First post here, although I have used this site for research on our last purchase, a Jotul insert. However trying to figure out what to do about our main stove is still complex enough I was hoping to get some more comments by posting.
First off I am trying to explain our heating needs. Here is a rough sketch of our house (the 1st floor anyhow):
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac235/kc2ebm/heating/IMG_1558.jpg
Its a two story house. The original part (right hand side) was built in 1901. Above it is a finished attic. On the left was an addition built in 1990. The great room is open two stories tall to the roof. Over the kitchen is the MBR and bathroom. There is a doorway connecting the two sides on both the first and second floors in the same spot.
The dimensions are based off the county auditor site I have not measured anything.
Also listed:
1st Floor finished area 1610'
2nd floor finished area 792'
Total 2402'.
This might not be 100% as I can see some minor differences just in the floor plan, plus I guess you might still need to count the huge area thats open above the great room though its not in the sqft.
When we moved in 2 years ago there was a large but old wood stove. I don't believe its very efficient, and needs replaced. I'll try to get a pic later. Someone told us it was a common stove of the 70's when lots of little businesses made em. It looks like home made almost, everything is square and no detail work on it at all. It does ok, but consumes a lot of wood and needs refilled every 4 hours. On the colder days of winter (around here single digits usually, or teens) the new side of the house probably is in the upper 50's despite using various fans to circulate the air.
Just recently we added a stove insert in the fireplace on the new side of the house since that side is what struggles with temps. Its a Jøtul C 550 Rockland and we havent used it yet but hope that will help. After the Jøtul install and new pipe we still have a little of the tax credit left and are debating replacing the stove too, with something that will cost us less wood and not have to get up in the middle of the night to reload.
See here is what I've narrowed things down to...
Although our house is somewhat large, it isnt very open, and we do have an untested insert on one side to reduce the heating needs. So we could go with something smaller. Alternatively I would kind of like the stove to still be capable of heating the whole house, especially since I dont know how well the insert will do.
I would really like a top or right side loading stove. Grew up until I was 18 with a VC Vigilant, my folks just replaced it recently with a Quadrafire Isle Royale. Top loading seems the easiest option and IMO easier to pack full for that all night burn. So the Quad is on the short list. I would like something that will burn through the night to avoid having to get up at 4am and walk downstairs and across the house. I would also like something that takes atleast 20" logs. Our insert I think is rated up to 24" so I would hate to short myself length because the other stove wont take it.
Since we got a Jøtul insert I am thinking about a Jøtul stove as well. Was looking at the Oslo or Firelight. Oslo loads on the wrong side for us, and not sure if the Firelight is just too big... 81k BTU are they serious? I was originally wanting a VC but based on opinions here I am going to pass. I want a quality stove that I dont have to worry about failing. A local dealer also had a Harmon Oakwood which we liked, especially the idea of the grille insert, but after reading here I think I have struck it from the list due to the afterburner or whatever you call it assembly that is prone to problems and expensive.
So I have kinda narrowed it down to:
Quad Isle Royale (costly, but top loading, maybe too big?)
Quad Cumberland Gap (not top loading, but the side load is on the right side which will work)
Jøtul Firelight (right side loading, but too big?)
Jøtul Oslo (left side wont work well, have to use front, ash problem)
Harman Oakwood (long burn, like grill, but potential problematic afterburner assembly)
I want to get a quality stove that will last for a long time without needing parts. I am willing to spend a little more to get it (was originally looking at $1500 stoves, like the Dutchwest) even if it means I might not be able to get it right away. Our current one is working for now, and will probably go into the pole barn when it gets replaced.
Suggestions?
First off I am trying to explain our heating needs. Here is a rough sketch of our house (the 1st floor anyhow):
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac235/kc2ebm/heating/IMG_1558.jpg
Its a two story house. The original part (right hand side) was built in 1901. Above it is a finished attic. On the left was an addition built in 1990. The great room is open two stories tall to the roof. Over the kitchen is the MBR and bathroom. There is a doorway connecting the two sides on both the first and second floors in the same spot.
The dimensions are based off the county auditor site I have not measured anything.
Also listed:
1st Floor finished area 1610'
2nd floor finished area 792'
Total 2402'.
This might not be 100% as I can see some minor differences just in the floor plan, plus I guess you might still need to count the huge area thats open above the great room though its not in the sqft.
When we moved in 2 years ago there was a large but old wood stove. I don't believe its very efficient, and needs replaced. I'll try to get a pic later. Someone told us it was a common stove of the 70's when lots of little businesses made em. It looks like home made almost, everything is square and no detail work on it at all. It does ok, but consumes a lot of wood and needs refilled every 4 hours. On the colder days of winter (around here single digits usually, or teens) the new side of the house probably is in the upper 50's despite using various fans to circulate the air.
Just recently we added a stove insert in the fireplace on the new side of the house since that side is what struggles with temps. Its a Jøtul C 550 Rockland and we havent used it yet but hope that will help. After the Jøtul install and new pipe we still have a little of the tax credit left and are debating replacing the stove too, with something that will cost us less wood and not have to get up in the middle of the night to reload.
See here is what I've narrowed things down to...
Although our house is somewhat large, it isnt very open, and we do have an untested insert on one side to reduce the heating needs. So we could go with something smaller. Alternatively I would kind of like the stove to still be capable of heating the whole house, especially since I dont know how well the insert will do.
I would really like a top or right side loading stove. Grew up until I was 18 with a VC Vigilant, my folks just replaced it recently with a Quadrafire Isle Royale. Top loading seems the easiest option and IMO easier to pack full for that all night burn. So the Quad is on the short list. I would like something that will burn through the night to avoid having to get up at 4am and walk downstairs and across the house. I would also like something that takes atleast 20" logs. Our insert I think is rated up to 24" so I would hate to short myself length because the other stove wont take it.
Since we got a Jøtul insert I am thinking about a Jøtul stove as well. Was looking at the Oslo or Firelight. Oslo loads on the wrong side for us, and not sure if the Firelight is just too big... 81k BTU are they serious? I was originally wanting a VC but based on opinions here I am going to pass. I want a quality stove that I dont have to worry about failing. A local dealer also had a Harmon Oakwood which we liked, especially the idea of the grille insert, but after reading here I think I have struck it from the list due to the afterburner or whatever you call it assembly that is prone to problems and expensive.
So I have kinda narrowed it down to:
Quad Isle Royale (costly, but top loading, maybe too big?)
Quad Cumberland Gap (not top loading, but the side load is on the right side which will work)
Jøtul Firelight (right side loading, but too big?)
Jøtul Oslo (left side wont work well, have to use front, ash problem)
Harman Oakwood (long burn, like grill, but potential problematic afterburner assembly)
I want to get a quality stove that will last for a long time without needing parts. I am willing to spend a little more to get it (was originally looking at $1500 stoves, like the Dutchwest) even if it means I might not be able to get it right away. Our current one is working for now, and will probably go into the pole barn when it gets replaced.
Suggestions?