Masonry heaters are very nice and efficient but since you live in Texas keep in mind you can't turn them off and they heat for a few days before they cool off. Also it takes along time to heat up all that masonry before you even get heat. It's a hot fast fire to warm the core then it slowly radiates outwards through a few thousand pounds of masonry.
You would be better off with a high end efficient wood stove that is more controllable. Masonry heaters are designed to heat through long cold winter's and be fired daily.
Somewhat true.
Yes they store heat and if you want instant hot it's not the way to go.
And yes, I'd say you want to light a fire everyday to keep the masonry hot/warm.
If we have a stretch of really cold (below 0F) I'll light an extra fire the day before and run 2 fires/day during the really cold weather.
However in the shoulder season, more like Texas weather, in temps of 20-40 I still light one fire/day but use less wood.
If I keep up with one fire/day in all but the coldest weather the house never gets too hot. I keep the house 72-76 all winter long.
The heat is much more even than a woodstove. It releases faster in really cold weather and slower in warmer weather.
Anyone who is used to running a traditional woodstove has a hard time believing how little wood I use and how warm the bricks stay even a day after a fire.
When you walk by the heater its like standing out in the June sunshine, that nice warm radiant heat. I can lean up against the heater and never get burned,
Its always nice and warm.
And it heats the whole house, all 2800 sq ft,
Cost, yes they are not cheap, alot depends upon how fancy you want to get with one. Like a fireplace.
I spent approx $25K on the whole thing when it was done. But mine is rather large, 2 stories high and has a white oven on the back side that I can cook in.
If used properly they will last your life time, need no electricity and have no moving parts to wear out/replace, they will use less wood and burn it more efficiently so that creosote is never a concern.
I would argue they are the best value in wood heating.