Alaska stove Kodiak model question

[ihuntgsps]

Hi I am new to this forum and new to burning wood-
I have an old (but almost new looking) Kodiak wood stove sitting in my garage now not hooked up. I am told by Alasak stove co it is over 25 yrs old.
I have an old free standing Franklin style wood burner in my basement now but would like more heat output. Anyone have experience with the Kodiak? It has the firebrick and 2 solid doors and connects to my existing 8" flue. The house is a 20 year old ranch style 1600sq ft upstairs and downstairs where the stove is located. Would I be better off to buy a newer EPA rated Cat stove or would this stove make a good emergency back up heat source plus warm my basement level to help conserve propane? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mellow]

If you have the $$ I would buy a newer EPA stove. Whether that is a secondary burn or Cat stove is up to you. Most Cat stoves do require an 8" exhaust so you are set there if you want longer slow burns. The kodiak, like its sibling the Timberline or Fisher are wood eating smoke dragons. If you are handy you *Could* retrofit that Kodiak for secondary burn, but that would take some time to learn how to do, since you do not have it installed yet that is an option.

 

[ihuntgsps]

I do not currently have funds to buy a new stove but am considering that option. Just was really curious if the old Kodiak would help with the heat more than the old Franklin I have now or if I am better off waiting to do anything until I have the $ to buy something newer. I am not knowledgable enough to modify the old stove. Thank you for your reply

 

[mellow]

Your better off waiting.

It would be like asking if a pinto is better than a yugo, both are old and not as safe as newer cars.

 

[ihuntgsps]

Thanks for the help. I am glad I asked before hiring people to risk their lives hauling it into my basement. That beast is heavy.

 

[beau5278]

There's nothing wrong with that Alaskan stove and it should work better than your Franklin,if it were mine I would have already switched it.My first stove back in 1979 was an Alaskan,it heated a 1600sf bi-level with ease.Yes,it's not EPA rated but as long as there aren't any building codes that require an epa rating and your door seals and firebrick are in good condition your set to go,there's nothing unsafe about them as long as they are installed properly,I'm still burning one that's similar.