Freestander for NW Arkansas: BK Ashford 30?

[ColoradoPine]

Hi all,
We are moving to northwest Arkansas, and our house is ~3,000 sq. ft. on the main level with an open layout and a central living room that should have good airflow to the bedrooms. It's custom 1998 construction with high-quality Andersen windows and what I believe should be a relatively tight envelope.

Anyway, the living room currently has a fireplace insert in it, but I'm planning on doing the work to run 6" double wall and install a freestanding wood stove. Do you believe the Ashford might be a good fit?

Here are my reasons:

• Low and slow, spread out heat is desirable for us from a lifestyle perspective, and it reduces the risk of burning us out in a more mild climate than what many of you live in.
• Large firebox reduces load frequency.
• It looks good!

The house has central HVAC, but I'd like to tackle most of the heating load with this stove. I should add that this will be an alcove insallation (I can meet clearance requirements since this is being built new), and I have plenty of chimney height.

I'm open to other suggestions, but I want to stay in either the cat or hybrid world.

Thanks!

 

[Highbeam]

Hi all,
We are moving to northwest Arkansas, and our house is ~3,000 sq. ft. on the main level with an open layout and a central living room that should have good airflow to the bedrooms. It's custom 1998 construction with high-quality Andersen windows and what I believe should be a relatively tight envelope.

Anyway, the living room currently has a fireplace insert in it, but I'm planning on doing the work to run 6" double wall and install a freestanding wood stove. Do you believe the Ashford might be a good fit?

Here are my reasons:

• Low and slow, spread out heat is desirable for us from a lifestyle perspective, and it reduces the risk of burning us out in a more mild climate than what many of you live in.
• Large firebox reduces load frequency.
• It looks good!

The house has central HVAC, but I'd like to tackle most of the heating load with this stove. I should add that this will be an alcove insallation (I can meet clearance requirements since this is being built new), and I have plenty of chimney height.

I'm open to other suggestions, but I want to stay in either the cat or hybrid world.

Thanks!

I've been eyeballing the north arkansas and south Missouri areas as places we'd like to move after retirement here pretty soon so I'm jealous of your move!

This part of the country gets cold. They get snow. The climate zone maps show it to be the same as western washington where I live and I happily heat 1700 SF with a BK Princess. 3000 SF is huge so I would have zero problem recommending the BK 30 box as appropriately sized, if not undersized, for this home. You could even run a King in there if you want. The king model has a very similar low output setting but more top end and a larger fuel tank.

 

[kborndale]

I've been eyeballing the north arkansas and south Missouri areas as places we'd like to move after retirement here pretty soon so I'm jealous of your move!

This part of the country gets cold. They get snow. The climate zone maps show it to be the same as western washington where I live and I happily heat 1700 SF with a BK Princess. 3000 SF is huge so I would have zero problem recommending the BK 30 box as appropriately sized, if not undersized, for this home. You could even run a King in there if you want. The king model has a very similar low output setting but more top end and a larger fuel tank.

The king also requires an 8" flue, OP says he is installing a 6".

 

[Highbeam]

The king also requires an 8" flue, OP says he is installing a 6".

Correct, 8" on the king but since he's running new pipe that is a decision that may have some flexibility.

 

[ColoradoPine]

@Highbeam is correct that I can have some flexibility in this. As chance would have it, there's a guy with a King for sale that I will go look at this weekend. The price is right, and while I don't think it's a looker like the Ashford, we do have a rather large house (with vaulted living room ceilings) and my wife isn't too picky about the appearance.

I'll keep this thread updated as I go.

 

[Highbeam]

@Highbeam is correct that I can have some flexibility in this. As chance would have it, there's a guy with a King for sale that I will go look at this weekend. The price is right, and while I don't think it's a looker like the Ashford, we do have a rather large house (with vaulted living room ceilings) and my wife isn't too picky about the appearance.

I'll keep this thread updated as I go.

The king is a big stove with extremely high efficiency and long burn times at the low output setting. Don't be overwhelmed by the size, the firebox size is just the fuel tank on these BK stoves. I have been in single wide mobile homes that were heated by a BK king in my similar climate to the ozarks.

The 8" pipe thing is a bit crappy. It's more money to buy and if you ever wanted a different stove it would need a non ideal reducer if the new stove even allows it, most do.

 

[BKVP]

Hopefully you have access to well seasoned wood if you are planning on running the KE40 on low burn rates for extended periods.

A friend of mine in Harrison tells me that all they burn is hardwoods. He allows his fuel to dry (split and stacked under cover) for 2 years.

BKVP

 

[Rickb]

bout 4 hours north east of you, south of St.Louis so a bit cooler over the winter but not much and I love my BK. No other stove would work for me. It gets turned wide open with the bypass open to start then bypass closed and turned all the way down. In 12ish years that is my daily routine when its below 45 outside.

 

[ColoradoPine]

So in a twist, a Hearthstone Manchester 8362 in brown enamel and like new condition popped up used near me for $1300, so I jumped on that deal. While I think BK is tops in terms of general reputation, I think this stove will serve us well and will look incredible in the living room.


Can't wait to get it installed. Here's a pic:

 

[begreen]

That's a sweet find. It's real good looker. How is it inside? What shape is the cat in?

 

[ColoradoPine]

That's a sweet find. It's real good looker. How is it inside? What shape is the cat in?

Physically, everything appears to be in good shape. But I did not get to test anything out before purchasing. It was a situation where the seller had bought the house and did not want a wood stove. I was able to speak with the company who sold the stove to the original owner two years ago, though. All indications were that the stove functions as normal.

Any tips on what I should be looking at right now? Your insight and knowledge have been a great asset to this forum.

 

[begreen]

It might just need a cleaning. Download the manual. It has a pretty good maintenance section. Look there for directions on removing the catalyst for cleaning and inspection. Check the baffles without disturbing them. Do the dollar bill test on the door gasket. Clean the glass.