Should know this but ? About burn times

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Elle

Elle

Burning Hunk
Apr 20, 2012
182
North East Pennsylvania
Ok so the purchase is going to happen this summer. Choice is Lopi cape cope or Jotul (I forget the model right now)

So they both have 10-12 hour burns.

Question is- will the Lopi use less wood for the same amount of burn time? That might be a deciding factor. So assuming all things being equal- will the Lopi cc use significantly less wood than a regular stove?

Thanks
 
The Cape cod is a hybrid stove with both tubes and cat. I would expect that unit to be more efficient than a non-hybrid. I don't really know the real numbers but would take a guess at about 10%. The cape is also a pretty large stove at 3.0 cuft and without knowing the model of the Jotul, that is about where my comparison will have to end.

I loves me some Jotul - but that Cape should be a very formidable heating device.
 
It would help to know the Jotul model . . . guessing it might be the F-600 with that long as advertised burn time. Just be aware, that the brochures' burn time is quite subjective in many cases -- one person's definition of burn time might be quite different from another person's definition or the manufacturer.

Is burn time defined as the time the fire is lit until the last coal is cool to the touch . . . or is it the time when the stove reaches X degrees to the time when it drops below that heat level . . . it really is a subjective answer.

Best bet often is to ask folks with the two models you are looking at for a real world experience with burn times . . . making sure they define what their definition is . . . and what they are burning as fuel makes a big difference as well. Burning some sugar maple in my stove will have a much different result vs. burning some poplar in terms of time.
 
When pondering the definition of "burn time" the forum led me to a definition of burn time as "the amount of time between reloads; the amount of time between when you load the wood and when you still have usable coals to be able to restart the fire."

Not to be confused with the length of time the stove produces meaningful heat.

The amount of usable heat is typically far less that the total "burn time".
 
If you intend to use this thing for full time heat then I'd prefer the Lopi. Longer burn times and long burn times are the most important thing.

The efficiency difference and amount of wood consumed will be basicly the same. All modern EPA stoves are so efficient that wood consumption isn't an important factor. How often you have to stuff the thing is way more important.
 
I found my brochure...the Jotul I'm looking at is the F55 or F50 if that helps...
 
thanks....I have to say one thing I like about the Jotul is I can get a fire screen and "hear" and "smell" the fire....or at least that is what I am hoping for. I have seen the two Jotuls (leaning towards the 55 I htink) and the cape code at the store and either one will fit nicely. I would also like to use the stove to cook on and that might make the Jotul more attractive. I am not sure I mean by burn time honestly. I think I mean until I have to reload and can get good temps to keep the house comfortable. Not sure that makes sense.

I think the little things that might add to my enjoyment of the stove like cooking and having the screen might be the difference maker. I can live with burning 10% more wood for that. If it was over 30% then I might have to really think about it. This will be my primary source of heat for the winter.

Not sure if the extra info helps... thanks
 
Jotul is one MFG. that does not state firebox size (that ticks me off.:mad:). If this will be for primary heat - go with the stove that has the largest firebox. Just one dudes opinion.
 
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Most folks who buy the screens find that they don't use them much. The stoves produce the best heat when the doors are closed. When the screen is on, it's more
like an open fireplace, which is extremely romantic and inefficient. I love looking at my fire from my rocking chair. Television usage goes way down in the winter time.
 
I agree with Jags here. Buy the one that you can load up with the most wood at night. Also burn times from the manufacturer mean almost nothing in my opinion, has more to do with the type and amount of wood you're putting in. If all things are close to equal then buy the one that you (or the boss) like the looks of the best. This will be a huge box in the middle of your house that you will see and use everyday, make sure you like it.
 
Elle said:
thanks....I have to say one thing I like about the Jotul is I can get a fire screen and "hear" and "smell" the fire....or at least that is what I am hoping for.

I think the little things that might add to my enjoyment of the stove like cooking and having the screen might be the difference maker. I can live with burning 10% more wood for that. If it was over 30% then I might have to really think about it. This will be my primary source of heat for the winter.
Click to expand...

It's funny that you mention this. I was just thinking something similar. You can check out the question I just asked.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/aesthetics-versus-performance.109913/
 
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northwinds said:
Most folks who buy the screens find that they don't use them much. The stoves produce the best heat when the doors are closed. When the screen is on, it's more
like an open fireplace, which is extremely romantic and inefficient. I love looking at my fire from my rocking chair. Television usage goes way down in the winter time.
Click to expand...

But can't heat from romance make up for the inefficiency? ;)
 
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The thing that bothers me about the Jotul you mentioned is the the shape of the firebox. Have you looked it over? The box is nearly square and it steps down in the back. It looks big enough but it doesn't seem real usable. That being said, the Cod offers more freedom with the 24" wide firebox. But, if your wood is all 18" long, then you wouldn't be making use of the whole box on a cod either. But I like the the tall wide firebox!
And you can't cook on the Cape Cod. I always wanted to but never got around to it in the last 7 years, so this wasn't an issue for us. Neither was a screen, with a huge glass what is the point? You will quickly see that this isn't an issue either. Most people never use theirs past the first year.
 
Elle said:
thanks....I have to say one thing I like about the Jotul is I can get a fire screen and "hear" and "smell" the fire....or at least that is what I am hoping for. I have seen the two Jotuls (leaning towards the 55 I htink) and the cape code at the store and either one will fit nicely. I would also like to use the stove to cook on and that might make the Jotul more attractive. I am not sure I mean by burn time honestly. I think I mean until I have to reload and can get good temps to keep the house comfortable. Not sure that makes sense.

I think the little things that might add to my enjoyment of the stove like cooking and having the screen might be the difference maker. I can live with burning 10% more wood for that. If it was over 30% then I might have to really think about it. This will be my primary source of heat for the winter.

Not sure if the extra info helps... thanks
Click to expand...
How often would you be using the screen vs closed door? As mentioned above, using a screen turns the stove into an open fireplace; very inefficient and creates drafts in the house with so much air drawn into the house and going up the chimney. If you are burning with an open door, there is no reason to compare burn times or efficiency. If it's just occasional, that's a different matter, but I believe you would find that you can get plenty of smokey smell (I like it, too) and visual ambiance from a window door.

As for cooking, take a look at the Pacific Energy Alderlea line with nice moveable trivets built in and a traditional look and long reputed burn times.
 
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The tl50 is a grate cook stove I never use the top lode but the grill you can put in it smokes meat wonderfully and it has a big cook top burn times have a lot of variables I am getting 8 to 10 that the stove will stay above 300
 
I think if both stoves are about the volume inside, both will use about the same amount of wood and produce about the same amount of heat. The efficiency, BUT output, burn time, and other technical measurements of stoves seem to vary between manufacturers and are not very comparable, at least not when you get down to the details of one good stove versus another good stove.
 
Elle said:
thanks....I have to say one thing I like about the Jotul is I can get a fire screen and "hear" and "smell" the fire....or at least that is what I am hoping for. Granted with a closed door you may not be able to hear the fire as well . . . but I will tell you that you will still be able to hear the snap, crackle and pop of the fire . . . as for the "smell" . . . unless you have an issue with draft you shouldn't really be smelling the fire or smoke inside . . . if you do smell smoke you have an issue with the heating system. Me . . . I like the smell of the simmering potpourri on top . . . but while working outside in the fall I do admit to like the hint of smoke in the air. I have seen the two Jotuls (leaning towards the 55 I htink) and the cape code at the store and either one will fit nicely. I would also like to use the stove to cook on and that might make the Jotul more attractive. I am not sure I mean by burn time honestly. I think I mean until I have to reload and can get good temps to keep the house comfortable. Not sure that makes sense.

I think the little things that might add to my enjoyment of the stove like cooking and having the screen might be the difference maker. I would not make the screen the difference maker . . . really . . . there are very few folks here . . . if any . . . who bought the screen with the same thinking of you . . . who are still using the screen. I can live with burning 10% more wood for that. If it was over 30% then I might have to really think about it. This will be my primary source of heat for the winter. Primary source of heat = ditch the screen. Let the woodstove do what it was born to do -- be a woodstove and not a fireplace. Pick the stove sized for your home . . . bigger (to a degree) is often better when you're looking at burning 24/7 . . . the caveat being that having a cat stove can be an asset for the 24/7 burners -- although burning 24/7 with a secondary burner can be done as well as many of us can attest.

Not sure if the extra info helps... thanks
Click to expand...
 
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