Going to Buy in a Couple of Weeks

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Jeff from KY

Member
Jan 7, 2012
10
Western KY
I posted an intro back in January (https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/intro-and-a-buying-question.80392/).

I am now getting ready to write a check and get a stove. I have a local dealer who I will be buying from. The dealer sells Dutchwest, Lennox Country, Leyden, Jotul, and Vermont Castings.

The new stove will be replacing a Dutchwest Federal Airtight that we bought new in 1987 and have used as our primary heat source for the last 25 years.

Right now, I am leaning towards a Dutchwest 2460 or 61, cat stove simply because I have been very happy with the performance of my old Dutchwest.

Because of our house design (earth sheltered, passive solar, 1200 sq ft), our preferred comfort level, and our Kentucky climate, we run the stove at low settings much of the time. We also turn the stove to its lowest possible setting when we go to bed (like to be able to shake the ash and throw some wood in in the morning to restart).

If a stove is run mostly at its lowest setting, is there a difference in efficiency between cat and non-cat? In other words, does either a cat or non-cat function better at low settings?

Second, for the type of burning we do, would any of the other brands be a better option than the Dutchwest?

Thanks,
Jeff
Paducah, KY
 
Jeff from KY said:
I posted an intro back in January (https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/intro-and-a-buying-question.80392/).

I am now getting ready to write a check and get a stove. I have a local dealer who I will be buying from. The dealer sells Dutchwest, Lennox Country, Leyden, Jotul, and Vermont Castings.

The new stove will be replacing a Dutchwest Federal Airtight that we bought new in 1987 and have used as our primary heat source for the last 25 years.

Right now, I am leaning towards a Dutchwest 2460 or 61, cat stove simply because I have been very happy with the performance of my old Dutchwest.

Because of our house design (earth sheltered, passive solar, 1200 sq ft), our preferred comfort level, and our Kentucky climate, we run the stove at low settings much of the time. We also turn the stove to its lowest possible setting when we go to bed (like to be able to shake the ash and throw some wood in in the morning to restart).

If a stove is run mostly at its lowest setting, is there a difference in efficiency between cat and non-cat? In other words, does either a cat or non-cat function better at low settings?

Second, for the type of burning we do, would any of the other brands be a better option than the Dutchwest?

Thanks,
Jeff
Paducah, KY
Click to expand...

I only have run a secondary burn stove, but the general consensus that I often see here from folks who have run both types is that the cats do a fantastic job of long, low burns vs. the secondary burns.

That said . . . you can still heat a home effectively and efficiently with either in my opinion . . . just in my own case in the Fall and Spring I tend to just do a single fire . . . don't load up the firebox to the gills . . . and use my punks, chunks and uglies (vs. my primo wood). As long as I don't go crazy and reload or get a fire going when it's forecast to warm up significantly later on in the day I can do a single fire and keep the place warm.

I should say I am very partial to Jotul as my Oslo has been near bullet proof . . . and it works for me . . . and in the morning I too can get a fire going with the coals and some kindling or small splits.

If you really like cat stoves and like the long, low burns I know many folks rave about the Blaze Kings and Woodstocks (sold direct) . . . a few folks also like the Bucks.
 
Consider getting the stove this week or the next. Prices tend to go up after Labor Day. If there is a local state fair at which there are usually some stove dealers, that can be a good way to swing a discount.
 
Sounds like a smaller Woodstock would also work very well. You don't have to worry about dealer support, because they only sell direct, and according to every Woodstock owner here, customer service is second to none.
 
With the Woodstock in your climate you could load it up and let it run low and get a nice long burn, not sure exactly how long but I would say 12 hours is not out of the question.
 
Sounds like a cat stove is the right way to go. Woodstock and BK stoves have a great rep around here but other manufactures make some good performing stoves. I would give the BlazeKing Sirocco a peak, I bet it would work out well for you.
 
Agreed, I would look at the Woodstock Keystone or Palladian. That sounds like a nice fit and it's a great company to work with.
 
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