Advice for a new, large stove

[PyroWillie]

I'm looking for assistance on selecting a wood stove for a new construction home next to our current one. I've done a good bit of research here and elsewhere, but also often see conflicting opinions.

Background:
- The home will have radiant, in-floor heat
- Stove will be in large, living room of about 1700 sqft including open, adjacent areas
- Space has tall ceilings with a few hundred square foot loft as well
- Average January temperature is about 10 degrees
- Even though the stove is supplementary, the house will have very high heating needs. Current MO is to set thermostat to the upper 50's near where the stove is, run the wood stove when we are awake and then deal with being chilly for 30-60 minutes in the morning before the fire gets going
- Used a Pacific Energy Vista insert in another home, which we really liked. It worked well and my favorite aspect was N-S loading
- Currently using an old Jotul #8. It works, but it is inefficient and has pretty short burn times
- Biggest annoyance is probably when I forget to load the stove earlier enough before I want to go to bed and so I need to wait up another 20-30 minutes for the stove to get to temp so I can turn down the air intake

We are looking for a large, modern stove. We are typically at home during the day, but still don't want to be loading every 4 hours. We would love to get a European vertical barrel style, but it seems like larger models are only available in Europe. I've been researching the following options:

Supreme Novo 38
MF Nova
Blake King Chinook
Green Mountain 80
Osburn Matrix/Inspire

Any thoughts? We are not opposed to catalytic, but have been hesitant about the maintenance and replacement.

Thanks in advance!

 

[FPX Dude]

I'd say whatever you choose, follow your instinct and go with biggest fire box, that allows your N/S loading, and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Woody Stover]

- Used a Pacific Energy Vista insert in another home, which we really liked. It worked well and my favorite aspect was N-S loading

Why not just go with a bigger PE, Super, Summit, Neo 2.5? They are about the simplest stoves out there in terms of number of moving parts, and they have some nice-looking stoves in a number of colors.

 

[PyroWillie]

The Neo is only modern Pacific Energy freestanding option and it looks a little weird. My better half voted it out of contention.

 

[KDubU]

Out of your list I would go with the BK Chinook 30. A really nice looking stove and can heat a lot of space. Second would be the GM 80.

 

[yooperdave]

@PyroWillie with the size of the room and the height of the ceiling, ceiling fans are your friends!

 

[EbS-P]

New construction built it TIGHT, understand your blower door test, and what that means as it relates to needing an outside air kit for the stove. BK is at the top of my list.

 

[Tar12]

New construction? Your situation has large catalytic stove written all all over it! Maintenance? Nothing to it! (BK)You pull the heat shield(no tools required) and lightly brush the face of the combuster and vacuum it..once or twice a year...replacement is just as easy and most full time burners average 3 years of 24/7 burning before replacing...I just replaced mine...took less than 5 minutes..pull the heat shield and pull the combuster and slide the new one in place and put the heat shield back..done.Very simple.You will not be loading every 4-6 hours and you will not find a steadier or more even heat...I am currently running 24 hour reloads in a older 2100 sq. ft. home with outside temps in the low to mid 20s..the stove room is currently 75 degrees...next week brings much colder temps and I will be running 12 hour reloads...it has to get brutally cold here for me to run 8 hour reloads...we used to visit my uncle outside of Casper Wyoming...it seemed that every time we visited it was in front of a winter storm...lol...it gets cold there! Enjoy your new home!

 

[Woody Stover]

The Neo is only modern Pacific Energy freestanding option and it looks a little weird. My better half voted it out of contention.

Yeah, kinda figured you were going for a contemporary look, based on looking at some of the stoves you listed.
As to the better halves...they have their say of course, but a lot may not fully appreciate the technical side that has to be factored into the equation, as well. 🤓
SWMBO would no doubt appreciate the whisper-quiet blower on the PE; You need to heat and move air, it seems to me...

 

[Woody Stover]

I'd say whatever you choose, follow your instinct and go with biggest fire box, that allows your N/S loading, and you won't be disappointed.

OTOH, if the house is tight, well-insulated new construction, a large stove probably wouldn't be needed to keep up with heat demand, the majority of the time. You don't want to be trying to run very small loads in a very big box most of the time. Pump-and-glide burns in a smaller box should work, as the house won't lose heat very fast. In the occasional cold snap, you fall back on your backup heating system.
There's a bit of calculation involved in determining what your actual heat needs will be, and it would be time well spent to pin that down as best you can.

 

[Woody Stover]

New construction? Your situation has large catalytic stove written all all over it! Maintenance? Nothing to it! (BK)You pull the heat shield(no tools required) and lightly brush the face of the combuster and vacuum it..once or twice a year...replacement is just as easy and most full time burners average 3 years of 24/7 burning before replacing...I just replaced mine...took less than 5 minutes..pull the heat shield and pull the combuster and slide the new one in place and put the heat shield back..done.Very simple.You will not be loading every 4-6 hours and you will not find a steadier or more even heat...I am currently running 24 hour reloads in a older 2100 sq. ft. home with outside temps in the low to mid 20s..the stove room is currently 75 degrees...next week brings much colder temps and I will be running 12 hour reloads...it has to get brutally cold here for me to run 8 hour reloads...we used to visit my uncle outside of Casper Wyoming...it seemed that every time we visited it was in front of a winter storm...lol...it gets cold there! Enjoy your new home!

The low burn and thermostat for even heat would be nice, no doubt. But BKs do have their drawbacks, as do all stoves..

 

[Tar12]

The low burn and thermostat for even heat would be nice, no doubt. But BKs do have their drawbacks, as do all stoves..

Yes sir they sure do...the OP lives in Wyoming where the winters can be very brutal...nothing like our mild Indiana winters for sure...his heat demand will be high...I think he realizes a larger stove is in order.

 

[PyroWillie]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Thus far sounds like votes for a catalytic. I'll have to do some research comparing the BK Chinook to the Hearthstone GM80. Any other large, modern catalytics to consider?

 

[EbS-P]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Thus far sounds like votes for a catalytic. I'll have to do some research comparing the BK Chinook to the Hearthstone GM80. Any other large, modern catalytics to consider?

How large do you want? Regency make a huge stove. Needs 8” but going that route I’d probably get the BK king.

 

[PyroWillie]

How large do you want? Regency make a huge stove. Needs 8” but going that route I’d probably get the BK king.

Large, but not massive as it is for secondary heat and some of these look like a boiler sitting in your living room. The Regency F3500 looks like a good one to add to the list of possibilities. Thanks!

 

[Woody Stover]

How large do you want? Regency make a huge stove. Needs 8” but going that route I’d probably get the BK king.

And Woodstock has the two hybrid steel stoves, the Ideal Steel and Absolute (cat plus secondary.) Neither those or the big Regencys have a strictly contemporary style, but they may still appeal to him (her) 😏 nonetheless. The Woodstocks have lots of style and color options, for different looks.
I almost got my SIL an Absolute high-style, but grabbed the T5 for her, one reason being it's gonna be less maintenance for me. 😏
According to the EPA both the Regencys and Woodstocks are capable of throwing big heat, compared to the BKs. All would qualify for the 30% federal tax credit, it appears...get 'em while they're hot!

Woodstove Database | Burnwise | US EPA

 

[begreen]

If the house is built with great insulation and nicely sealed, then a 2-2.5 cu ft stove will do. If just average 2x4 construction then go with a larger 3 cu ft stove. There are many good options from Osburn, Lopi, Regency, Pacific Energy, Blaze King, Kuma, etc. that will heat the place well. Most of the European round heaters are area heaters only and don't load N/S. Their fireboxes are typically in the 1.0 to 1.5 cu ft range. I think you will find that most contemporary fireboxes are biased toward E/W loading. Personally, I place good heating, reliability, and ease of use + maintenance before contemporary looks, but I lean toward the long-term practicality of wood burning.

The Osburn Matrix and Stuv 16-78 are worth considering for a contemporary look. In cat stoves, look at the Blaze King Chinook 30 and the Regency 3500. The Kuma Ashwood is a simple traditional look, but with clean lines, it's worth looking at too.

I am not sure about the Supreme Novo38. We haven't had anyone reporting in on one that I can recall. In the past, they have been known for well-made construction using a novel stainless firebox design. Their marketing may be a bit off for the firebox size and heat output. I think the listed firebox size may have a typo. It looks more like a 2.8 cu ft stove than a 3.8 cu ft one. The firebox maybe 2" deeper than the 24 and much taller, but that is not usable loading space typically due to concerns of logs rolling up against the glass. Unfortunately, their website lists the Astra24 EPA test and not the Novo 38 so it's hard to tell the actual firebox size for this unit. Make sure these units passed the current EPA requirements and are sold in the US.

 

[TomMcDonald]

The Neo is only modern Pacific Energy freestanding option and it looks a little weird. My better half voted it out of contention.

what about the Alberni?

 

[begreen]

I think that is a variation on the Neo 2.5, but seems to be only sold down under.

 

[PyroWillie]

And Woodstock has the two hybrid steel stoves, the Ideal Steel and Absolute (cat plus secondary.) Neither those or the big Regencys have a strictly contemporary style, but they may still appeal to him (her) 😏 nonetheless. The Woodstocks have lots of style and color options, for different looks.
I almost got my SIL an Absolute high-style, but grabbed the T5 for her, one reason being it's gonna be less maintenance for me. 😏
According to the EPA both the Regencys and Woodstocks are capable of throwing big heat, compared to the BKs. All would qualify for the 30% federal tax credit, it appears...get 'em while they're hot!

Woodstove Database | Burnwise | US EPA

The Woodstock is technically of on the list, but has a very unique style that isn't our favorite.

 

[Woody Stover]

The Woodstock is technically of on the list, but has a very unique style that isn't our favorite.

Agreed, not a contemporary look at all. But like begreen, I tend to be a function over form guy. When you can get both, it's nice.

 

[PyroWillie]

I am not sure about the Supreme Novo38. We haven't had anyone reporting in on one that I can recall. In the past, they have been known for well-made construction using a novel stainless firebox design. Their marketing may be a bit off for the firebox size and heat output. I think the listed firebox size may have a typo. It looks more like a 2.8 cu ft stove than a 3.8 cu ft one. The firebox maybe 2" deeper than the 24 and much taller, but that is not usable loading space typically due to concerns of logs rolling up against the glass. Unfortunately, their website lists the Astra24 EPA test and not the Novo 38 so it's hard to tell the actual firebox size for this unit. Make sure these units passed the current EPA requirements and are sold in the US.

The EPA database also lists "Astra 38, Elegance 42, Novo 38 – Soapstone, Novo 38 Cast Iron" and that shows a 3.5 cu ft firebox. Not the best efficiency.

 

[Rearscreen]

If you have radiant floor heat, a ceiling fan isn't necessary as, the heat is radiant.

 

[kennyp2339]

I'm going to say your under sizing the stove, 1700ft stove room w/ high ceilings plus the rest of the house w/ open concept leads me to believe your just throwing money into an empty holes when push comes to shove, I'd spec a BK king for this work, you can turn down the King and have it act like a small stove, but you cant turn a small stove up to act like a king. You may not want to run the radiant during the shoulder seasons and the King could def carry the most popular rooms to keep things in check as far as comforts, plus in the event of storms and such, its nice to have a king should something fail .

 

[joop]

j.a roby ultimate nuff said