can old Vermont Casting 0044 heat 2000sq ft(realistically ?) bad insul/hi-ceilings

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jimmieguns

Member
Dec 10, 2012
219
Long Island, NY
I am just trying to be realistic and figure if my old VC 0044 can REALLY heat a 2000 sq ft home with poor insulation and vaulted ceilings-----maybe I am asking for too much-huh? it takes about 2-3 hours to get to 500-600 degrees internal box temp(thru glass).. ANY IDEAS? Please!
 
Temps through the glass aren't going to tell you much. Is this the stove in your pic? If so and it's an insert, is the air good and hot coming out of the blower?

pen
 
I think it is a bit much to ask of it. If it does do it it wont hold up and most the parts arent available.
 
I am just trying to be realistic and figure if my old VC 0044 can REALLY heat a 2000 sq ft home with poor insulation and vaulted ceilings-----maybe I am asking for too much-huh? it takes about 2-3 hours to get to 500-600 degrees internal box temp(thru glass).. ANY IDEAS? Please!
Short answer; No.

If I recall, the VC 0044 wasn't a large stove (I looked at a used one four years ago).

It would probably heat a smaller area than the Encore. And being the unfortunate expert in poorly insulated homes, I feel pretty confident in saying that 2,000 sq ft of poorly insulated living space is too much to ask out of this stove.
 
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Temps through the glass aren't going to tell you much. Is this the stove in your pic? If so and it's an insert, is the air good and hot coming out of the blower?

pen
Yes, thats MY VC 0044 insert--it is pretty large inside.....after 2- 21/2 hours the air is pretty HOT if i use good wood. temp thru glass reades around 450-600 usually.. if i open door it is high--8-900 range-- which is more accurate?

Thanks
 
Short answer; No.

If I recall, the VC 0044 wasn't a large stove (I looked at a used one four years ago).

It would probably heat a smaller area than the Encore. And being the unfortunate expert in poorly insulated homes, I feel pretty confident in saying that 2,000 sq ft of poorly insulated living space is too much to ask out of this stove.
Hi-- actualy the firebox is pretty big--- i have seen new models at the store- mine is AS large as most of them--:) but BUT much less efficient i assume given the age (1983-1988 circa)..yeah so you know how i feel with BAD insulation ! unreal---it sucks
 
Hi-- actualy the firebox is pretty big--- i have seen new models at the store- mine is AS large as most of them--:) but BUT much less efficient i assume given the age (1983-1988 circa)..yeah so you know how i feel with BAD insulation ! unreal---it sucks
I do know it has a smaller firebox than the Vigilant (which I owned and compared it to), which was only rated for about 1,800 sq ft.
 
I do know it has a smaller firebox than the Vigilant (which I owned and compared it to), which was only rated for about 1,800 sq ft.
ok, Hey thanks for the info-- why did u get rid of the VC vigilant? which is better in your opinion mine or the vigilant?
 
ok, Hey thanks for the info-- why did u get rid of the VC vigilant? which is better in your opinion mine or the vigilant?
Two different monsters and hard to compare.

I do know the vigilant puts out more heat. But, I have never actually used the 0044. Also, there is a huge difference between a freestanding stove and an insert, as it regards heating.

I got rid of the Vigilant for two reasons:
1. It was inefficient and would only provide 5-6 hours of reliable heat. This mean the wood consumption was very high for it's burn times.
2. The right side door hinge snapped.

It did provide a LOT of heat, though. It's just that I needed more efficiency + a lot of heat so I could cut down on my would consumption and increase my burn times.
 
Two different monsters and hard to compare.

I do know the vigilant puts out more heat. But, I have never actually used the 0044. Also, there is a huge difference between a freestanding stove and an insert, as it regards heating.

I got rid of the Vigilant for two reasons:
1. It was inefficient and would only provide 5-6 hours of reliable heat. This mean the wood consumption was very high for it's burn times.
2. The right side door hinge snapped.

It did provide a LOT of heat, though. It's just that I needed more efficiency + a lot of heat so I could cut down on my would consumption and increase my burn times.
Gotcha- thanks for detailed reply= i have same issue- lots of consumption- low burn time for the money---i guess- i AM a newbie- not sure how to gauge consumption variables-- can you illustrate how i can decide if I AM inefficient with the wood brn rate ratio? THAT WOULD really help me figure some things out-- right now i use approx 15-20 large (3-6inch) splits to heat from 9pm-2 am (and that doesnt do the WHOLE house) maybe 50-65 percent of the house-- THANKS wood is mostly good---12-20 percent range OH CAN i add some pine in a few reloads to add HEAT and spur it up a bit?
 
.after 2- 21/2 hours the air is pretty HOT

No reason it should take that long to get hot. That thing should be putting out max heat roughly 45 mins after starting a fire.

If you start a fire, then open the door 10 minutes in, do you hear your firewood hissing?

I agree with BBar that it isn't enough stove for you to heat the full space in cold weather by the sounds, but taking 2 to 2.5 hours to get max heat isn't right either.
 
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