Stuck on jotul oslo or harman oakwood

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lcgillis

New Member
Sep 3, 2008
9
New England
Hi

First time in here, I need some help. I need a new wood stove, currently have a very old vc encore that needs replacing. My house is a 3400 sq ft colonial two story. The stove sits in the family room first floor that is 22x24 with vaulted ceiling to 16 ft, open concept with kitchen 14x29 with 9 ft ceinling, and also a dining room off the kitchen that is 14x14 with 9 ft ceilings. I estimate the total area to be heated downstairs is 16,000 cu ft. I burn the stove 24/7 from mid oct - april. I have been trying to decide between the jotul 500 oslo or the harman oakwood. I am confused by the stated btu's both have about the same size firebox yet the jotul says 70K plus btu vs 47k for the harman? To make matters worse just today I looked at a fireview soapstone stove out of NH, I think it is a little small though for what I am looking for. I have seen a lot of reviews on the oslo mostly good except for tought to start sometimes, hardly anything onthe oakwood. Anyone have any ideas about what is the better stove for my situation? Also the oakwood has a piece of material that feels like foam inside where the vent pipe would come out, does that / can that burn out and need replacing? Thanks
 
I have the Oslo in a 1400 sq ft house. Not sure if that would be enough for you. Jotul has a 600 (not sure, but bigger model) that seems to be the go to for larger houses. I love the looks of the Jotul, wife likes the ease of use (this might trump any other reasons). Good stoves, sorry I don't have any info on the Harman. Father has a Quad 5700 and it is a HUGE stove, if you are looking just for size to heat the house.
Chad

What part of NE?
 
Massachusetts (metrowest) just within the past 6 years from Maine. While the house is 3400 sq ft I would not be heating the entire house with it really only heating about 1300 - 1400 sq ft with it due to floor plan. Are you happy with the oslo? Does it heat your entire house no problem even when single digits and below? My old vc encore struggled to keep the area nice and warm when really cold.
 
I'd be looking at 3 cu ft stoves like the Jotul F600 Fireview, the Quadrafire Isle Royale or maybe a PE T6. Otherwise I suspect you will be in the same shoes as with the Encore when mother nature turns frigid.
 
When buying, I considered the Harman Oakwood compared to the Jotul Oslo. The Isle Royale really caught my attention for a while. It came down to codes and clearances. I stopped looking at the Harman Oakwood when I realized it doesn't have a blower available to purchase. The little cooking grill was neat but not enough to make up for the lack of a blower. If you have the hearth size required for the codes and clearances, look at the larger stoves.
 
It will heat the entire house for the whole winter. Last year the heat came on twice, right before the morning load with the temps in the single digits. Only stayed on for a minute and shut off. The Oslo has been a great stove for my house. It may be a tad large for me, however, as sometimes I find myself opening a few windows.
Chad
 
We have 4 Jotul's in the family. 2 Oslo's, a F3 CB and the Firelight. Good qaulity stoves.......no issues with them.
The F600 .....is as easy to run as my Oslo and has a bigger firebox.

WoodButcher
 
I hadn't really considered a larger stove, thought I might just be losing a lot of heat from my old vc encore as no converter in it. Just looked at some reviews of the T6 and summit classic all good reviews sounds like they really heat up well. Also some reviews on the Isle Royale mostly all good. Any idea which would burn longer?
 
The big Morso would be another fine stove. I think you can expect 10-12 hr burns in the PE T6 depending on the wood. Tom can tell you what his longest burn time was. I think it was a bit longer yet but don't want to exaggerate.
 
I have a Harman Oakwood installed in my den which measures 20 x 20 L shaped with vaulted ceiling next to the kitchen. Both rooms combined are about 550 sq ft.. The house is not very large about 1400 sq. ft., the floor plan is the only thing keeping me from heating the entire house throughout the winter. I believe the tag on the stove says it could heat 2000 sq ft and assuming an open floor plan I don't doubt it. I don't have any experience with any other stoves other than the old Franklin my father had when I was a kid so I am not really qualified to make any comparisons. The Franklin didn't have top load which is great. I have the cooking grill, it's a cool feature.

I don't consider myself a hardcore wood burner, I do however have a fire everyday in the winter and this stove makes it easy for me. The firebox is plenty big, but like everyone here says it's the operator.

Ron
 
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