Once again, I'm looking at purchasing a woodstove to install into my house. (I started looking a year ago but haven't done anything yet.) I'm really struggling between the benefits and drawbacks between the BK Ashford 30.2 and PE Alderlea T6. I have zero experience with woodstoves so everything I know has come from reading this forum. From reading this forum I have pretty much deduced that the Blazeking is the best cat stove and Pacific Energy is the best non-cat stove. So thats what brought me to these 2 options. My local dealers don't typically carry either stove, but I have found a dealer that can order either one for me. I don't have final quotes yet, but the dealer said the price difference between the 2 stoves is within a couple hundred dollars. That is before the current government rebate of $2000+/- (that I believe would only be available on the Ashford). So practically speaking the Blazeking is $2000 cheaper after the tax credit. (Assuming I meet all the requirements). But more important than price, I feel like I need to find the right stove for my needs.
The stove will be in a finished basement with a walk out patio door in the same room as the stove. The size of the house is 1700 sq ft 1 story house. So 1700 sq ft in the basement and 1700sq ft on the main level. So 3400 sq ft total. I'm hoping the heat will draft up a semi open stairwell to the upper level. If not I have a force air furnace I can use to circulate heat. Since I'm in a basement I expect my chimey stack will be around 22'-26'. (I haven't done the math to get exact estimates. I'll leave that to the installer). It will be a strait pipe through an upstairs closet. So mostly internal chimney up through the attic. I am a little bit on a side slope if that matters. But its a gentle slope and I'm not at the bottom of the hill
Since I have a pretty effecient electric force air furnace with a heatpump, I expect to only use the stove during the coldest 4 months. So I don't think I need the low and slow heat of the Blazeking. I expect once I fire it up, I will be able to run it at more moderate temps to supplement the furnace. Although I do hope to be able to get 9-10 hour burns over night so I can easily start the stove again in the morning.
What really draws me to the Blazeking is the thermostat. I see that as a huge saftey factor in allowing me to run the stove overnight and not worry about the stove running away from me while I sleep. The drawbacks I see, (apart from mild concerns about the Ashford smell issues) are the additional hassel, maintenance, and cost of cleaning and replacing the cat. And although, I wouldn't consider myself a 'prepper', I do take into consideration the longevity and reliability of the product, So I also, have some concerns about future availabiltity of a replacement cat if I ever needed something on short notice during an extended power outage. (We have had periods of being without power for a week in the past few years). Or if supply chains get all messed up again. So the cat free T6 just seems like it would be a longer lasting, more durable and reliable product to me. But then again, I might just keep a couple spare cats on hand to solve the problem. But its still sounds like more maintenance and complications than cat free.
The appeal of the Pacific Energy T6 is primarily the simple maintenance, and expected durability and reliability of a cat free stove. I also really like the ability to cook on the stove. This would be very helpful if we get another event where we are without power for a week. My concern with the T6 is I hear they breath very well and I am concerned it could run away from me at night. My other concern is also if I will be able to get a long enough burn over night for the stove to be running the secondary burn all night to be efficient and still have coals to start a new fire 9-10 hours later in the morning.
Since I am in a rural property in North Dakota, my primary wood source will be Boxelder trees that I have to constantly be clearing and cleaning up around my yard. So I might as well heat with them. However, since my wood is not great, and I expect I won't be very diligent at getting my wood seasoned property, that adds to the appeal of the T6. I understand cats do not handle unseasoned wood very well.
So, sorry for the long explanation. With all of that info. Which stove do you guys think will best meet my needs.
TLDR: I'm torn between the safety of the thermostat and the long over night burns on the BlazeKing Ashford 30.2 vs the simplicity, durability, and less maintenance of the cat free Pacific Energy Alderlea T6. The stove will be used for supplemental heating in the coldest 4 months of the year, along with emergency heat and cooking when the power goes out. As well as some time just enjoying the fire show for an evening. My wood will be boxelder and I am not sure I'll get the hang of proper seasoning.
Additional info; My basement is insulated, but not currently finished. But I'm considering the stove now to take advantage of the tax rebate. So getting the Ashford means additional work of disconnecting the stove to finish the basement then reconnecting again.
The stove will be in a finished basement with a walk out patio door in the same room as the stove. The size of the house is 1700 sq ft 1 story house. So 1700 sq ft in the basement and 1700sq ft on the main level. So 3400 sq ft total. I'm hoping the heat will draft up a semi open stairwell to the upper level. If not I have a force air furnace I can use to circulate heat. Since I'm in a basement I expect my chimey stack will be around 22'-26'. (I haven't done the math to get exact estimates. I'll leave that to the installer). It will be a strait pipe through an upstairs closet. So mostly internal chimney up through the attic. I am a little bit on a side slope if that matters. But its a gentle slope and I'm not at the bottom of the hill
Since I have a pretty effecient electric force air furnace with a heatpump, I expect to only use the stove during the coldest 4 months. So I don't think I need the low and slow heat of the Blazeking. I expect once I fire it up, I will be able to run it at more moderate temps to supplement the furnace. Although I do hope to be able to get 9-10 hour burns over night so I can easily start the stove again in the morning.
What really draws me to the Blazeking is the thermostat. I see that as a huge saftey factor in allowing me to run the stove overnight and not worry about the stove running away from me while I sleep. The drawbacks I see, (apart from mild concerns about the Ashford smell issues) are the additional hassel, maintenance, and cost of cleaning and replacing the cat. And although, I wouldn't consider myself a 'prepper', I do take into consideration the longevity and reliability of the product, So I also, have some concerns about future availabiltity of a replacement cat if I ever needed something on short notice during an extended power outage. (We have had periods of being without power for a week in the past few years). Or if supply chains get all messed up again. So the cat free T6 just seems like it would be a longer lasting, more durable and reliable product to me. But then again, I might just keep a couple spare cats on hand to solve the problem. But its still sounds like more maintenance and complications than cat free.
The appeal of the Pacific Energy T6 is primarily the simple maintenance, and expected durability and reliability of a cat free stove. I also really like the ability to cook on the stove. This would be very helpful if we get another event where we are without power for a week. My concern with the T6 is I hear they breath very well and I am concerned it could run away from me at night. My other concern is also if I will be able to get a long enough burn over night for the stove to be running the secondary burn all night to be efficient and still have coals to start a new fire 9-10 hours later in the morning.
Since I am in a rural property in North Dakota, my primary wood source will be Boxelder trees that I have to constantly be clearing and cleaning up around my yard. So I might as well heat with them. However, since my wood is not great, and I expect I won't be very diligent at getting my wood seasoned property, that adds to the appeal of the T6. I understand cats do not handle unseasoned wood very well.
So, sorry for the long explanation. With all of that info. Which stove do you guys think will best meet my needs.
TLDR: I'm torn between the safety of the thermostat and the long over night burns on the BlazeKing Ashford 30.2 vs the simplicity, durability, and less maintenance of the cat free Pacific Energy Alderlea T6. The stove will be used for supplemental heating in the coldest 4 months of the year, along with emergency heat and cooking when the power goes out. As well as some time just enjoying the fire show for an evening. My wood will be boxelder and I am not sure I'll get the hang of proper seasoning.
Additional info; My basement is insulated, but not currently finished. But I'm considering the stove now to take advantage of the tax rebate. So getting the Ashford means additional work of disconnecting the stove to finish the basement then reconnecting again.
