New stove opinions

The Englander does fine, just the cat needs cleaned.

I wrote him previously and he told me that there is no other way for this model unforunately

I am curious how the thermostat control works in the Blaze King? It looks like the consensus external ash pans are not worth the trouble, so scratch that off the list. Anyone have a pic or plans for an ash trap? I think I will make one

The t-stat is really slow but it don't matter.
I have my cover off so I can see the flapper...hardly moves from a hot to a cold stove.
90% of the time my stove heats our house fine with the flapper shut.
There is a small hole down below that always allows some air into the stove.

On real cold days or nights I turn the air (t-stat) up some to have some flame and more heat.
Heating a two story house ..2500sq.ft. with good insulation and windows.
12 hour reloads in cold weather and 20-24 in the shoulder is easy enough and you won't lose much in house temp.

Good to know. Thanks

What do you guys think about the Englander 30 NC? It looks pretty efficient and has low emissions. How would it's wood consumption compare to my 24 ACD?

Also what are your thoughts on US Stove 2400?

30 NC is a great stove. Highly regarded steel box tube burner around here. Can't beat the price, especially when it is on sale. It is rated for up to 2200 sq feet, not sure it would heat all 2400 on a very windy cold day. Call englander and ask them how it compares to your current stove.

Take a look at the Vermont Castings Flexburn (2N1) models. Top loading, swing out ash pan, and improved refractory material. The reviews of this stove have been very positive.

I wouldn't own a stove without an ash pan, I had a Vigilant for years and hated shoveling out the ashes. Love the ash pan on my Encore.

Just be aware that Vermont Castings is up for sale again. Not saying it is a bad thing but the future of the company is up in the air at the moment.

What exactly does a downdraft stove mean?

http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/Downdraft_Stove_Operation/

+Woodstock PH is a really nice stove, easy to operate and very controllable, very efficient. Cat is very easy to clean, whether vacuumed in place as some do, or removed and brushed. Is under the top, which lifts, and it easily lifts right out. Has a reusable rope gasket that one wraps around the cat, as well as the permanently cemented roap gasket. PH also has a nice, large cast iron cooktop with three elements of different temperature, concealed under the soapstone top, which can be raised, and rests back in a stainless track.
They are on sale for a few more days at a really good price. They are side loading.
Fabulous quality and customer service.
Many of us burn in twelve hour cycles, 2 fires a day, which should be extemely easy to achieve. On a few bitterly cold days,maybe three fires a day at a high burn rate. Stove radiates enough heat from the soapstone for long enough after the fire so one fire a day is generally plenty during the shoulder season. If left for the coals to burn down, the stove continues to radiate some heat on a low cat burn for 16 hours or more.