I've been lurking on this site for a couple of years now, have learned a lot, but still have some questions. I'm not new to burning wood, I've had a Lopi Freedom and a Quadrafire 5100, both of which I liked. When we moved into our new house it came with a standard zero clearance Superior fireplace that is useless. After suffering through a winters worth of crushing propane bills, I decided to once again heat with wood. I went to the local stove shop, and the owner showed me a PE Summit stove. It looked nice, but by the time he added on all the bells and whistles the $1495 stove ballooned to $2500. From researching on this site, I can see the Englander 30-NC is a well respected stove, that is priced very nicely. My question is, what would I be getting for the extra $1000 to $1500, to get the PE? Other stoves have similiar premiums, Lopi, Quadrafire etc. Thanks
Englander 30-NC vs more expensive stoves
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I'm guessing you were looking at smaller PE stoves first. The base price for a Summit is around $2000. Englander and Drolet have less expensive 3 cu ft stoves. They are solidly built with some significant construction differences from the Summit, but if you are looking for bottom line savings, the Englander should get the job done.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
The PE will give you longer burns than the 30 based on the reports here. About 12 hours vs 10 hours, if I recall.
Some do not like the looks of the Englander, especially when it is compared to a soapstone or cast iron stove.
Some do not like the looks of the Englander, especially when it is compared to a soapstone or cast iron stove.
I may have been looking at the smaller PE stoves, his selection was a little thin. I do know that PE taps you for every little thing, almost light an al la cart menu. The Summit stove as 1425 but then there were up charges for: leg adapter, legs, black door, ash pan and blower. The blower alone was $315 
I need to heat around 2700 square feet would the Englander 30 be up to the task?
I need to heat around 2700 square feet would the Englander 30 be up to the task?
http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/pacsumm.htm
How well the 30NC will work will depend on the house layout, insulation and the wood supply. It's a capable heater, but it can only do so much. Same for the Summit. If the house is leaky and the wood supply is only semi-seasoned, then it's going to be close or disappointing. If the house is well insulated, wood is nice and dry and the floorplan is pretty open, then yes, it may be up to the challenge.
How well the 30NC will work will depend on the house layout, insulation and the wood supply. It's a capable heater, but it can only do so much. Same for the Summit. If the house is leaky and the wood supply is only semi-seasoned, then it's going to be close or disappointing. If the house is well insulated, wood is nice and dry and the floorplan is pretty open, then yes, it may be up to the challenge.
Thanks Begreen, I think our layout should work quite well. The fireplace is in the great room, which is centrally located in the house. The great room is open to the loft on the second floor, and a bedroom door is on either end of the loft. Home is 2x6 construction, and well insulated. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the 30-NC. I just can't see paying $1000+ more for a stove with the same size firebox. I agree with BrowningBAR, it's not the most elegant looking stove in the world, but I've seen worse! I'm sure I'll have more questions as I move along with tearing the old fireplace out, and installing the new. Thanks again.
You'll have plenty of good company with that stove. There are lots of owners here that can help you out with questions.
Do you have a ceiling fan in the great room? You will need it. My preference is to run is at low speed in reverse in the winter to help break up heat stratifying near the roof peak. Without it the loft may be 10-15 degrees hotter than the 1st floor.
Do you have a ceiling fan in the great room? You will need it. My preference is to run is at low speed in reverse in the winter to help break up heat stratifying near the roof peak. Without it the loft may be 10-15 degrees hotter than the 1st floor.
That extra grand is for the bling, the looks, the name, and sometimes the technology. The 30 is a very capable stove with a rock solid performance, but it is utilitarian. Big steel box that does what it is advertised to do, nothing more, nothing less.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
I look at the Englander 30 (i have 2) as the volkswagon of stoves,not too pretty ,but very capable and dependable.Its hard to beat the price for a quality stove if you buy it discounted,i paid $650 each fore both of mine,usual price is about $900 I do have other stoves i like better though,some more expensive and some cheaper(although smaller).
Dix
Minister of Fire
Happy with the 13, probably shoulda gone with a 30, and been down to one stove. But originally I wasn't looking at heating the whole house, so , hence the PE.
The PE is a different beast than the Englander.
I think you'll be happy with it, very happy.
The PE is a different beast than the Englander.
I think you'll be happy with it, very happy.
leeave96
Minister of Fire
I think you'll like the 30NC. I like the looks with the legs vs. pedistal, but that's my taste. Once you get the stove, you still have some heating options via blower and side shields that can yield some convection on top of a ton of radiant heat. Your open floor plan and insulation sounds like you will retain a lot of heat. With regards to your original question, I feel there are other stoves which are more heavy built, etc., but I'm with you - I don't think at the end of the day, when you are trying to heat the house, it's hard to beat the Englander 30NC. Once you get into more decorative stoves, cast iron or soapstone or cat stoves, then the $$$'s are more too.
Good luck,
Bill
BobUrban
Minister of Fire
I ask the same questions last year(many have if you search it) looked at and touched many stoves but settled on the 30-NC. Looks good and is a beast of a heat producer. My biggest issue was the "open to the right" and handle latch. Regarding the RS opening and preffered left for my set up.... at 650.00 delivered to my home and 50.00 to the men in the truck to lug that beast into my living room - I can deal with moving wood around the door opening. Just cannot justify 1000-1500 for hinges on the right 
As far as the latch - there is a member here that works with/for Englander and says in all his years he knows of NO stove recall or return for latch issues. That is good enough for me.
If you want pretty and money is no object I fancy the Hearthstone stoves but for the equivelant heat you are in the 4-5000G range and not justifiable for the my home.
Bob Urban
As far as the latch - there is a member here that works with/for Englander and says in all his years he knows of NO stove recall or return for latch issues. That is good enough for me.
If you want pretty and money is no object I fancy the Hearthstone stoves but for the equivelant heat you are in the 4-5000G range and not justifiable for the my home.
Bob Urban
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
Sodbuster
You will find the 30 Quite low to the floor,in fact if you want to view the afterburn action ,you will literally have to lay on the floor and look up. I elevated both my stoves 16" and even that is not quite high enough.(for me) This stove works well in an elevated hearth setting.
You will find the 30 Quite low to the floor,in fact if you want to view the afterburn action ,you will literally have to lay on the floor and look up. I elevated both my stoves 16" and even that is not quite high enough.(for me) This stove works well in an elevated hearth setting.
Sounds like the stove I'm looking for, too bad they are not on sale right now though, $899 is as cheap as I can find. Even so, with the stove at $899 and probably another 1200 or so in the chimney, it will pay for itself in less than one heating season based on what I paid for propane last year (and we had a crazy mild winter). Seasoned Oak, thanks for the heads up on the height of the stove, I like being able to see the fire, especially the secondaries. Here's a picture of what has to come out to make room for the stove. Any ideas on what might look nice would be appreciated, I've seen where other members have done similar projects, building an alcove to fit their stoves into, I'm thinking of borrowing that type of idea. The only difference is that my chimney stick into the room where the other fellas went outside.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
I'm not sure a 30 would work there unless you plan on doing a lot of modifications to the hearth and the fireplace opening.
Seasoned Oak
Minister of Fire
Id be puttin a harman insert in there for sure and it would look as nice or better than it does now. Check it out harman 300i.
Yes, I am planning on doing major modifications to the existing install, surround is coming off, stone coming off, fireplace being removed, re-frame the opening to get proper clearances, and use a double layer of cement board with 1" airspace between to get non-combustible surface. My wife is just not happy with the looks of the entire setup. She would like a raised hearth, with some sort of stone used to finish off the non-combustible surface. She also has an old barn beam that weighs more than I do, that she would like to use as a mantle. How to do it is my responsibility, she just said, "get it done"
Stegman
Feeling the Heat
firecracker_77
Minister of Fire
You ever own a Volkswagen?
Probably more like the Honda of stoves.
We have a Volkswagen and an Accord. The VW is 8 years old and has given no major mechanical issues. 110,000 miles. The Accord is 6 months. Hondas build quality is probably not to prior levels and Toyota obviously had problems recently.
Back to the O.P., not sure how to make a stove fit there, but it's a nice looking room with alot of vertical space. Definately need to push that heated air down with a fan. An insert would give the most seamless install as suggested above.
So do you guys think I'm barking up the wrong tree trying to put a free standing stove in there? Basically I'm going to make an alcove for the stove to fit into. Don't really want an insert, number one because of the cost and number two, I'd have to lay on the floor to see the fire. Thanks
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