Drolet HT2000 vs Englander NC-30

[DrewMal]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but kept stumbling on it while researching for my new wood stove. I have always had wood heat growing up and my house currently has a 30+ year old furnace. The furnace is half working and we are not wanting to keep using it until it totally breaks down. I installed 2 18,000 btu mini splits in the last 2 years (1 upstairs and 1 downstairs) so need the stove for a month or 2 when it gets really cold here in NB Canada.

I have a split entry house with approx 750 sq ft per floor and since it is split entry there is a nice open entryway. The stove would be over in one corner of the basement but think that would be fine with maybe a fan to help circulate the heat.

So to the title. I had been looking at a lesser Drolet model but seen the good reviews for the HT2000 and it is not much more expensive than the other models. I also seen here all the good reviews on the Englander NC-30 and when I looked up a price I found it almost half price of the HT2000. Seeing the reviews on here that both models are pretty similar in size and operation I am wondering what I am missing.

I can purchase the Drolet HT2000 from Costco online for $1,499.99 CAD
I can purchase the Englander NC-30 from Home Depot for $899 USD (homedepot.com)

Edit: I did research and the home depot is USD and I cannot find the Englander on the homedepot.ca site.

Am I missing something in the description that would make for such a difference in price?

Also I seen here that someone said that the NC-30 radiates heat better but the HT2000 has a better warranty. Am I missing anything else?!

Thanks for reading and hoping to get some great advice!
Andrew

 

[DrewMal]

Also where the stove is being installed is a cement floor so do I need a pedestal for it to sit on or is it fine right on the cement?

 

[begreen]

Both are good, proven heaters. On a cement floor you can use the legs or pedestal. The Englander is more basic and sits a bit lower than the HT2000. The HT2000 has a more robust C-Cast baffle. It's been quite a while but I also think the HT2000 blower is quieter when I heard it it, but it's been years. Hopefully an HT2000 owner will chime in with current experience.

Canadian Tire sells Englander stoves under the TimberRidge brand
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/timber-ridge-wood-stove-2200-sq-ft-e-p-a-0642845p.html#srp

PS: I found the Englander 30-NCH on the Canadian Home Depot site
(broken link removed)

 

[DrewMal]

Thanks muchly for the info. I didn't think to look on the Englander site for different brand names they sell. Still wondering why the nc-30 is about half price on the home depot site. I see that the nc-30 is rated at 75,000 btu and the ht2000 is rated for 100,000 btu but people compare them to be similar. Is this because of the size of the firebox? If so I may look into a similar size drolet for a better price. I just don't want to go to small where my basement has cement floor and walls in 2 rooms which might soak up extra heat.

 

[DrewMal]

I should also be asking I guess what size stove should I be looking at. I see JA Roby has the ultimate about the same price as the ht2000 and has a btu of 120,000. I don't want to go too small so I think I would need around 90,000+ btu or 3+ cu ft firebox size. Any thoughts on that?

 

[begreen]

You will most likely never see the maximum output of the stove unless you like stoking it like a locomotive. Both stoves are in the 3+ cu ft range. Drolet does make less expensive 3 cu ft stoves in the Myriad/Austral/Baltic line.

 

[revdocjim]

I have not owned or operated either stove so I'm no authority, but clearly the pricing of the Englander is it's strongest asset. It is a very basic, steel stove but one that seems to work very well. Of course there are advantages to cast iron, but you have to pay for it. Steel stoves are proven work horses if designed correctly and the Englander seems to be a good example. The price of the Drolet is more in line with similar stoves from other manufacturers. Since you're in Canada I would encourage you to check out the Napoleon stoves. In particular the 1400 would be in a similar category. It is the stove I own and I've been quite satisfied with it. Even though Costco is a huge organization with amazing buying power, in this case it seems that Home Depot has used their leverage most effectively with the Englander. In fact, if you hunt around a bit you might be able to find an even cheaper price. Often a specific Home Depot store will offer it for $200 less than the normal price and if ordering online you can select that store and get the cheaper price while picking it up at your local Home Depot. Of course that may be more difficult if you are in Canada but it's worth checking out.

The Englander is not a particularly attractive stove, but since you're putting it in the basement and not in the center of your home that might not be an issue.

 

[DrewMal]

Ya I did look at maybe just going with the Drolet Austal for price wise. I will definitely look into the Napoleon stoves. Any stove with a decent output/firebox is good for me. Like you said we wont be setting up chairs in the basement room to look at it. I do want a glass door just so I can see what the fire is doing.

Am thinking about the Englander since the price is right but will keep looking around!

Thanks for all the input so far!

 

[begreen]

In this size the Napoleon 1900 is the one to compare.

 

[DrewMal]

I looked on the Napoleon website and the size in my range is the S9 which is 85,000 btu I think. Only seen one price on it so far and was $2000+ so not too sure about it. I have a few dealers close by I can call so might check with them, but if it is over $1500 for 90,000 btu or less than I'm not interested.

Thinking maybe the Englander NC-30 or the Drolet Austral now where they are around $1000 and about the size I need.

 

[stovelark]

Hi Drew- both stoves are ok burners. I think the NC-30 is a better value and its highly revered here on the forum....

 

[DrewMal]

Ya I am kinda leaning towards the NC-30 though if I can get the drolet Austral for a similar price and more local than I might do that. Have to research more on who I can buy which of them from. Don't have a home depot close by but do have Home Hardware and CT so I think I'll be good! I read some good things about the Napoleons but they seem a bit more expensive so not really going to look much more there.

 

[begreen]

I like the NC 30 better than the original Austral/Baltic/Myriad, but the new models now have the C-Cast baffle which was my main gripe against the original with the welded in stainless baffle.

 

[T-roy_]

You can find the HT-2000 for less than $1500. Watch for sales, I paid $850 at the end of the season for mine and also got a $100 gift card. The HT-2000 also has a thicker stove top(5/16") than the Englander (3/16"). BTW the fan is nice and quiet. Of course I'm biased though​

 

[DrewMal]

A 2000 for less than $1000!! Wow I would grab that up lol I might have to wait till spring to buy it and just go with the old furnace another year. I hear they come on sale in mid fall so I'm hoping!

Wondering... with a 4 foot cement wall in basement with no insulation or anything, is it ok to install a wood stove right up next to it?

 

[BigFir]

So your total footage is only 1500s/f?
I bought the 30 (timber ridge) last year from CT, I simply asked for the last sale price and they gave it to me. I think it was 899$ CAD. I easily heat my 3000s/f house with it without the blower on it. I'm sure the other stoves are great but you can't beat the price of the 30.

Great quality too!

Cheers

 

[T-roy_]

Should be no problem but you'll lose a lot of heat to the ground with bare concrete or block.

 

[DrewMal]

Yep I'm kinda waiting waiting for the sales they have this time of year. I really like the Drolet brand Austral and I know someone with a slightly bigger house who has one and it works for them. I will wait and see if the Englander brands at CT go on sale or maybe the Drolet will go on sale at Home Hardware.

Ya I will lose some heat in the basement floor and walls but maybe will insulate next year. We'll see how it goes. Right now it goes down to around 0C at night here and I am running a 18,000btu mini split in the basement and it is keeping it nice in there. Will see how it goes at -15 - -20!

Cheers and thanks for the replies and info.

 

[begreen]

At cold temps about a third of the heat will be heading out the walls of the uninsulated walls. Figure burning one cord out of 3 to heat mother nature. Same for the heat pump electricity.

 

[DrewMal]

I wonder if I could put Styrofoam just on the walls if that would help a lot? That could be done easily and maybe finish it up the next year.

Found a local dealer who carries my stove(s). The Englander nc-30 here locally is actually $50 more than the drolet Austral II so might wait for the drolet to come on sale and grab it up!

 

[begreen]

Whatever you do plan it out with attention paid to future wiring and infrastructure, furring for cladding, mildew protection and fire code. The Building Science website is a good resource. Foam board needs a fire barrier too.
https://buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/basement-insulation

This is more of a topic for the DIY forum where folks can help out with ideas and links.

 

[DrewMal]

Ok thats great info. I will think about that one and thanks again for everything!

 

[BrotherBart]

You can find the HT-2000 for less than $1500. Watch for sales, I paid $850 at the end of the season for mine and also got a $100 gift card. The HT-2000 also has a thicker stove top(5/16") than the Englander (3/16"). BTW the fan is nice and quiet. Of course I'm biased though​

All good stoves. But for clarification the top of the 30-NC is 1/4" plate.

 

[T-roy_]

All good stoves. But for clarification the top of the 30-NC is 1/4" plate.

Man....I hate being wrong

 

[BrotherBart]

Man....I hate being wrong

Most manufacturers these days use 3/16" for the stove bodies and 1/4" for the top plate if it has a step bend for warp resistence or 5/16" for flat tops. Some of the really cheaper ones get away with 3/16" all around with a step bend, like the Englander 13-NC and the Century stoves.