Need help choosing our first wood burning stove

[ljcb]

I'm new to this forum - we are hoping to start heating with wood this winter. We have a raised ranch, plan to heat from the basement which is finished, but concrete floor so no combustible issues. There is a fireplace where the stove will sit, we have had a 6" insert installed, ready to hook up to the new stove, plenty of seasoned wood. Have no idea what to get.

We need a stove that can take a 6" rear exhaust pipe and based on our town's specs, it must have an available manual and a UL rating. We are trying to heat around 2000 sq ft.

Catalytic vs. non? Used vs. new? Brands? Models? Ahhh!! We don't have a huge budget (under 1k?), so we'd love to find a used stove that has many years left on it but don't want to end up with something with a laundry list of issues/repairs to be made.

Suggestions?

 

[rdust]

Your budget isn't going to get you much in the way of new with a rear exit, when buying used I wouldn't look for a particular brand but a particular type. For used under 1k I'd be looking for a EPA approved, non cat, with a firebox in the 3 cubic foot range since you're heating 2K from the basement. Most stoves in the 2+ cubic foot range will burn overnight but getting closer to 3 is better.

Are you looking for a stove to sit in the fireplace or an insert? How big is the fireplace opening? That will play a roll in deciding what you end up with. Why does it have to be rear exit? If the fireplace is big enough and can use a top exit it's hard(near impossible) to beat the Englander NC-30 for the money.

 

[ljcb]

Our fireplace in the basement is rigged for a rear exit stove, it's too short to do vertical, and we don't want the expense of tapping into it higher up.

We're now looking into a used All Nighter Mid Moe, have found quite a few in the 500-1000 range. Have any opinions about those?

 

[begreen]

Under 1K you are strictly looking at used given those parameters. What is the height at the top of the current thimble that enters the chimney?

 

[ljcb]

It would probably have to be attached to the insert at 25" - the insert comes down at an angle because it's offset (chimney runs up next to the upstairs fireplace chimney which goes straight up.)