I had the Jotul 550 insert installed in late winter/early spring last year. Paid full price for the stove, but got a special, $99 install (including single story double wall SS liner). Had a couple small break in fires, but it got so warm so quickly, we didn't really get a chance to do more than that.
When the temps dropped this weekend, I knew we would get to start it up. I bought 2 pallets of Envi Blocks to supplement what little seasoned wood I have for this year. Trying to keep the fires small, since its not really that cold out. Its been 50's to near 60 for the high and near 40 for the low here at my place, not much sun. Here is my experience so far:
Sunday, I started a fire around 7am. Super cedar, kindling, 1 envi block. About 1-1.5 hours later I added another envi block. About 4 hours after that (after I ate lunch) I added 1 more Envi block. All together, that made the house more than warm enough for the day. Still had heat coming out around dinner time.
Monday was similar I believe, I worked, wife and kids were home.So I started the fire before I left for work, but don't know exactly what happened after that, but the house was plenty warm when I got home.
Tuesday, I got home from work about 5:30. Started up a fire the same way, added a second envi block around 7. Still plenty of heat when I headed up stairs at about 10:30.
When it gets colder, maybe by Thanksgiving time, I'll start morning fires too during the week. My house has 3 heating zones, 2 downstairs, 1 upstairs. I suspect I'll still use the oil heat (with baseboards) upstairs to keep it comfortable at night for us (my wife and I, 5 year old girl, 1 year old boy). The insert is in the family room, and I keep a fan blowing into it, pushing cold air toward the stove. I wish I had better heat distribution, but lets face it, we spend probably 85% of our awake home time in the family room.
So if our house is split 60% floor area 1st floor, 40% second floor, and I heat the first floor with the stove, maybe I can save 60% on my heating oil this year?
When the temps dropped this weekend, I knew we would get to start it up. I bought 2 pallets of Envi Blocks to supplement what little seasoned wood I have for this year. Trying to keep the fires small, since its not really that cold out. Its been 50's to near 60 for the high and near 40 for the low here at my place, not much sun. Here is my experience so far:
Sunday, I started a fire around 7am. Super cedar, kindling, 1 envi block. About 1-1.5 hours later I added another envi block. About 4 hours after that (after I ate lunch) I added 1 more Envi block. All together, that made the house more than warm enough for the day. Still had heat coming out around dinner time.
Monday was similar I believe, I worked, wife and kids were home.So I started the fire before I left for work, but don't know exactly what happened after that, but the house was plenty warm when I got home.
Tuesday, I got home from work about 5:30. Started up a fire the same way, added a second envi block around 7. Still plenty of heat when I headed up stairs at about 10:30.
When it gets colder, maybe by Thanksgiving time, I'll start morning fires too during the week. My house has 3 heating zones, 2 downstairs, 1 upstairs. I suspect I'll still use the oil heat (with baseboards) upstairs to keep it comfortable at night for us (my wife and I, 5 year old girl, 1 year old boy). The insert is in the family room, and I keep a fan blowing into it, pushing cold air toward the stove. I wish I had better heat distribution, but lets face it, we spend probably 85% of our awake home time in the family room.
So if our house is split 60% floor area 1st floor, 40% second floor, and I heat the first floor with the stove, maybe I can save 60% on my heating oil this year?