Replacing my Dutchwest 2478....Recommend Non Catalitic Stoves under $1500

The alderlea T5 is a great stove but runs more than $1500. Begreens suggestion on the super 27 is probably within your budget. The super 27 is the same design as the alderlea just without the cast iron wrappings.

Englader NC-30's are selling for well under $1,000 at many Home Depots... they're pretty popular stoves here on these forums, & they seem like they work great.
Most other medium to large sized stoves are above your $1,500 price limit, I believe.

I looked at the specs on your DW 2478 and it looks like 40,000 btu/hr. Is this doing the job? Why are you getting rid of the DW - it is a non-cat stove too?

I think for the money AND if you are looking for something easy on the eyes, the Dutchwest CAT stoves are the best bang for the buck out there. I was seriously considering a DW extra large cat stove for around $2,100.

If you want to back off looks, then the Englander 30 is a great deal - even at full price. You may find a Home Depot with a 30-NCH on close out for $649ish. I did and bought one - that's why I didn't get the DW.

On the other hand, if you want a great stove and a great deal, consider a Woodstock soapstone REFURBISHED stove. Woodstock has a 6 month money back guarantee on their new stoves and for some reason, every now and then someone will return the stove. They re-sell these at a cut price. Todd recently bought a Keystone that was a return. I think that when Woodstock sells them out again, they have been thoroughly gone through and are like new. I would not hesitate to buy one.

Now - your current DW stove is 40,000 BTUs per hour, the Keystone is 45,000 BTUs per hour max heat output, but it may be to small for your house - though again, I think Todd is heating similar square footage with his. The next size-up is the Fireview and these Woodstock stoves are truely fine stoves. If you can get a referb, then you may hit your price target - especially if you can sell your DW and put that $$$'s into the new stove.

Lastly, don't be afraid of a cat stove. They are easy to operate, give great hot burns and terriffic low clean burns. We are burning our Keystone here in the shoulder season on pretty much cat only burn. That is - smoldering wood, bright orange burning cat chewing on the smoke off the smoldering logs. We got a very clean burn going, it lasts a long time and we are not cooking outselves out of the room. The soapstone dampens the highs and lows of the heating cycle too for a nice constant temperature output from the stove - almost like a thermostat.

Good luck!
Bill