new stove for new 2000 sq ft build

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sjswood

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Jul 19, 2014
26
Nepean, ON
Looking for recommendations for a new stove. My last experience with wood stoves was a 1960s-era Franklin -- not a good basis for judging the new, high efficiency babies!

From what I've read so far, I think we want a smallish stove with really tight clearances. It'll be mainly for supplemental heat, but it'll have to keep the whole house above freezing during power outages. The house will be 2000 sq ft in USDA zone 4 (temps down to -25C / -13F). It'll be oriented due south for passive solar heating and built to the latest energy standards: R-50 in attic, R-24 in main walls, R20 in basement and 2" rigid under basement slab.

The stove will be on an internal wall, but I'd really like to put the TV on the same wall without it melting (!) if possible, hence the desire for really tight clearances.

What would be your favourite stove for this sort of application? (Oh yes, and I really don't like the idea of catalytic stoves even though I know they burn beautifully.)

The folks in this forum are amazing; so glad I found you all.
 
Wow! That should be a very well insulated home. I am building right now as well. We are going with spray foam insulation, looks like 2lb foam, also called closed cell foam. The r-value in the roof is more like 21. I like the TV on the same wall as the stove or fireplace so I can see things at all times. I will have a fireplace on the main level and in the lower, walk out basement I have plans for a wood burning stove. Pretty exciting stuff! Anyway, my suggestion is to buy a stove that has glass to view the fire. I have friends with this setup and they tell me they really enjoy the evenings with the glow of the fire from the stove. I do not like the Cat stoves either. Pacific, Jotul, Quadrafire are a couple brands we will look hard at. Please keep us updated as you make you selection. Others will chime in shortly with good advise.
 
May I ask why either of you don't like Cat stoves? I find that many people form a conclusion based on a limited experience with an old Vermont Casting. All cat stoves are not created equal!
 
I don't have any experience with Cat stoves. I don't like having to replace the element or whatever it is called. Some I am told repair replacement ever year! I don't like the idea of being reliant on the hardware store to supply me with the replacement. I whole heartedly believe in maintenance and my equipment is over maintained by most peoples standards but I am turned off by a stove I have to change out something ever year or so. But I am open to your opinion, particularly since you or others may actually have personal experience that makes the Cat stoves worth the extra replacement cost.
 
How bout an unconditional 10 year warranty on the Cat? That's what Blaze King offers, and they stick to it! I've had to change a few out and a replacement free of cost was sent out. No issues.
Cat stoves excel in homes that are insulated well because they are so controllable. They will offer a very steady heat for extended periods of time, whereas a non-cat will have huge temp spikes and will have limited burn times because of it. Even if I had to replace the cat every few years in my Blaze King out of pocket it would be worth it me. My Blaze King has cut my wood use nearly in half.
 
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And you Do Not want the tv above a stove! It will significantly reduce its life span. A deep shelf mantel will help, but then its too high to watch comfortably. It still will overheat the tv that already struggles to shed its own heat.
 
webby3650 said:
And you Do Not want the tv above a stove! It will significantly reduce its life span. A deep shelf mantel will help, but then its too high to watch comfortably. It still will overheat the tv that already struggles to shed its own heat.
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No, no: I wasn't thinking of the TV above the stove -- the pipe would be in the way, never mind the heat! I want it to the side of the stove. I'm hoping that if there is 4' between the stove edge and the TV edge, it won't melt? If I get a stove with a really small side clearance like the PE Alderlea T4 or Regency F1100 or CS1200 or one of the Quadrafires or...
 
webby3650 said:
How bout an unconditional 10 year warranty on the Cat? That's what Blaze King offers, and they stick to it! I've had to change a few out and a replacement free of cost was sent out. No issues.
Cat stoves excel in homes that are insulated well because they are so controllable. They will offer a very steady heat for extended periods of time, whereas a non-cat will have huge temp spikes and will have limited burn times because of it. Even if I had to replace the cat every few years in my Blaze King out of pocket it would be worth it me. My Blaze King has cut my wood use nearly in half.
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I just haven't had good experiences with warranties; I much prefer not having to rely on them. Even honourable companies with good products can go out of business. Then a warranty is so much fire-starter and it may even become impossible to find replacement parts.
 
ccmac said:
Some I am told repair replacement ever year!
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That's a sign that people are abusing their stoves like burning wet or treated wood, using unsuitable firestarters etc. Average lifespans of cats reported here are about 5 to 8 years and BlazeKing has tested cats that were more than 10 years old and still serviceable. FWIW, I am fully prepared to replace the baffle in my PE Super at least once during the lifetime of the stove. And while I had similar objections to cat stoves when I was shopping around I would now certainly consider one now due to ease of use and longer burn times.
 
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sjswood said:
Looking for recommendations for a new stove. My last experience with wood stoves was a 1960s-era Franklin -- not a good basis for judging the new, high efficiency babies!

From what I've read so far, I think we want a smallish stove with really tight clearances. It'll be mainly for supplemental heat, but it'll have to keep the whole house above freezing during power outages. The house will be 2000 sq ft in USDA zone 4 (temps down to -25C / -13F). It'll be oriented due south for passive solar heating and built to the latest energy standards: R-50 in attic, R-24 in main walls, R20 in basement and 2" rigid under basement slab.
Click to expand...

Knowing your heating load would help but given that it is a rather well insulated home a larger medium size stove with a firebox ~2.5 cu ft should be enough. Take a look at the following:
Quadrafire Explorer 2 (has about the smallest clearance requirements I know off)
Jotul F500 or F50
Pacific Energy Neo 2.5
Enviro 1700 Boston
maybe Osburn Matrix

And should you re-consider your stand towards cat stoves, the Blaze King Ashford 30 would be a great option for you.
 
sjswood said:
I just haven't had good experiences with warranties; I much prefer not having to rely on them. Even honourable companies with good products can go out of business. Then a warranty is so much fire-starter and it may even become impossible to find replacement parts.
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I understand.
But, a majority of the stoves on the market will need a replacement part at some point, many in the first 10 years. So, if the company is out of business a warranty is as useless as the stove, if you can't get parts. The Blaze King Ashford would be a great fit if you come around. Close clearances, nice size glass, long burns, and a great warranty. It's a well rounded stove!
 
Grisu said:
Knowing your heating load would help but given that it is a rather well insulated home a larger medium size stove with a firebox ~2.5 cu ft should be enough. Take a look at the following:
Quadrafire Explorer 2 (has about the smallest clearance requirements I know off)
Jotul F500 or F50
Pacific Energy Neo 2.5
Enviro 1700 Boston
maybe Osburn Matrix

And should you re-consider your stand towards cat stoves, the Blaze King Ashford 30 would be a great option for you.
Click to expand...

Oooh, a lovely long list to examine! Thanks!!!
 
webby3650 said:
I understand.
But, a majority of the stoves on the market will need a replacement part at some point, many in the first 10 years. So, if the company is out of business a warranty is as useless as the stove, if you can't get parts. The Blaze King Ashford would be a great fit if you come around. Close clearances, nice size glass, long burns, and a great warranty. It's a well rounded stove!
Click to expand...

Oh, gosh, *two* of you knowledgeable folks prefer the Blaze King. I'd better have a proper look at it despite my biases.
 
Looking at the Blaze King specs now.... are they serious that the stove will really run for 30 hours on low? Do ordinary mortals get anything like that time, or is that just for wood superstars?
 
sjswood said:
Looking at the Blaze King specs now.... are they serious that the stove will really run for 30 hours on low? Do ordinary mortals get anything like that time, or is that just for wood superstars?
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Welcome to the other side. How is your wood supply?
 
JA600L said:
Welcome to the other side. How is your wood supply?
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I have quite a bit here, nothing at the new place. Mind you, there's a dead elm, but elm is the very devil to chop up into firewood. Not sure yet if it makes sense to move our stack or buy a new cord. Figure that out later.
 
Hello- I have found there are too many good stoves out there non-cat and cat alike to give a handful of recommendations out. Try to visit some shops and see the many fine stoves available. From 600-4000 dollars there are many that will fulfill your needs. Most tried and true models (Jotuls, Quads, BK, Woodstock, Hearthstone, Regency, Enviro, Pacific Energy for a few) will do what you need. Lots of members here say what they have is the best, why wouldn't they think that..... Go out look and find the one for you. Run it correctly and use good dry wood, the rest is done for you by the stove if installed and ran properly. Good luck with your new home.
 
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stovelark said:
Lots of members here say what they have is the best, why wouldn't they think that....
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I do my best to get my hands on the best stoves on the market. I'll tell it like it is, good or bad! I could choose nearly any stove out there. I went with 2 solid companies! Blaze King and Jotul. If it's no good, it's outa here!

And yes, Blaze Kings will burn that long. But don't expect it on the bitter cold days. I get consistant 16 hour burns in the winter, spring and fall I do 24/30 hour cycles.
 
What style stove are you looking for, contemporary or classic? In non-cat, a PE Alderlea T5 or PE Spectrum, or an Enviro Kodiak or Boston 1700 would be the first two that I would look at.
 
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webby3650 said:
I do my best to get my hands on the best stoves on the market. I'll tell it like it is, good or bad! I could choose nearly any stove out there. I went with 2 solid companies! Blaze King and Jotul. If it's no good, it's outa here!

And yes, Blaze Kings will burn that long. But don't expect it on the bitter cold days. I get consistant 16 hour burns in the winter, spring and fall I do 24/30 hour cycles.
Click to expand...
I don't mean to hijack but I have a question for you Webby. From previous posts I know you were not a fan of a cape cod. May I ask why? I have my insert for two years I am happy with it but I am thinking about princess insert. Is there something wrong I a hould be aware about my cape cod?
 
Twud be best to ask that in a CapeCod thread or a new one. Otherwise the response will be lost in this thread.
 
Thanks. Your experience is important too. The more data points the better.
 
sjswood said:
Looking at the Blaze King specs now.... are they serious that the stove will really run for 30 hours on low? Do ordinary mortals get anything like that time, or is that just for wood superstars?
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I don't have any experience with the larger Blaze kings but I can say this. With my little blaze king I can get good heat for 8-10 hours from mine and its pretty small. Also its in a well insulated basement so I am very happy I can dial it down.
 
sjswood said:
No, no: I wasn't thinking of the TV above the stove -- the pipe would be in the way, never mind the heat! I want it to the side of the stove. I'm hoping that if there is 4' between the stove edge and the TV edge, it won't melt? If I get a stove with a really small side clearance like the PE Alderlea T4 or Regency F1100 or CS1200 or one of the Quadrafires or...
Click to expand...

Most any convective stove should be no problem at 4'. My BK has side shields, and anything a few inches away is barely warm. My Spectrum doesn't exactly have shields, but is similar by design, and I get the same results.

Not touching the cat vs non-cat thing ;hm
I have one of each and think they are both the best.

Seriously, if you don't want a cat stove, look hard at Pacific Energy's Super Series stoves.
 
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