New user logging in but not new to wood burning.
I've read the site rules and understand that I may get conflicting ideas and even manufacturers giving advice to sell their product. With that said, I'm looking for advice on a new stove purchase. I've been reading up for the last month or so and am now in information overload.
My stats.
42 yrs, been using wood as a primary heat source since I was about 10. As a kid my chore was splitter, fire starter.
Grew up with a box stove on the porch and a scandia in the house.
Built my own house and put in a Yukon eagle wood/oil furnace. Loved it.
Sold the house and bought one with a VC resolute w/propane backup.
House shaped like a "T" with the main section a two story cape. Total living space is 2000 sq ft but the stove is in a 500 sq ft great room with 13' cathedral ceilings. Located in eastern CT.
6" single wall exposed to the cathedral ceiling. Through roof and exterior chimney 8" Hart & Cooley stainless double wall.
2x4 construction with updated batt insulation. No basement or I'd get another furnace. I'm considering a 10x10 addition to pipe a wood furnace back into my hvac but with the economy that is years away if ever.
The resolute did an ok job last winter but we were a bit cold and the stove was always running at max heat. The front great room was always warm.
I always have 4-5 cords of 1-2 yrs seasoned hardwood. When we moved in two years ago I did some clearing and have this year's load cut mostly at 24". Don't really want to have to cut it all up.
I know the resolute is under powered for our house and have been shopping around. I also know I'm old school and saying that, I've been searching for an old 1975 Defiant. I missed out on several good deals and the few I made it to were badly pitted, cracked or warped with broken legs and other damage.
I started shopping for new and also researching new technology.
My local dealer turned me onto the Jotul f600. I hit up another dealer and learned about the Lopi Liberty or the Avalon Olympus.
I've also researched the Englander 30 and Buck stoves.
I'd like to keep it close to $2000 if I go new which I'd rather not but I know in the long run it's probably a better way to go.
I don't want a cat. Always hated cats. Dogs are way better. LOL
My wife has signed on for ultility over looks as she likes it hot. She agrees to the Lopi and Avalon type appearance.
We are hard core wood heat. We both grew up on it, have a lifelong friend that sells me wood at a discount and this stove will be 95% of our heat source with our propane hvac only there for when we leave town or the occasional pop to aid the upstairs. My wife is a stay at home mom so this stove will crank up here in the next few weeks and extinguish about seven months from now.
I know you all have your preferences. I've read good reviews for each stove and bad ones too. I'm running in information overload and looking for a little extra insight.
I need the output of the old 75' Defiant.
I'd like to be able to use 24" logs.
I like the heft of the Liberty and wide box but even though it states 3.0 it still seems too small a box next to the old Defiant or even my resolute. I am old school so I still think a bigger box=bigger fire= more heat. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the newer reburn efficient stoves.
My current choices i order are:
Lopi Liberty quote around $2400
Avalon Olympic around $2000
Jotul f600 quoted at $2195
Dealers please stay out of this thread. I'd rather hear from every day home users that dont want to sell me a stove.
I'm open to any and all options as long as it's a quality stove that will withstand heavy use, won't break the bank, and put out the BTUs we need to keep mom and the little kids warmer than last winter.
I'd like to move soon so I can unload my resolute while there's still a market for it. I don't want to hold onto it until next fall.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.
I've read the site rules and understand that I may get conflicting ideas and even manufacturers giving advice to sell their product. With that said, I'm looking for advice on a new stove purchase. I've been reading up for the last month or so and am now in information overload.
My stats.
42 yrs, been using wood as a primary heat source since I was about 10. As a kid my chore was splitter, fire starter.
Grew up with a box stove on the porch and a scandia in the house.
Built my own house and put in a Yukon eagle wood/oil furnace. Loved it.
Sold the house and bought one with a VC resolute w/propane backup.
House shaped like a "T" with the main section a two story cape. Total living space is 2000 sq ft but the stove is in a 500 sq ft great room with 13' cathedral ceilings. Located in eastern CT.
6" single wall exposed to the cathedral ceiling. Through roof and exterior chimney 8" Hart & Cooley stainless double wall.
2x4 construction with updated batt insulation. No basement or I'd get another furnace. I'm considering a 10x10 addition to pipe a wood furnace back into my hvac but with the economy that is years away if ever.
The resolute did an ok job last winter but we were a bit cold and the stove was always running at max heat. The front great room was always warm.
I always have 4-5 cords of 1-2 yrs seasoned hardwood. When we moved in two years ago I did some clearing and have this year's load cut mostly at 24". Don't really want to have to cut it all up.
I know the resolute is under powered for our house and have been shopping around. I also know I'm old school and saying that, I've been searching for an old 1975 Defiant. I missed out on several good deals and the few I made it to were badly pitted, cracked or warped with broken legs and other damage.
I started shopping for new and also researching new technology.
My local dealer turned me onto the Jotul f600. I hit up another dealer and learned about the Lopi Liberty or the Avalon Olympus.
I've also researched the Englander 30 and Buck stoves.
I'd like to keep it close to $2000 if I go new which I'd rather not but I know in the long run it's probably a better way to go.
I don't want a cat. Always hated cats. Dogs are way better. LOL
My wife has signed on for ultility over looks as she likes it hot. She agrees to the Lopi and Avalon type appearance.
We are hard core wood heat. We both grew up on it, have a lifelong friend that sells me wood at a discount and this stove will be 95% of our heat source with our propane hvac only there for when we leave town or the occasional pop to aid the upstairs. My wife is a stay at home mom so this stove will crank up here in the next few weeks and extinguish about seven months from now.
I know you all have your preferences. I've read good reviews for each stove and bad ones too. I'm running in information overload and looking for a little extra insight.
I need the output of the old 75' Defiant.
I'd like to be able to use 24" logs.
I like the heft of the Liberty and wide box but even though it states 3.0 it still seems too small a box next to the old Defiant or even my resolute. I am old school so I still think a bigger box=bigger fire= more heat. I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the newer reburn efficient stoves.
My current choices i order are:
Lopi Liberty quote around $2400
Avalon Olympic around $2000
Jotul f600 quoted at $2195
Dealers please stay out of this thread. I'd rather hear from every day home users that dont want to sell me a stove.
I'm open to any and all options as long as it's a quality stove that will withstand heavy use, won't break the bank, and put out the BTUs we need to keep mom and the little kids warmer than last winter.
I'd like to move soon so I can unload my resolute while there's still a market for it. I don't want to hold onto it until next fall.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.