About to buy a stove and looking for some info!

[maineah1214]

First, thank you to everyone on here. I have been lurking for a while and reading up to answer some questions i've had but i've been unable to answer some. No doubt, I have learned a lot from here!

The local stove shop is coming to do a site assessment on Friday. We have a Regency F1100 we are looking to replace with something that will d0 95% of out heating needs. THe Regency just is too small to do overnight burns and it came with the house.

The Regency was picked by the previous owner as the layout of my house (cape) is small and it's placed right in the living room. If I want to keep using the existing hearth and vent out of the chimney, I am very limited in my options. Basically, it's come down to a Quad Santa Fe.

My concerns with the Santa Fe are not enough BTUs for cold nights. As stated previously, I want this new appliance to prevent my oil furnace from running for heat at all. Additionally, we have an 8 month old and to be able to gate off the wood stove adequately will basically prevent access to our stairs!

This brings in another option. If I do a corner install in my kitchen and vent it out the side of my house, the appliance could be bigger, the house would heat more evenly, and it would be out of the way for safety's sake with my baby. Only downside is I'd have to cut a hole in the side of my house.

Anyway, I plan on weighing these options with the stove guy on Friday. If we do a corner install, I am all but sold on a PS50 or a CB1200. I prefer the styling of the PS50 and it doesn't hurt that it's cheaper. My questions are, I realize that the PS50 doesn't have the exchanger tubes that the CB1200 does. What's the big deal here? It's still 85%+ efficient and 50,000 BTUs, am I missing something? I've read they're easier to clean and even saw a pic of the CAB50 or PS50 (can't recall) with a stove thermometer on the blower output vents reading 600 degrees! That's crazy hot....temps my F1100 rarely saw...at least not for very long!

Sorry for the long winded first post! Any feedback from you experts on my situation I would greatly appreciate!

 

[Mike D]

I'm far from being an expert on any of these models - but to comment on the location it sounds like you answered your own question - put it in the kitchen. Lots of pros you listed (heat whole house, baby safety, save $$ on oil, gives you room back in your house). Don't worry about the hole in your wall unless you are planning to move in the next couple of years. If not then go with the larger unit, direct vented out the wall. Best of luck - oh, and we like pics around here, otherwise it didn't happen

 

[will711]

oh, and we like pics around here, otherwise it didn't happen

This is rule #1

 

[maineah1214]

I'm far from being an expert on any of these models - but to comment on the location it sounds like you answered your own question - put it in the kitchen. Lots of pros you listed (heat whole house, baby safety, save $$ on oil, gives you room back in your house). Don't worry about the hole in your wall unless you are planning to move in the next couple of years. If not then go with the larger unit, direct vented out the wall. Best of luck - oh, and we like pics around here, otherwise it didn't happen

Thanks for the reply! Just curious, why do you say if we're not gonna sell in the next few years to go through the wall??

 

[Delta-T]

welcome to the club. why are you limited to the Quad if you use your exiting setup? is it because of clearances/existing hearth size (pics help here)? Do you know the size of your house in sq. ft, roughly? this is how most of us will determine the amount of BTU output you'll need. Cutting a hole in your house isn't so bad, and in many cases, the stoves prefer to be direct vented instead of running into existing flues/flukes/flutes ....it might even be less expensive to vent that way (pics help here too).

 

[Augie]

oh, and we like pics around here, otherwise it didn't happen ​

This is rule #1

This forum needs to learn shorthand..... TTIWWOP

 

[maineah1214]

I am limited in depth of the stove in terms of protruding into our walkway. Here's some pics of the F1100 and where I am considering placing it. Im a newb here
so hopefully this works......

edit: 1800ish sq foot cape from 1997. original doors/windows

 

[will711]

This forum needs to learn shorthand..... TTIWWOP

OK I had to look up what ttiwwop meant
Edit:
I like this better POINH

 

[Mike D]

Thanks for the reply! Just curious, why do you say if we're not gonna sell in the next few years to go through the wall??

In other words, do what is best for you in the long term.

 

[Mike D]

After looking at the pics, if you move it further away from the stairs, it will be harder to heat the 2nd floor unless there are heat registers in the ceiling/floor. Can you put in the larger unit where the F1100 is currently? The do sell some fence type gating that you can put close to but around the stove to keep the baby away. Just my 2 cents.

 

[maineah1214]

Gotcha. Wasn't sure if it was a negative on resale or something

 

[will711]

Thanks for the pics nice looking home . Helps me to see what you are thinking about doing. Replace wood stove with a pellet stove. My 1st thought is go listen to the stoves you're considering, pellet stoves make noise some more than others. They got motors & blowers and this is your TV & dining area.

The local stove shop is coming to do a site assessment on Friday.

Good call, very interested to hear what they have to say.

I know nothing about the stoves you are looking at, sorry other folks will chime in good luck keep us posted and welcome to the show

 

[maineah1214]

Interesting. I figured the blower of the bigger stove would blow the heat more evenly around the floor and it would subsequently heat the upstairs better? I figured the SF would blow into my living room area and have a harder time getting into the kitchen area and upstairs.

There's just no room over there for a big stove. The pics are deceiving a little bit but I dont want to be stepping around a huge stove all the time

After looking at the pics, if you move it further away from the stairs, it will be harder to heat the 2nd floor unless there are heat registers in the ceiling/floor. Can you put in the larger unit where the F1100 is currently? The do sell some fence type gating that you can put close to but around the stove to keep the baby away. Just my 2 cents.

 

[maineah1214]

Thanks, and that's a classy beer you got there as your pic

Thanks for the pics nice looking home . Helps me to see what you are thinking about doing. Replace wood stove with a pellet stove. My 1st thought is go listen to the stoves you're considering, pellet stoves make noise some more than others. They got motors & blowers and this is your TV & dining area.


Good call, very interested to hear what they have to say.

I know nothing about the stoves you are looking at, sorry other folks will chime in good luck keep us posted and welcome to the show

 

[will711]

Thanks, and that's a classy beer you got there as your pic

I already like you some folks like to bust my chops about my choice of Beer , They'll get over it

 

[The Maine Stove Guy]

For what it's worth, the heat exchange tubes do make a difference. It's all about surface area that is available for air to be circulated over. The more hot surface area for the air to pass over the more heat you will feel coming out of the stove. I would recommend you see both options running and feel the heat coming out of each before you make a decision if at all possible.

Also, it's hard to tell from the pics but you might take a look at the Harman XXV if you go with the chimney option near the stairs. That stove offers a top vent adapter to connect into a chimney that saves you space on what the venting would normally take up. Sometimes it gets you into a tighter spot like you have there and it's 50K +/- BTU's. Kid-Co makes a child gate specifically for stoves that might be helpful too.

Beautiful Home BTW.

Warm Regards

 

[Aquion]

A hearth gate might work for you. I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. The gate works great. It's adjustable too, so it shouldn't block your stairs too much.

 

[maineah1214]

Thanks for your kind words. Unfortunately, the XXV is well out of my price range. I looked hard at the accentra but just couldn't afford it.

I guess I just don't get it then. If it's 50k BTU/hr, what's the difference? Isn't 50k BTU, 50k BTU regardless of the design?

For what it's worth, the heat exchange tubes do make a difference. It's all about surface area that is available for air to be circulated over. The more hot surface area for the air to pass over the more heat you will feel coming out of the stove. I would recommend you see both options running and feel the heat coming out of each before you make a decision if at all possible.

Also, it's hard to tell from the pics but you might take a look at the Harman XXV if you go with the chimney option near the stairs. That stove offers a top vent adapter to connect into a chimney that saves you space on what the venting would normally take up. Sometimes it gets you into a tighter spot like you have there and it's 50K +/- BTU's. Kid-Co makes a child gate specifically for stoves that might be helpful too.

Beautiful Home BTW.

Warm Regards

 

[stovelark]

Hi Maineah- Nice pix. The stoves you mentioned will both perform great for you. The Eco-choice is much more affordable than the 1200CB (Which is one of my favorite stoves, a workhorse) and will give you years of good heat. The more important factor anyway is the fuel. Good pellets will give a 40kBTU stove a 50KBTU feel to it. Enviro makes good pellet stoves as well, easy to maintain, quiet and dependable, just like Quadrafire. Eco-Choice (PS50) is by Heatilator which is a company of Hearth and Home Technologies, who own Quad, Heatilator, and Harman pellet stoves. I like the idea of heating through the wall too, for better house heat dispersal. Good luck,

 

[DexterDay]

The Quad and Hatilator are both made by the same company and have many of the same parts. But.....

Input and output BTU are 2 different animals. While I like the PS 50, the Classic Bay is a much more efficient heater. It's exhaust path and heat exchange design are much better than the PS 50. I have had my CB 1200 for over 5 seasons. It heated my entire 2,180 sq ft Ranch on its Low heat setting. Until temps reached about 10* outside, I didn't need anything more.

If you want to save money in the short term, then go with the PS 50. If you wanna save money in the long term (less pellets for the same heat) then CB 1200..

Personal opinion. Others may think otherwise...

 

[IHATEPROPANE]

Thanks for your kind words. Unfortunately, the XXV is well out of my price range. I looked hard at the accentra but just couldn't afford it.

I guess I just don't get it then. If it's 50k BTU/hr, what's the difference? Isn't 50k BTU, 50k BTU regardless of the design?

Different stove designs are better at extracting the btus put into the stove. Now how much difference does it make?? Hard to tell. The efficiency ratings I believe should be taken with a grain of salt.....generally people like both models..

 

[subsailor]

I saw a pic of the CAB50 or PS50 (can't recall) with a stove thermometer on the blower output vents reading 600 degrees! That's crazy hot....temps my F1100 rarely saw...at least not for very long!

I have to believe the probe was touching metal. Or burning the hybrid pellets that were mentioned on here a year or so ago containing plastic or whatever it was.

 

[The Maine Stove Guy]

Thanks for your kind words. Unfortunately, the XXV is well out of my price range. I looked hard at the accentra but just couldn't afford it.

I guess I just don't get it then. If it's 50k BTU/hr, what's the difference? Isn't 50k BTU, 50k BTU regardless of the design?

The Quads are great stoves. You're on the right track and having a Hearth Guy come out to look at the situation is the right choice.

You would think 50K BTU's is 50K BUT's but trust me on this it isn't. I have burned two stoves right next to each other in our store both rated the same BUT's and had my customers exclaim to me how much of a difference they can feel between the two. Just because a unit can produce 50K BTU's does not mean it is able to transfer that much heat into your house.

There is no wrong decision with the units you are looking at. Keep getting opinions and you will find what feels right.

Warm Regards

 

[Delta-T]

if your floorplan is 1800sq, (1000 down, 800 up) I don't actually think you'll really need 50K BTU...might still be nice to have the buffer, but I'm willing to bet a shiny nickle you could look at some smaller units and do just fine. I also would not be too concerned about how the heat will be distributed. Pellet stoves can provide continuous output, so once everything is up to comfortable temp, you're just replacing the energy you lose which shouldn't really be 50k BTU/hr...and if it is, you need to put a sweater on your house .

 

[Bioburner]

Something I noticed in your home pictures is do you have thermal lined drapes? We changed out a couple of rooms from shear drapes to the lined and couldn't believe the difference.(Five more sets to go) Delta-T statement is correct that pellet stove heat is a steady heat. The closer to max output the lower the efficiency most of the time.