Cringe Sort of wish I'd gone bigger...

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

As I'm fighting a plunging thermometer outside, there is a part of me that wishes I had pushed harder on the wife to go with a freestanding or larger insert vs our Regency i2400 that we put in this Fall. Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's just this artic chill!

It's on me for letting the retailer talk me out of "heating yourself out of the room" with the i3100 but when I'm struggling to keep 70 degrees in a 1600 sq ft house (that's in the room WITH the stove) and busting out all my seasoned red oak to do it, I'm fighting the feeling of buyer's remorse. I do have an exterior brick chimney that I assume is bleeding out a decent amount of heat (based on the lack of snow on it at any time).

However, I do think I have a couple of things I need to tackle this Spring to give me a leg-up:

Roxul and/or Durock behind the insert to better capture / refract heat
Seal around all of my windows and put door sweeps in
Consider blow in or (gulp) spray foam insulation for this 100 year old house

Any other mid-size insert owners out there that have found ways around performance gaps in this extreme cold?

Woody Stover · Jan 13, 2015

Yep. I was wondering about the Keystone here at first, but with some weatherizing it turned out to be plenty of stove. These work great on wooden door jambs: http://www.homedepot.com/p/MD-Build...Weatherstrip-Kit-69938/205545482?N=5yc1vZc3dy Don't press 'em against the door too firmly when installing, just touch the door lightly and screw 'em down. They can be adjusted, too.

valuman · Jan 13, 2015

This afternoon, I put a vertical axis fan blowing from a cool area of the house toward the stove and it's now 67 degrees in the window sill of the cool area. It's -1 on the other side of that window, so I think the fan made a big difference.

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

valuman said:
This afternoon, I put a vertical axis fan blowing from a cool area of the house toward the stove and it's now 67 degrees in the window sill of the cool area. It's -1 on the other side of that window, so I think the fan made a big difference.

Dumb question - what makes a vertical axis fan? Or could you like an example?

My wife is certainly tired of the best up old box fan I use at the stairs into our living room / stove room.

prezes13 · Jan 13, 2015

My stove does relatively well, but I wished it had a deeper firebox so I could make a better use of its capacity. Again knowing what I know now I would have went with a BK princess insert or Ashford30 downstairs.

EatenByLimestone · Jan 13, 2015

You can always close off unused rooms and floors.

Install a block off plate in the chimney.

I'm feeling the same cold down in Nisky.

matt1@ · Jan 13, 2015

A ceiling fan in the room with the stove could make a difference with heat distribution. I have a blower on my stove and a ceiling fan in my room where the stove is and without these I'd be pisn in the wnd to heat my whole house. I have a similar drafty older 1500 sq ft colonial built in 1920. I did replace the windows but I feel your pain. I also installed door sweeps like Woody Stover suggested. Every bit helps

valuman · Jan 13, 2015

ADK_XJ said:
Dumb question - what makes a vertical axis fan? Or could you like an example?

My wife is certainly tired of the best up old box fan I use at the stairs into our living room / stove room.

I guess most folks call them tower fans. It looks like this:

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

EatenByLimestone said:
You can always close off unused rooms and floors.

Install a block off plate in the chimney.

I'm feeling the same cold down in Nisky.

Englander 30, eh? That's a lot of stove - little envious.

But, yeah, we close off everything except our bedroom in the back of the house. Now, the upstairs hall and stair is another story...

Love the signature quote.

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

matt1@ said:
A ceiling fan in the room with the stove could make a difference with heat distribution. I have a blower on my stove and a ceiling fan in my room where the stove is and without these I'd be pisn in the wnd to heat my whole house. I have a similar drafty older 1500 sq ft colonial built in 1920. I did replace the windows but I feel your pain. I also installed door sweeps like Woody Stover suggested. Every bit helps

Ceilings are a bit low in our sunken living room but that I won't rule anything out. I know I'm losing a lot of heat to lack of insulation and the fact that only the original house is over any kind of insulated space.

The windows themselves are just 2 years old, high quality Harvey's. I'm finding it's the draft around them on the old sills - at least a known solution. I also don't have storms for them, yet. The previous owner never shelled out the extra $$.

EatenByLimestone · Jan 13, 2015

The 30 is in the basement. It does a good job of heating the basement and the 1st floor though! I usually need a little help from the boiler to keep the wife comfortable on the 2nd floor.

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

valuman said:
I guess most folks call them tower fans. It looks like this:

Ah gotcha. All Google brought up were giant ass wind turbines!

EatenByLimestone · Jan 13, 2015

Put the shrink wrap plastic over the windows. It'll cost a dollar a window.

mopar440_6 · Jan 13, 2015

Put a box fan on low on the floor about 10 feet in front of the stove. I know it makes a world of difference in the circulation with my stove. Also, what he said about the shrink wrap.

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

mopar440_6 said:
Put a box fan on low on the floor about 10 feet in front of the stove. I know it makes a world of difference in the circulation with my stove. Also, what he said about the shrink wrap.

Interesting. I had read the further back the box fan is the better it circulates - I'll have to experiment.

Another NC-30 I see. Hmm...

302BroncoJim · Jan 13, 2015

Luckily we have 40 year 1500 ranch style house with newer windows, but I do see a big difference when I run the ceiling fan in the next room. I have it blowing down and seems to push the air around the house pretty evenly.

mopar440_6 · Jan 13, 2015

ADK_XJ said:
Interesting. I had read the further back the box fan is the better it circulates - I'll have to experiment.

Another NC-30 I see. Hmm...

It may just be the dynamics of my house. It's another basement install and the stairs are opposite the stove. With the fan about 10' away from the stove, it's right about the middle of the room and I can feel the cold air rushing down the stairs. I'm still experimenting also. Experiments are good, just remember, only change one variable at a time.

ADK_XJ · Jan 13, 2015

mopar440_6 said:
I'm still experimenting also. Experiments are good, just remember, only change one variable at a time.

This. This is very true.

Too many times in my youth I asked myself, "now, what did I do that made that work last time?!" Haha.

hamsey · Jan 14, 2015

I am in the process of sealing electrical outlets and light switches. And by sealing I mean caulking between the sheetrock and electrical boxes then a foam gasket before putting the cover back on. I had done the outlets last year but forgot about the switches until my wife pointed it out for me last week when you can feel the cold air coming in. Going to remove window and door trim and spray foam them. There is fiberglass insulation now but it is not enough. We also just put in thermal curtains in the stove room where we have a wall of glass. I also put in a few of the door bottom weatherstrip to keep drafts from the rooms that are closed off.

Jags · Jan 14, 2015

Do you, or do you not have a blockoff plate above the stove? If not, do it. It can make a world of difference.

Fsappo · Jan 14, 2015

EatenByLimestone said:
Put the shrink wrap plastic over the windows. It'll cost a dollar a window.

I do that everywhere in the house. Did the whole house for $40 bucks. I bet I saved that in my first heating bill.

mstoelton · Jan 14, 2015

+1 on the block-off plate!

Dieselbreath · Jan 14, 2015

ADK_XJ said:
As I'm fighting a plunging thermometer outside, there is a part of me that wishes I had pushed harder on the wife to go with a freestanding or larger insert vs our Regency i2400 that we put in this Fall. Anyone else feel like that? Maybe it's just this artic chill!

It's on me for letting the retailer talk me out of "heating yourself out of the room" with the i3100 but when I'm struggling to keep 70 degrees in a 1600 sq ft house (that's in the room WITH the stove) and busting out all my seasoned red oak to do it, I'm fighting the feeling of buyer's remorse. I do have an exterior brick chimney that I assume is bleeding out a decent amount of heat (based on the lack of snow on it at any time).

However, I do think I have a couple of things I need to tackle this Spring to give me a leg-up:

Roxul and/or Durock behind the insert to better capture / refract heat

Seal around all of my windows and put door sweeps in

Consider blow in or (gulp) spray foam insulation for this 100 year old house

Any other mid-size insert owners out there that have found ways around performance gaps in this extreme cold?

I have a i2400 that does OK but I live in Oregon which is a milder climate than yours. I would've gone larger or freestanding but I was limited by space. And I don't get a overnight burn either.
I see you are interested in a NC30. My daughter and son-in-law have one and love it. My advice is go with a larger freestanding stove and sell the one you have now.

begreen · Jan 14, 2015

ADK, did the insert get installed with an insulated block-off plate in the damper area?

Your next biggest bang for the buck is finding leaks and heat losses and addressing the problem at the source. Sealing leaks is generally pretty cheap. Insulation more expensive but usually worth it. That work will pay off year round. Does NYS or your area have a house energy audit program? If so, that might be a good first step.

bsruther · Jan 14, 2015

I remember reading many threads about stove size and was almost convinced that I needed a smaller stove, but my gut instinct told me to ignore it all. I wanted overnight burns and I wasn't going to get them with a smaller stove. I got a big honking stove for a 1000sf ranch and couldn't be happier. I rarely use the blower, but that's ok.

*Cringe* Sort of wish I'd gone bigger...

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Cringe Sort of wish I'd gone bigger...