Hi all!
I'm new to the forums and new to the idea of wood heat. I have been reading extensively and would appreciate some insight.
Last October I bought a house in Northern California; the coldest climate I've ever lived in (I've lived in California all my life). The house came with an Efel oil burning stove. Last year I went through 300 gallons of oil and spent about $650, plus whatever I spend in propane for supplemental heating. This year I filled up my 150 gallon tank for the winter and spent $620! There's no way this is going to fly, I need a better solution. I'm thinking wood.
Here's my dilemma. I've never used wood heat before so I don't know what to look for in a good stove. But here is my wish list.
1) Long burns. I definitely want an all night burn. Additionally, I'm gone all day and my wife refuses to touch the wood. So I need something that I can wake up at 4:30 in the morning and put some wood on (and the coals be hot enough that I don't need to re-light the stove) and it should last until I get home again at 6:00pm.
2) Aesthetic. The stove is basically the center-piece of our living area. I know that Blaze King seems ideal for long burns, but IMHO they're butt ugly. Is there anything that even comes close to the BK and also looks good?
3) Durable. This stove is going to be an investment for me, and I would hate to buy something that requires a lot of upkeep or replacement after just a few years of work.
4) I don't necessarily need a behemoth. I'm heating a 1600 sq. ft. house. The stove is in the main living area which is very open (maybe about 700+ sq. ft) and has vaulted ceilings. I would like to use the stove as my primary heat and not have to use my propane central heat except for backup.
So what are your recommendations? Is there something with the features of the BK but looks prettier? Would the BK be too much heating for me anyways? I read something about somebody refusing to buy a sheet metal stove (the BK), should that be a concern of mine?
Thanks in advance for your help. This website has already been a great resource for me!
I'm new to the forums and new to the idea of wood heat. I have been reading extensively and would appreciate some insight.
Last October I bought a house in Northern California; the coldest climate I've ever lived in (I've lived in California all my life). The house came with an Efel oil burning stove. Last year I went through 300 gallons of oil and spent about $650, plus whatever I spend in propane for supplemental heating. This year I filled up my 150 gallon tank for the winter and spent $620! There's no way this is going to fly, I need a better solution. I'm thinking wood.
Here's my dilemma. I've never used wood heat before so I don't know what to look for in a good stove. But here is my wish list.
1) Long burns. I definitely want an all night burn. Additionally, I'm gone all day and my wife refuses to touch the wood. So I need something that I can wake up at 4:30 in the morning and put some wood on (and the coals be hot enough that I don't need to re-light the stove) and it should last until I get home again at 6:00pm.
2) Aesthetic. The stove is basically the center-piece of our living area. I know that Blaze King seems ideal for long burns, but IMHO they're butt ugly. Is there anything that even comes close to the BK and also looks good?
3) Durable. This stove is going to be an investment for me, and I would hate to buy something that requires a lot of upkeep or replacement after just a few years of work.
4) I don't necessarily need a behemoth. I'm heating a 1600 sq. ft. house. The stove is in the main living area which is very open (maybe about 700+ sq. ft) and has vaulted ceilings. I would like to use the stove as my primary heat and not have to use my propane central heat except for backup.
So what are your recommendations? Is there something with the features of the BK but looks prettier? Would the BK be too much heating for me anyways? I read something about somebody refusing to buy a sheet metal stove (the BK), should that be a concern of mine?
Thanks in advance for your help. This website has already been a great resource for me!