Cat or non-cat?

I'm in the same situation as you, I currently burn a tractor supply us stove 2500, the stove functions text book style, its easy to load, single air control is a no brainer, I get a decent burn time.. but its all basic, my questions are (and these are to myself) what do I really want? My problem is that the stove when the outside air temp is greater than 30 deg, over preforms, literally heats me out of the room / house, but when its real cold out the stove is perfect. The other is burn times, If I do a full load it will last me about 6 hours of good heat, then its down to coals that keep the stove warm but the rooms start to cool down, The cross road I'm at is whether to keep what I have and be more mindful on how I load, or experiment with a CAT stove and try to get longer burn times with a lower heat output. If I do a cat stove am I going to regret the heat output when it gets really cold and be happy during a extended shoulder season? I don't know, also do I want to inherit the additional cost of cat / more gasket replacement?

I'm in the same delima. I have a reg buck stove that can flat put the heat out without trying but the burn times are awful. Whether I load it big or small. Point is it can heat our house good. Will an EPA stove do it better and be easier to control and get better burn times

kennyp2339 said:

If I do a cat stove am I going to regret the heat output when it gets really cold and be happy during a extended shoulder season. . .?

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A non-cat stove of a certain size may be rated for higher max output than a cat stove of the same size, but you can always upsize the cat stove. . .up to 4.5 cu ft or so.

. . .also do I want to inherit the additional cost of cat / more gasket replacement?

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You're the only one who can decide what it's worth to you, but stove cats are not that expensive, $125-250(depending on size) every 3-5 years seems to be typical.

That's not too bad . Aren't the stoves running around 3 k

Osagebndr said:

That's not too bad . Aren't the stoves running around 3 k

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Cat stoves start around $2k. You can get a non-cat clean-burning EPA stove starting around $700 for steel and going up to $3k for cast iron or soapstone. A modern stove, cat or non-cat will burn less wood than a pre-EPA stove would for the same amount of BTU's, but the wood needs to be nice n' dry.

I have two non-cat inserts and am plan am planning to replace the one in my basement with a cat insert before the new EPA regs kick in to take advantage of the longer burn times of the cat.

A lot depends on budget and heating needs I'd say. Been looking at osburn, enerzone , blaze king and regency for myself . This will be our primary source of heat

Yeah just thought I'd speak up. Cats are the way to go it seems for 24/7 controlled heat

kennyp2339 said:

the stove when the outside air temp is greater than 30 deg, over performs

a full load it will last me about 6 hours of good heat, then its down to coals

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These are the downsides that I face also, with my down-draft. I would like a longer burn with better control of output, so my next stove will be a cat, to see how big a diff there is. I don't think I will really know which I prefer until I actually try both for at least a few seasons each. Time proves all things.

Rite on

Osagebndr - I just ordered a BK Princess Parlor (fans, side shields, black legs/rails and door with glass) for ~$3300 after tax from a shop south of Indy.. I don't know if they want specific shops mentioned on this forum, but this shop is on the BK website dealer page.. I wanted the longer burn times as well and the control-ability. (envy your osage bow.. I use to be a recurve hunter before a car wreck thrashed my neck/back.. was close to giving the longbow a try but never got there...)

Osagebndr said:

That's not too bad . Aren't the stoves running around 3 k

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I think the Buck cats are closer to $2k. ($1600-2400 depending on size.)

I hear what your saying, I guess I'm just nervous or apprehensive, If I change out my stove then I'm kind of defeating the purpose of why I started to burn wood in the first place, which was to save $$$ and keep the oil baron away!! lol I just don't want to put the cash out for a "high efficient" stove and find out that it only preforms slightly better than my us epa for my setup. Although I am open to options once I renovate the house and really finish the living room / kitchen, then I will prob upgrade to nice design looking stove rather than the steel industrial box I have now.

Gareth96 said:

Osagebndr - I just ordered a BK Princess Parlor (fans, side shields, black legs/rails and door with glass) for ~$3300 after tax from a shop south of Indy.. I don't know if they want specific shops mentioned on this forum, but this shop is on the BK website dealer page.. I wanted the longer burn times as well and the control-ability. (envy your osage bow.. I use to be a recurve hunter before a car wreck thrashed my neck/back.. was close to giving the longbow a try but never got there...)

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There are a few shops around and one in Bloomington that carries them also. Ill check them out further. Pick up a long bow you'll love it I got one and I make my own also

The bk princess parlor ( loaded edition) seems to be the cat of choice all over this site would be worth a look see I'm going to this week

The "ultra" is the fanciest princess and the most square looking. It's not just a decision of cat or noncat, you then must choose a great cat stove as there are some real duds. A good cat stove is superior house heater, a noncat is a superior trash burner for the shop at lower cost. The noncat options all seem to work pretty well.

Trash burner sounds like i burn garbage. I mean lumber scraps, green wood, wood with nails,etc. that i wouldn't burn in a cat stove.

Osagebndr said:

A lot depends on budget and heating needs I'd say. Been looking at osburn, enerzone , blaze king and regency for myself . This will be our primary source of heat

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A cat stove will shine in the shoulders. When it's really cold they can be turned up no doubt. But if you can keep the house to temp without running a lot of flame your cat stove will be better off for it. When it's super cold out it's not a bad idea to let the furnace kick in to help out no matter the type of stove if need be.

HotCoals said:

When it's super cold out it's not a bad idea to let the furnace kick in to help out no matter the type of stove if need be.

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Exactly. Unless your house is custom deigned so that the wood stove(s) as your primary heat source (AKA log cabin). Otherwise you'll be posting about frozen water pipes.
Sometimes, we want to take the whole thing a bit too far. Cutting your heating bill 80% should be an amazing feat.

branchburner said:

These are the downsides that I face also, with my down-draft. I would like a longer burn with better control of output, so my next stove will be a cat, to see how big a diff there is. I don't think I will really know which I prefer until I actually try both for at least a few seasons each. Time proves all things.

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Ditto my next stove will be a cat also. I just like the fact that they start burning smoke at 500 Deg or so. WHereas a reburn stove (all others) need 1100 Plus the start burning smoke.

cat stoves will be more fussy .. first season with Buck 91 after 8 seasons with Juca insert. output is lower with Buck 91 but burn times are way longer. most importantly cat stove uses considerably less wood.

still figuring out most efficient way to get max heat from Buck 91

_CY_ said:

cat stoves will be more fussy

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I'm curious as to the details to that statement. So if you could elaborate I would be interested in reading about it.

HotCoals said:

I'm curious as to the details to that statement. So if you could elaborate I would be interested in reading about it.

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Some must be fussier than others. I can't make a statement like that, as I have only burned one cat stove. Well, two, but they are the same.

kennyp2339 said:

.....or experiment with a CAT stove and try to get longer burn times with a lower heat output. If I do a cat stove am I going to regret the heat output when it gets really cold and be happy during a extended shoulder season?

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Not sure where this thought comes from? If I need to torch 80 lbs of wood in twelve hours to stay warm, I can certainly do it. I won't see a brief peak of 750°, but it will burn at 600-650 for hours. With relatively low flue temps, to boot.