I got my feet wet in 2011 when I bought and installed an Englander 30. Love the stove. However, at the time I was on a shoestring budget and needed to get an affordable stove. We chose the Englander 30 to keep the house warm for my pregnant wife and soon to be born son. It has its quirks but it is an excellent stove for the price.
Fast forward a little bit and I may be selling our existing house and building a new one! I have the opportunity to buy the wood stove I want to get instead of the one I can afford to get. The stove purchase will likely be rolled in to the mortgage as part of the building costs. The house will be a 2000sq.ft. two-story that will be insulated to the gills. Its a fairly open concept and I'd like the wood stove to do most if not all of the heating.
So....here is what I want:
1. Large firebox. 2.5cu.ft or bigger.
2. Efficient enough to easily do overnight burns.
3. Easy to operate.
What are the major drawbacks to having a stove with a cat? Sure it is another piece to replace but does the chimney stay cleaner or does it get dirtier due to the lower output temps? Should I got cat or non-cat?
Your advice is much appreciated? What stove would you buy if you could get the one you want?
Fast forward a little bit and I may be selling our existing house and building a new one! I have the opportunity to buy the wood stove I want to get instead of the one I can afford to get. The stove purchase will likely be rolled in to the mortgage as part of the building costs. The house will be a 2000sq.ft. two-story that will be insulated to the gills. Its a fairly open concept and I'd like the wood stove to do most if not all of the heating.
So....here is what I want:
1. Large firebox. 2.5cu.ft or bigger.
2. Efficient enough to easily do overnight burns.
3. Easy to operate.
What are the major drawbacks to having a stove with a cat? Sure it is another piece to replace but does the chimney stay cleaner or does it get dirtier due to the lower output temps? Should I got cat or non-cat?
Your advice is much appreciated? What stove would you buy if you could get the one you want?