What do people think of switching from a stove/insert with a 2.4cf firebox to one with a 3.0 cf firebox? Obviously, a person would get some more heat out of the larger unit, but would it be worth the thousands it would cost to make the switch? Would I notice a significant difference in my house? Has anyone made a switch of this kind?
I've had a Hearthstone Clydesdale insert for 5 yrs. 2.4cf firebox. It works great, burns clean, throws off lots of heat. But it's in a huge room, about 25 x 40 ft with a cathedral ceiling about 20ft up at its highest point. I've got ceiling fans. My house is decently but not superbly insulated without enormous air leaks. I harvest my own wood, mostly Maple, Ash, and Red Oak. On many winter days I'll keep the stove burning all day, but when I'm lazy or too busy at work, it'll just be from about 4pm on. The Clydesdale does a lot to heat this space, and with temps in the 20s I reach the low-to-mid 60s without much of a problem, but not usually more than that. In the teens and single digits outside, I'm in the low 60s inside without another heat source. In the 30s and above, the Clydesdale gives me all the heat I could need.
I have to have an insert, not a freestanding stove, so the biggest I can go is a firebox around 3cf (Olympic, Summit, etc). Would I notice a lot more heat from that? I figure it means I could add about one more split each time I reload, and I'm not sure that's worth the cost of going bigger. I spoke with two different shops, and one said I would notice, the other said they'd love to sell me a new insert, but thought it would absolutely not be worth it, especially if I like the look of the Clydesdale, which I do.
Thoughts?
I've had a Hearthstone Clydesdale insert for 5 yrs. 2.4cf firebox. It works great, burns clean, throws off lots of heat. But it's in a huge room, about 25 x 40 ft with a cathedral ceiling about 20ft up at its highest point. I've got ceiling fans. My house is decently but not superbly insulated without enormous air leaks. I harvest my own wood, mostly Maple, Ash, and Red Oak. On many winter days I'll keep the stove burning all day, but when I'm lazy or too busy at work, it'll just be from about 4pm on. The Clydesdale does a lot to heat this space, and with temps in the 20s I reach the low-to-mid 60s without much of a problem, but not usually more than that. In the teens and single digits outside, I'm in the low 60s inside without another heat source. In the 30s and above, the Clydesdale gives me all the heat I could need.
I have to have an insert, not a freestanding stove, so the biggest I can go is a firebox around 3cf (Olympic, Summit, etc). Would I notice a lot more heat from that? I figure it means I could add about one more split each time I reload, and I'm not sure that's worth the cost of going bigger. I spoke with two different shops, and one said I would notice, the other said they'd love to sell me a new insert, but thought it would absolutely not be worth it, especially if I like the look of the Clydesdale, which I do.
Thoughts?