Local dealers carry Jotul, Buck, Regency and Hampton. Any thoughts?

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Soundchasm

Minister of Fire
Sep 27, 2011
1,305
Dayton, OH
www.soundchasm.com
Hello,

I'm looking to heat about 600-800sf, just the common area. The house is about 2000sf with a full basement, and I've got a wood stove for downstairs. If I can keep the auxiliary heat from coming on as much (100% electric home with a heat pump) I'll be pretty happy. I need an insert, and the FP is pretty big. 27"Deepx50"Wx25"H.

I'd like a firebox no smaller than 2.0cf since some of my splits are a little big/long this year. I'm sure I have some splits that are 19" long. Actually, after reading these brochures, I can't make the association between firebox size and split length. Maybe firebox size isn't such a big deal?

I'm in Dayton, OH, so I've spoken with one dealer who handles Jotul and Buck and seems proficient in installs. He's a one man operation - store, sales, install. The other dealer handles Hampton and Regency, but I don't think he installs.

The position of the fireplace makes it NOT the central focal point of the room, so total bling is not a requirement. Quiet would be a plus.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons on the brands would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg
 
Welcome to the forums, Greg !


A pic of the hearth area would help.


Is the wood stove in the basement?
 
Thanks for the welcome. I've been trying to do more lurking, but this has been one tough season.

The old 70's Nashua is in the basement. I'm also having some culture shock that some of these new stoves are about the size of the door on that old thing. Running it since 2002 has convinced me that direct heating from downstairs to upstairs is not going to happen. It probably helps, but my "office" is down there...

Here are some pics.
 

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Jotul 550 Rockland is what I'd look at, in your position.
 
There's been a couple of threads with fireplaces just like yours. I know at least one had a mason doing some brick work. I'm sure someone will be along with a link.
 
jeff_t said:
There's been a couple of threads with fireplaces just like yours. I know at least one had a mason doing some brick work. I'm sure someone will be along with a link.

We've decided to not brick in the side. I think cosmetically we'll get the faceplate, and then some decorative metalwork to close in the corner.

Regarding the brands, I thought-
1. The Bucks were nowhere near as unattractive as I'd come to believe
2. The style of the Jotuls would be lost due to the FP facing the short side of the room.
3. The Regencys had cool style
4. Hamptons looked very good

But anything anyone can add as to the practical side, like firebox size, maintenance, etc will be quite helpful. One vote for the Jotul so far.

Thanks,
Greg
 
I'd get a regency and just leave the surround off.
 
Buck 91 is a huge cat stove, 4.4 ft ³ I think. It does, however, require an 8" vent. It has a good reputation here, as do most of the Bucks. I don't think you can go wrong with the brands you are looking at. Depends on what you want to spend and what you want to look at.
 
tickbitty said:
I'd get a regency and just leave the surround off.

I'd like to believe that a brand new coat of black paint back there would make that cavity disappear. If I were still single, I guarantee that a can of black paint would BE the solution.
 
jeff_t said:
Buck 91 is a huge cat stove, 4.4 ft ³ I think. It does, however, require an 8" vent. It has a good reputation here, as do most of the Bucks. I don't think you can go wrong with the brands you are looking at. Depends on what you want to spend and what you want to look at.

Thanks Jeff. I'll try to opt out of the cat style, but I think the 91 looks good with the gold trim. 23" logs max. They've got the 94NC, though. I do feel like all the stoves will be quality. I've looked up the chimney, but I'll need to have an expert measure.

Does anybody have a preference for an ash pan or not?

Thanks,
Greg
 
Soundchasm said:
jeff_t said:
Buck 91 is a huge cat stove, 4.4 ft ³ I think. It does, however, require an 8" vent. It has a good reputation here, as do most of the Bucks. I don't think you can go wrong with the brands you are looking at. Depends on what you want to spend and what you want to look at.

Thanks Jeff. I'll try to opt out of the cat style, but I think the 91 looks good with the gold trim. 23" logs max. They've got the 94NC, though. I do feel like all the stoves will be quality. I've looked up the chimney, but I'll need to have an expert measure.

Does anybody have a preference for an ash pan or not?

Thanks,
Greg

Do not be afraid of the cat. Just feed it dry wood. Really, you won't find anything negative here about the 91, or most any cat stove.
There is somebody here who wasn't so happy with the 94nc. Something about chewing through wood, not throwing a lot of heat. May be something to do with the huge firebox and secondary burn tubes. Do a search.
The 91 was on my short list. Probably would have one if I didn't find a good deal on the Blaze King.
And, most ignore the ash pan.
 
Soundchasm said:
Hello,

I'm looking to heat about 600-800sf, just the common area. The house is about 2000sf with a full basement, and I've got a wood stove for downstairs. If I can keep the auxiliary heat from coming on as much (100% electric home with a heat pump) I'll be pretty happy. I need an insert, and the FP is pretty big. 27"Deepx50"Wx25"H.

I'd like a firebox no smaller than 2.0cf since some of my splits are a little big/long this year. I'm sure I have some splits that are 19" long. Actually, after reading these brochures, I can't make the association between firebox size and split length. Maybe firebox size isn't such a big deal?

I'm in Dayton, OH, so I've spoken with one dealer who handles Jotul and Buck and seems proficient in installs. He's a one man operation - store, sales, install. The other dealer handles Hampton and Regency, but I don't think he installs.

The position of the fireplace makes it NOT the central focal point of the room, so total bling is not a requirement. Quiet would be a plus.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons on the brands would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg

I am a Buck 74 owner and I love it. The 91 would cook you from the outside in within 800 sq. ft.!! I use my Buck to heat around 2000 sq ft and it does a really good job. If you do a search I have listed several reviews about my expierence. Also, the costumer service is top notch....
 
i had a buck insert installed years ago that was a contemporary style with a great room, high cealings and a loft walkway with bedrooms off the walkway. the buck was a beast. worked real good nfor me. however, thats the only experience i've had with inserts and that was years ago.....but i think their reputation remains good. this house didn't have a fireplace and i put a couple of free standing stoves in it. i have one in the basement i use during the burning season and one on the main floor that i use when it gets really cold or alone during the shoulder seasons.

cass
 
Hey there, good morning. We are entering our second season of heating with a Hampton HI300 cast iron insert, and we really like it. We've not been burning the greatest wood on earth, but our stove pumps out nice heat to our 2000 sf Cape Cod. We've opened the floor plan up a bit to move the heat, but 74 degrees in the upstairs bedroosm is not a challenge. The regency is basically the same stove, only in steel as opposed to cast, so slightly less "dressy."

Its great to read on this forum that people have been seasoning wood for 2 or 3 (or in some cases, 6 or 7) years, but for those of us who don't have a ton of property, and thus do not have room to score 8+ cords of wood for mulitple seasons, need to do the best with what we've got. The Hampton does a very good job of making good heat with imperfectly seasoned wood.
 
jeff_t said:
Soundchasm said:
jeff_t said:
Buck 91 is a huge cat stove, 4.4 ft ³ I think. It does, however, require an 8" vent. It has a good reputation here, as do most of the Bucks. I don't think you can go wrong with the brands you are looking at. Depends on what you want to spend and what you want to look at.

Thanks Jeff. I'll try to opt out of the cat style, but I think the 91 looks good with the gold trim. 23" logs max. They've got the 94NC, though. I do feel like all the stoves will be quality. I've looked up the chimney, but I'll need to have an expert measure.

Does anybody have a preference for an ash pan or not?

Thanks,
Greg

Do not be afraid of the cat. Just feed it dry wood. Really, you won't find anything negative here about the 91, or most any cat stove.
There is somebody here who wasn't so happy with the 94nc. Something about chewing through wood, not throwing a lot of heat. May be something to do with the huge firebox and secondary burn tubes. Do a search.
The 91 was on my short list. Probably would have one if I didn't find a good deal on the Blaze King.
And, most ignore the ash pan.

Jeff,
Armed with only a tiny amount of knowledge, I am a little worried about how long the cat thing would work, and how you might even know if it was worn out or damaged. Nice to get a reassurance there. I do believe the 91 would be waaaaaaay too much heat, though.

Concerning the ash pan, I generally excel at ignoring things. I'll be just fine there.
 
weezer4117 said:
Soundchasm said:
Hello,

I'm looking to heat about 600-800sf, just the common area. The house is about 2000sf with a full basement, and I've got a wood stove for downstairs. If I can keep the auxiliary heat from coming on as much (100% electric home with a heat pump) I'll be pretty happy. I need an insert, and the FP is pretty big. 27"Deepx50"Wx25"H.

I'd like a firebox no smaller than 2.0cf since some of my splits are a little big/long this year. I'm sure I have some splits that are 19" long. Actually, after reading these brochures, I can't make the association between firebox size and split length. Maybe firebox size isn't such a big deal?

I'm in Dayton, OH, so I've spoken with one dealer who handles Jotul and Buck and seems proficient in installs. He's a one man operation - store, sales, install. The other dealer handles Hampton and Regency, but I don't think he installs.

The position of the fireplace makes it NOT the central focal point of the room, so total bling is not a requirement. Quiet would be a plus.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons on the brands would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg

I am a Buck 74 owner and I love it. The 91 would cook you from the outside in within 800 sq. ft.!! I use my Buck to heat around 2000 sq ft and it does a really good job. If you do a search I have listed several reviews about my experience. Also, the costumer service is top notch....

The "brick and mortar" aspect of the Buck dealer has it's appeal. The Buck 74 has the right log length, but the 21 has the right(?) BTU output.

Not sure why Buck chooses to list the longest log possible for some models, but not others? The posted spec is front to back, but that's not the horizontal number. I guess there could be different results depending on the size of the split.
 
tcassavaugh said:
i had a buck insert installed years ago that was a contemporary style with a great room, high cealings and a loft walkway with bedrooms off the walkway. the buck was a beast. worked real good nfor me. however, thats the only experience i've had with inserts and that was years ago.....but i think their reputation remains good. this house didn't have a fireplace and i put a couple of free standing stoves in it. i have one in the basement i use during the burning season and one on the main floor that i use when it gets really cold or alone during the shoulder seasons.

cass

Do I see five stoves listed in your signature block?? Impressive!! ;-) As I read between the lines, I'm concluding that I really don't want to get too large of a unit.
 
Leaky Waders said:
Hey there, good morning. We are entering our second season of heating with a Hampton HI300 cast iron insert, and we really like it. We've not been burning the greatest wood on earth, but our stove pumps out nice heat to our 2000 sf Cape Cod. We've opened the floor plan up a bit to move the heat, but 74 degrees in the upstairs bedroosm is not a challenge. The regency is basically the same stove, only in steel as opposed to cast, so slightly less "dressy."

Its great to read on this forum that people have been seasoning wood for 2 or 3 (or in some cases, 6 or 7) years, but for those of us who don't have a ton of property, and thus do not have room to score 8+ cords of wood for mulitple seasons, need to do the best with what we've got. The Hampton does a very good job of making good heat with imperfectly seasoned wood.

I have to agree on dry (seasoned) wood. I've spent a few winters using all my time to get something lit or just keep it from going out. I now try to get wood delivered in June/July. I try to let it cook all summer, and then cover it in September. That's made a big difference.

If you can get 74 degrees upstairs, that's a real accomplishment. The Hampton is a looker, and it does 18" logs.
 
Soundchasm said:
weezer4117 said:
Soundchasm said:
Hello,

I'm looking to heat about 600-800sf, just the common area. The house is about 2000sf with a full basement, and I've got a wood stove for downstairs. If I can keep the auxiliary heat from coming on as much (100% electric home with a heat pump) I'll be pretty happy. I need an insert, and the FP is pretty big. 27"Deepx50"Wx25"H.

I'd like a firebox no smaller than 2.0cf since some of my splits are a little big/long this year. I'm sure I have some splits that are 19" long. Actually, after reading these brochures, I can't make the association between firebox size and split length. Maybe firebox size isn't such a big deal?

I'm in Dayton, OH, so I've spoken with one dealer who handles Jotul and Buck and seems proficient in installs. He's a one man operation - store, sales, install. The other dealer handles Hampton and Regency, but I don't think he installs.

The position of the fireplace makes it NOT the central focal point of the room, so total bling is not a requirement. Quiet would be a plus.

Any thoughts as to pros and cons on the brands would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg

I am a Buck 74 owner and I love it. The 91 would cook you from the outside in within 800 sq. ft.!! I use my Buck to heat around 2000 sq ft and it does a really good job. If you do a search I have listed several reviews about my experience. Also, the costumer service is top notch....

The "brick and mortar" aspect of the Buck dealer has it's appeal. The Buck 74 has the right log length, but the 21 has the right(?) BTU output.

Not sure why Buck chooses to list the longest log possible for some models, but not others? The posted spec is front to back, but that's not the horizontal number. I guess there could be different results depending on the size of the split.

I wouldnt pay to much attention to the factory specs, maybe square footage. I have gotten the best results from loading my buck n/s vs e/w, the stove was built for a n/s load. This stove can really produce some serious heat, the large glass puts off a TON itself. The 21 is a smaller stove, might be more appropriate in your application but I would go bigger if it was me. Keep us posted!!
 
did you find your self a stove? where are you getting your wood at? i'm in miamisburg.
 
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