Looking for opinions on back up wood insert or hearth stove

Mike T · Mar 3, 2011

I usually run a gassifier boiler that takes care of my heat needs, however I like to have some wood stove capability to make sure the house is warm in case of an extended power outage. Its not unusual for the area to be down a day, and a section near me was out for three weeks two weeks ago due to an ice storm!
I already have a gas generator that will provide electricity...if gas stations can keep pumping gas w/o power. I know..I am a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

Large house, one section has a Heritage in a central location. The other section has an old "slammer" type insert. That is the one I want to replace as it is about 30 years old, creates lot of creosote...and I don't trust it as a slammer..Looking to get an insert to avoid hearth changes. I need two stoves due to home design..

The local dealers sell Hearthstone, Pacific Energy, Jotul, and Vermont Castings. The VC dealer said he would rather have me look at the Jotul due to some problems his customers experienced.

I like the design of the PE, as it is supposed to heat very well without power. The hearthstone dealer will cut me a good deal on a Clydesdale, but I don't know how it operates without power.

Looking for the best bang for the buck that will do the job as a backup stove. Thanks for suggestions!

Dix · Mar 3, 2011

How big is the house, Mike?

I hear ya on the 2 stove issue. There a many here with the same problem.

begreen · Mar 3, 2011

Of the three my choice would be the PE for power failures. Also check out the Lopi and the Regency Hearth Heater H2100.

spacecowboyIV · Mar 3, 2011

If it were me, I would do like you said and get rid of the slammer insert which would be useless in a power outage without a blower and its not to code anyway, fire up the heritage when/if the power goes out and be a little bit cold in some areas of the house.

Or failing that, take the proceeds from your insert sale and invest in a bigger gas can for your generator for when the power goes out. The stoves you listed are built for 24//7 heating and priced accordingly, you are looking at spending a lot of money on a nice new stove that will run only for a few days a year.

Mike T · Mar 3, 2011

One stove won't cut it. 4000 Sq Ft home. It gets blow zero by a good amount and stays there for a while.

If the gas stations don't have power, it doesn't matter how big my gas can is.

The old insert is a hearth heater design and doesn't use a blower anyways. It heats up the section it is in quite well.

I looked at the Englander insert, too small of the BTU but a great price. If you are aware of a stove that is lower priced than the ones I listed, yet will do the job of 1750 sq ft in my weather conditions, I am all ears.

BrowningBAR · Mar 3, 2011

Mike T said:
I usually run a gassifier boiler that takes care of my heat needs, however I like to have some wood stove capability to make sure the house is warm in case of an extended power outage. Its not unusual for the area to be down a day, and a section near me was out for three weeks two weeks ago due to an ice storm!
I already have a gas generator that will provide electricity...if gas stations can keep pumping gas w/o power. I know..I am a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

Large house, one section has a Heritage in a central location. The other section has an old "slammer" type insert. That is the one I want to replace as it is about 30 years old, creates lot of creosote...and I don't trust it as a slammer..Looking to get an insert to avoid hearth changes. I need two stoves due to home design..

The local dealers sell Hearthstone, Pacific Energy, Jotul, and Vermont Castings. The VC dealer said he would rather have me look at the Jotul due to some problems his customers experienced.

I like the design of the PE, as it is supposed to heat very well without power. The hearthstone dealer will cut me a good deal on a Clydesdale, but I don't know how it operates without power.

Looking for the best bang for the buck that will do the job as a backup stove. Thanks for suggestions!

Most inserts don't heat very well without the blower running. How far can the insert stick out? There are some quads and regency inserts that stick quite a bit which should provide more radiant heating without power.

What would I do? I would go with a free standing stove if power failure is a real concern.

daveswoodhauler · Mar 3, 2011

I think as far as using it for a backup stove, I would look for an insert that sticks out as far as possible, as without a blower many of the flush mounted inserts don't put out the needed heat. I know that you don't want to modify your hearth, but the first thought that came to mind would be to get a stove vs an insert, and that way you wouldn't be dependant on power for a blower.
Can you post some pics of your current setup? (Some of the newer stoves have much smaller requirements for clearances, and it might be at least a thought to lookat getting a stove to sit on your hearth)
Good luck

Edit - Browning beat me too it

Mike T · Mar 3, 2011

I was thinking along with you before on the freestanding stove, but the one I really liked (Hearthstone Homestead) has a rediculous hearth r value. The Homestead backed up into the fireplace opening which was a factor as the room with the fireplace is congested.

The hearth is a granite slab that is 20 inches deep in front of the fireplace where it meets a hardwood floor. I am not concerned at all about the hearth and fiorplace for R value, but the floor in front is wood. I have about a 5 foot width on the granite slab.

The room it is in is small, but several doorways are off this room to bedrooms.

I was looking at the "hearth heater" style insert, and that was another reason I liked the Clysdale and PE. The Lopi looks real good as a hearth heater, but with the fans mounted in the bottom opening, I am just not convinced of its ability to use natural convection.
The PE is supposed to be a champ at natural convection. I don't know about the Clydesdale.

Postng pics is way beyond my computer ability. I don't even text!

spacecowboyIV · Mar 3, 2011

Mike T said:
One stove won't cut it. 4000 Sq Ft home. It gets blow zero by a good amount and stays there for a while.

If the gas stations don't have power, it doesn't matter how big my gas can is.

The old insert is a hearth heater design and doesn't use a blower anyways. It heats up the section it is in quite well.

I looked at the Englander insert, too small of the BTU but a great price. If you are aware of a stove that is lower priced than the ones I listed, yet will do the job of 1750 sq ft in my weather conditions, I am all ears.

You're right, if you have an empty gas can it doesn't matter how big it is, but if you were to fill said gas can prior to the power going out...... Also, most gas stations are in commercial areas where the power is as reliable as possible and when it does go out in those areas they are the first to get restored.

Forget about inserts, no way any insert is going to heat 1700 sq. ft. without a blower. Freestanding is the only way to go if you don't want to use your boiler.

Mike T · Mar 3, 2011

OK. Good info!

Now to change the want from INSERT to freestanding hearth STOVE that would work. As I said, I originally looked at the Homestead, but the flor r value is too hard.

Any suggestions on a good hearth stove?

Mt Ski Bum · Mar 3, 2011

Mike T said:
OK. Good info!

Now to change the want from INSERT to freestanding hearth STOVE that would work. As I said, I originally looked at the Homestead, but the flor r value is too hard.

Any suggestions on a good hearth stove?

Avalon Arbor (rear exit flue option)
Avalon Rainier-45 (45 degree flue option)
Avalon Pendleton-45 (45 degree flue option)
Lopi Leyden (rear exit flue option)

mainstation · Mar 3, 2011

What would I do? I would go with a free standing stove if power failure is a real concern.[/quote]

+1 exactly, once and done. I would look at a Regency 2400 or P/E T5, at the very least.
I am contemplating converting my insert into a freestanding unit for the exact same reason.== power outage.

begreen · Mar 3, 2011

Depends on the lintel height above the floorline. If that isn't an issue look at the Quadrafire Isle Royale and Jotul F600 for strong radiant heat.

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Looking for opinions on back up wood insert or hearth stove

Mike T

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Dix

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spacecowboyIV

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Mike T

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BrowningBAR

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Mike T

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