantle.

I am searching for a wood burning stove to retrofit into this fireplace, for the purpose of heating this part of the house.

I have had vendors tell me that they have inserts that will fit “inside “ of the existing fireplace after removing the glass doors. I would line the chimney with flex liner, and then connect the woodstove to the liner. They said it will require modification of the front face of the existing fireplace. Some on-line sites say this is NEVER a good idea, not safe, and the stoves don’t produce heat – most still goes right up the chimney.

Another vendor told me I could set a true (small) woodstove on the hearth and rear pipe it back into the chimney, once again, lined. They said I can cover the opening (after removing the glass doors) with a piece of metal that allows the black chimney to go through. They also said I would have to install an additional bluestone on the floor in front of the existing one.

Please, can I get some guidance?