UPDATE:
Whether it is that outside temps are 10 degrees warmer, that adding a foot to the stovepipe/chimney, that exchanging the 20 for the 30, that the thermostat on the 30 works correctly (whereas on the 20 it wasn't), that the 20 just isn't designed perfectly, and/or wood is a wee bit dryer, I really will never know. I do know that the firewood box on the 30 seems huge in comparison to the 20 and can fit more than double the wood in there.
Adjoining rooms are now 15 degrees warmer - 65 degrees at 10a after turning cat down between low and medium around 11a last night and cat is still active. For the first time since mid November when the 20 was installed, I am experiencing what it is supposed to be like to have a Blazeking. Thank you all for your support, advice, and responding to SOS.
Well I've only had it one night and didn't load it to capacity. From 11p to 10a was still going fine, added a little more wood before leaving. Tonight will be the test night for those 30 hour burns on low as advertised. I'm ecstatic that its keeping the house warm into the morning.How long are your burn times Laura with the new stove?
It was sufficient if working correctly to heat up what area I needed heating and some of us need to save a few bucks where we can. It seemed over indulgent to get an oversized stove. As it is, the 30 seems just right. The 20 - I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless they lived in a studio or small 1 bedroom.I never understood why anybody would want such a small cat stove. There's a knob that lets you turn these BKs down. Forget the 20 and build us a 40!
I never understood why anybody would want such a small cat stove. There's a knob that lets you turn these BKs down. Forget the 20 and build us a 40!
I'm getting used to the look of black glass. It does mostly burn off, not always evenly. I run it hot for about 20 minutes when I reload at night, then low until it gets reloaded sometime following day. Trying to be efficient with this wood - saving it for when it drops into the 20s again (CA wimp) as I only have 1/2 cord of properly seasoned wood. Its over 70 degrees for the first time in the adjoining bedroom. Very happy. Good luck with your set up.I like to run mine hot hot hot for about an hour before turning down low. a 40! In my lil house. Fuhgettabout it!
So what is the general consensus regarding the 20 vs the 30? Defective stove for the 20 most likely explanation?
I like to run mine hot hot hot for about an hour before turning down low. a 40! In my lil house. Fuhgettabout it!
To be clear, the 30 is a great size but is as small as a cat stove should be. I would rather see R&D spent on a 40 size than something like a 20. On low, all of the BK stoves put out about the same amount of heat. The smaller firebox gains you a couple of inches less physical size, maybe save a couple of dollars on this high end purchase, and a much reduced burn time for any given heat setting. Burn times are very very important to real burners.
Smaller than a 30 and you are in "decorative" land or part time burning where burn times aren't as important.
Seeing how it kept my house warm while it was -6 out while still getting 8-10 hour burn times, I would say ""decorative" land" is not very accurate.
Isn't the BK Sirocco or Ashford 30 almost the same size as the Princess? How is this a small stove for a cat at almost 3 cu ft.? The good thing is that it has a 6" flue which makes it much more universal for installation. To me the Sirocco/Ashford 30 seems just right sized for the average home of 2000 sq ft or under.
Our first BK King was bought in 86 ,then we went to look at new stoves in 2010 because of the fed tax deal and I knew i wanted a cat. Anyways while in the first stove shop the wife looked at me and said" are these all just miniatures for display?" lol..there were no kings there and that was what she was used to seeing.Correct, the 30 is about the same as the princess which is just under 3CF of thermostatic greatness. The 20 series stoves are the ministoves.
Yes you can turn it down but start up is way hot
I am concerned with wood that's not so seasoned and smoldering it. Manual also states to burn hot after loading for 20-30 min.
Again, my conclusion was that the real issue was related to how the thermostat was installed. Low did not equal Low. Medium was the actual Low and past High was the actual High. There was a stop only at 6 o'clock - it ran fine on high. It ran fine on medium. But it conked out whenever I tried to turn it down to low. The dealer only saw it cranked on high. The thermostat on this 30 has a stop at High, High=High (at about 5 o'clock). It does not have a stop at Low so I still have to be careful how far past medium I can go before it conks out. But at least I am aware of this issue and can operate the stove so that it can burn - although probably less than half of the advertised burns of 30 hours ion low2 cu ft stoves have their place. There are a lot of 1000-1500 sq ft homes that could be happy with this stove, particularly if the place is well sealed and insulated or in a milder climate. It seems like the OPs real issue was a leaky home perhaps with more sq ftg and poorer insulation than first thought. Her dealer turned out to be first rate.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.