Want to Help me Decide which Stove to Buy?

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qualityleashdog

New Member
Mar 11, 2012
10
South IN
I burned wood for years as a kid, and after a decade long break from woodburning, I've finally got a house that came with a woodstove and this has been my first season in a long time burning. The stove that came with my house is old, cracked, leaky, inefficient and I'm not even sure who manufactured it. So I'm in the market for a new stove!
I'll list the qualifications I'm looking for in a new one, and perhaps some of you will have some suggestions?
1. Take at least an 18 inch log, and bigger is better.
2. Be able to take a blower. Mine heats the south half of the house fine, but does little for the north half. I'm heating about 1500 sq feet.
3. Should be on legs or a pedestal, I don't like bending down or getting in the floor to tend the fire.
4. Not be huge, I've got about 25 inches by 40 inches for it to sit in, not counting the clearance.
5. A glass door to view the fire is desirable, but not make or break.
6. I'd like to spend no more than $600 new, and could buy in early July for that price. In September, I could afford more in the area of $1000. There is wiggle room in the budget, but of course I'll be happier paying less.
Used is a possibility, but I doubt I'll have much to pick from on that market. I'm also willing to pay some shipping, especially if it helps me beat sales tax. I've found a lot online is cheaper even after I pay shipping compared to the local dealers, so the shipping is not a turnoff.

Thanks in advance for your advice!
 
What kind of chimney are you working with? Depending on what you have, you may need to budget a bit for a liner or some other improvements to make a modern stove operate well.

Any wiggle room in expanding that hearth pad? Know what kind of protection it's providing or is it the old school large square rock directly on floor boards?
 
The chimney is insulated stovepipe, 8 inch interior. Straight-shot, stays clean as a whistle, only about ten feet tall. The pipe was installed about two years ago, house never had a stove before that. I can't expand my hearth pad, I'm bound by a wall, an exterior door that opens toward the stove on the other side, and the fact that we have to walk through the kitchen between the woodstove and refrigerator, and still have clearance. And I'm not worried about paying for incidentals like chimney improvements or hearth pads, I've just got my budget in mind for the stove itself.
 
8 inch chimney is going to limit your stove choices, for new anyways. And all of those are going to be way too much stove for 1500sq ft. 95% of the new stoves out there need 6" chimney. Even using an adapter to make 8" connect to a 6" pipe is a no go as you only have 10 ft of 8" insulated and that ain't gonna draft for poo. Your going to be looking at finding a used smoke dragon that will work with 8" (still going to have draft problems IMO.) or replacing the whole kit & kaboodle. I'm surprised 8" chimney was installed in such a recent installation. It's pricey stuff too.
 
One thing about the chimney is that it is only ten feet long, so replacing ten feet isn't a big expense. it should probably be a lot taller, and the extra height will mean new pipe regardless of whether you replace the eight inch with six inch. The fact that the current stove is leaky probably means it requires less draft (less pull on the air) to allow adequate air into the stove. A newer, tighter stove will require a harder pull to bring enough air into the stove. Harder pull requires a taller stack.

For your budget an Englander 30NC or 13 NC would be a good choice. The 30 is larger and gives longer burns. I am not sure about the dimensions of hte two, but I am sure the 13 is smaller. englander stoves are also sold as Summers Heat brand, I think. I have a Lopi Republic that is similar to the Englander 13NC and was about the same proce when I bought mine. There may be other good brands for similar price. I believe my stove was more than $600, but not a whole lot more.
 
One thing to consider is that the OP may have 10 ft of 8" insulated, that terminates in a support box at the ceiling. So add the stove pipe under that and you have another 4-5 ft of stack height. 14-15ft is plenty workable. I agree that replacing 10 ft of insulated pipe (and adding a foot or two just for good measure?) wouldn't be too bad $$ wise but the OP's budget is barely gonna cover a bargain Englander 30-NC, let alone new stove pipe and 10ft of class A.
 
Well, I cleaned the chimney about six weeks ago. There was really nothing there to clean, even after two years of burning. I used only two four foot rods to reach the damper on the stove. So it really is only about ten foot of pipe. I already have to replace the raincap, it had little slots in it that collected creosote, so the guy before me cut a total of 50% of it out, in quarter sections! Does nothing to keep the rain from coming in, that was $40 someone wasted! No matter which way the wind blows, if I'm not burning to create an updraft, the water comes in!
And there is an adapter taking the 8 inch pipe to 6 inches to connect to the stove.
Like I said, I'm not worried about replacing pipe if it's for the best, and there was wiggle room in the budget on the stove itself, and I would just deal with the stovepipe if need be.
I was trying to ask some advice on the stove because I felt like a real sucker talking to some of the local retailers around here. Half their stuff is manufactured in China, and the other half, who knows? Plus, I don't have a dedicated stove dealer that's local that has any expertise or customer support after the sale, so I'm on my own, except for the advice I can find here. I was trying to see what some of the experienced voices here would spend their money on, and it looks like I have a couple of good leads so far. Thanks very much. Perhaps a few others will weigh in, and by the time July arrives, I'll be well prepared to make a purchase!
Now any opinion on buying in July vs. September? Better deals at different times of the year?
 
The most reasonable stove that members here really like is an Englander NC30. They run anywhere from $600 to just under $1000 (and sometimes lower if your timing is perfect). This stove takes a 6" chimney, but will heat your entire house with no problem. You may be able to find something used for less. Either way you're almost definitely going to have to address the chimney issue. Chimneys can get pricey, but a lot of members find good deals on the web.
 
The 10 ft flue is an issue. How large an area is the stove heating?
 
That's baffling, why someone would spend extra for 8", then reduce it to 6".

I'm curious about the hearth pad. Can you post a pic?
 
There is a very good site to look at woodlanddirect.com they have a large selection and very good customer support. If you order a stove they deliver lift gate service to your door for free. Woodlanddirect is right down the road from me and I talked to them when I was looking there knowledge is surprising! I have ordered any things stove and non stove related from them it always arrives fast and in good shape. It may be worth giving them a call.

http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Wood-Stove-and-Accessories/Wood-Stoves-Medium-1500-2000-sqft

Pete
 
Well, I cleaned the chimney about six weeks ago. There was really nothing there to clean, even after two years of burning. I used only two four foot rods to reach the damper on the stove. So it really is only about ten foot of pipe. I already have to replace the raincap, it had little slots in it that collected creosote, so the guy before me cut a total of 50% of it out, in quarter sections! Does nothing to keep the rain from coming in, that was $40 someone wasted! No matter which way the wind blows, if I'm not burning to create an updraft, the water comes in!
And there is an adapter taking the 8 inch pipe to 6 inches to connect to the stove.
Like I said, I'm not worried about replacing pipe if it's for the best, and there was wiggle room in the budget on the stove itself, and I would just deal with the stovepipe if need be.
I was trying to ask some advice on the stove because I felt like a real sucker talking to some of the local retailers around here. Half their stuff is manufactured in China, and the other half, who knows? Plus, I don't have a dedicated stove dealer that's local that has any expertise or customer support after the sale, so I'm on my own, except for the advice I can find here. I was trying to see what some of the experienced voices here would spend their money on, and it looks like I have a couple of good leads so far. Thanks very much. Perhaps a few others will weigh in, and by the time July arrives, I'll be well prepared to make a purchase!
Now any opinion on buying in July vs. September? Better deals at different times of the year?

In my experience the best time to buy is spring most stoves go on clearance to make way for new models as well as patio related spring items. Englander for example at home depot or there sister stove summers heat at lowes go on major clearance around feb march here. From 1100 to clearance around 650-699 depending on the stove . Dealers in my area do anywhere from 25% to 50% depending on the stove weather new or display model. The later months of the year dealers start to stock back up and the price goes up on stoves until spring again. Usually it's in August - September around here and the prices go zipping back up fast.

Pete
 
Englander.
 
For 600 bucks there are not alot of choices available. Englander would be my suggestion as well, but you are gonna want to stick to a 6" pipe with that short of run, and even that could be problematic.
 
IMO - Avoid Vermont Castings wood stoves.
 
Lots of talk about stove and chimney but not much mention of fuel. At this point, you should already have next winter's wood put up. If you have any oak, that should have been put up a couple years ago. You will find that burning wood in today's stoves much different from burning wood even 30 years ago. Good dry wood is a must else you will be bad mouthing the stove, the chimney and anything else but it will be all in vain because you'll find it is the fuel. Almost all the wood we burn has been split and stacked out in the wind for 3 years minimum. We have no creosote problems and also save a lot on fuel because we burn less to get more heat. So, how is your wood supply right now?
 
I have an Osburn 2400 and love it. I would also check out Pacific Energy and Napoleon. I have friends that burn both of these brands and they rave about them.
 
I have an Osburn 2400 and love it. I would also check out Pacific Energy and Napoleon. I have friends that burn both of these brands and they rave about them.

I also have an Osburn 2400 and love it, but his budget is $600.
 
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