BK questions.

[Ridgeback303]

Looking to install a BK wood stove in new construction. 1660sqft, spray foam insulation, in northeast Texas. I have between 5 to 7 cords white oak split and stacked 2 years now. We're getting older, and splitting and stacking firewood is going to be more and more challenging as we age.

We plan to use the stove as primary heat for the kitchen/living room/dining room. We can push the heat into bedrooms if necessary, via box fans, but we like cold rooms for sleeping, and will have mini splits available on the bedrooms for heat of desired. So a wild guess is 100-1200 sqft will be the wood stove's job.

With those things considered, I'm looking at the Scirocco 20 or the Princess 20, pedestal base for either. I want a long burn time, so the wood I currently have will last longer. But I just think the bigger 30s would be overkill.

What is your experience with either model? Are the burn times stated, accurate within reason? How easy will it be to service the stove (replace catalytic, gaskets, latches and firebricks)? Would it be possible to use soapstone firebricks to increase thermal mass to moderate the heat transfer?

Previous wood burner exp is with an old smoke dragon Heritage insert (it was huge!) from 1982. It was a great instead for it's age. Easy to light, burned hot when you needed, but it was a pig for wood. Sub 8hr burn time on a full box of dry oak. Airflow was primitive as was the external blower ...

Thanks!

 

[Highbeam]

I also heat just under 1700 sf in a pretty warm climate. I use the princess which is the same as the 30 series stoves. It’s burning right now and it’s in the 50s all day. Heating small spaces with wood is hard but the best stove for it is a cat stove with low output abilities and a BK does that best.

The 20 series stoves are a pretty non optimal choice. BK is working on a new smaller princess that sounds good but is not yet available. So if you had to buy today I would recommend a 30 series stove or a princess.

 

[Ridgeback303]

I also heat just under 1700 sf in a pretty warm climate. I use the princess which is the same as the 30 series stoves. It’s burning right now and it’s in the 50s all day. Heating small spaces with wood is hard but the best stove for it is a cat stove with low output abilities and a BK does that best.

The 20 series stoves are a pretty non optimal choice. BK is working on a new smaller princess that sounds good but is not yet available. So if you had to buy today I would recommend a 30 series stove or a princess.

What is it about the 20 series stoves that makes them non optimal for you?

 

[Highbeam]

What is it about the 20 series stoves that makes them non optimal for you?

They use a goofy sized cat. The heat output minimum is basically the same as the 30 but the 30 goes higher if you need it. Tiny firebox and on a good cat stove the firebox is just the fuel tank size so the 20 has a much shorter burn time. They take up just as much space because clearance requirements are larger.

There’s just no good reason for the 20 box if it can’t run at a much lower output level.

The 20 box is fine but definitely a step down from the 30. Still better than lots of the competition.