Well, we are moving closer to buying a rather large, drafty old house in North County, San Diego. I would like to hear your opinions on "the best stove" choices given:
1. The place never gets real cold, something like high 20's at night, low 60's during the day is a rough winter day.
2. The house is a 1980's single story, with big rooms and a mostly flat roof; not much insulation. It's about 4,400 sq. ft. Don't really care about the bedrooms being warm, but like a cozy living room/kitchen.
3. The windows are currently really poor single pane, will be replaced with latest/greatest argonium encrusted government subsidized units when practical. No attic to add insulation to, so there will be serious heat loss through the roof.
4. Existing fireplace is in a living room, at about the mid-point of the house. Would most likely put the stove on a nice hearth with a straight pipe up through the flat roof. Existing fireplace is floor to ceiling stone and will make a nice back drop to the stove.
5. Wood source will most likely be dry, dead avocado wood, reasonably high BTU/cord.
6. Current heat is provided by 2 heat pumps, zoned. Worst case monthly electric bill, according to current owners, was $1,600 in the winter, with leaving the thermostat set kind of high.
I want a stove that will kick out some heat for the large space and maintain long burn-times. The BK King looks interesting, but isn't necessarily the prettiest stove in the world. The QF Isle Royale looks kind of interesting; love the old QF at the mountain place. The price is not the first consideration; the payback should be pretty short on about any woodstove that I would install, when compared to the current electric bills.
I have not bought the place yet, but there is a pretty good chance that I will, should a bank get reasonable on their price. Just trying to plan the budget for the needed renovations/upgrades; one of which will be a nice stove and hearth. Kind of vetoed the insert idea, after thinking it over and getting some good input here.
Your thoughts?
1. The place never gets real cold, something like high 20's at night, low 60's during the day is a rough winter day.
2. The house is a 1980's single story, with big rooms and a mostly flat roof; not much insulation. It's about 4,400 sq. ft. Don't really care about the bedrooms being warm, but like a cozy living room/kitchen.
3. The windows are currently really poor single pane, will be replaced with latest/greatest argonium encrusted government subsidized units when practical. No attic to add insulation to, so there will be serious heat loss through the roof.
4. Existing fireplace is in a living room, at about the mid-point of the house. Would most likely put the stove on a nice hearth with a straight pipe up through the flat roof. Existing fireplace is floor to ceiling stone and will make a nice back drop to the stove.
5. Wood source will most likely be dry, dead avocado wood, reasonably high BTU/cord.
6. Current heat is provided by 2 heat pumps, zoned. Worst case monthly electric bill, according to current owners, was $1,600 in the winter, with leaving the thermostat set kind of high.
I want a stove that will kick out some heat for the large space and maintain long burn-times. The BK King looks interesting, but isn't necessarily the prettiest stove in the world. The QF Isle Royale looks kind of interesting; love the old QF at the mountain place. The price is not the first consideration; the payback should be pretty short on about any woodstove that I would install, when compared to the current electric bills.
I have not bought the place yet, but there is a pretty good chance that I will, should a bank get reasonable on their price. Just trying to plan the budget for the needed renovations/upgrades; one of which will be a nice stove and hearth. Kind of vetoed the insert idea, after thinking it over and getting some good input here.
Your thoughts?
