Green Mountain 80 vs 60?

[mainesqueeze]

I just bought a house in mid-coast Maine and am going to buy a woodstove -- I was wondering if you knowledgable folks could help me out!

My main question is about size, as it feels like we're between a large and a medium.

The house is two stories, about 2000 sq feet. It was built in the 1860s, but is insulated, and we'll be replacing windows. We have a furnace to fall back on, but we want to try to use as little oil as possible. The stove will be in the middle of a large open downstairs space -- around 600 sq feet -- encompassing kitchen, dining room, living room, and will be situated right near a return vent in the floor. We'll be installing a new stovepipe chimney that runs alongside the existing chimney going up through the roof. Apart from power and efficiency, we're looking for a good spacious viewing window. In our current house, we turn the heat down into the 50s when we sleep.

Now, I really like the Green Mountain line. I like the clean lines, and I like that it qualifies for the 26% rebate. But I'm not crazy about that 8 inch pipe -- from the perspective of both aesthetic and materials cost. (The salesman said the piping would cost about 40% more). Do you all think we could get away with the 60 in the home I'm describing? The salesman has been pushing me to go bigger, but I wonder if he's just trying to upsell. I know the GMs are new, so reviews are incomplete; if anyone has any input, I'd love to hear it.

For the other brands we're considering, I have the same questions. I like the PE Summit, but I wonder if we could get away with the Super. Same with Blaze King: the 40 King feels like it's too much; could we get away with something smaller?

Also, if we're planning on burning it around the clock for a few months a year, will it be a pain not have an ash pan, or does that not matter?

Another question: should I consider a used stove? I have heard that it could affect my homeowner's insurance? Or that it's actually illegal for a builder to install?

If there's something I'm not considering here -- other models, other features -- please let me know! Thank you all - I am new at this, and so I appreciate the time and wisdom of folks on here.

 

[cabinwarmer]

Good Day, I can only comment on the GM60 I had installed late last year. It throughs plenty of heat for me. I usually am running it only about 50-60% of its output. That is all I need. The viewing glass is amazing when the secondary gets going. Once you get the secondary burn tube holes blowing flames, this stove gives plenty of heat. As far as the size goes, I will let that discussion go to folks who know more then I do. I am in PA so you have more severe weather. The stove takes a bit to get used to if you are not familiar with the newer EPA/CAT stoves. Took me almost 7 weeks to understand what the stove was telling me to do!... My 6 inch DVL pipes measure OD of 7 inches. Get a digital flue temp gauge as well.

 

[Shrewboy]

bholler (user on this forum, certified chimney sweep in Pennsylvania and very active user) told me that all Return air vents must be at least 10 feet from your wood stove.
The reason why is because in certain circumstances the vent can cause enough negative pressure to reverse the chimney draft and suck smoke / carbon monoxide through the house.

 

[mainesqueeze]

bholler (user on this forum, certified chimney sweep in Pennsylvania and very active user) told me that all Return air vents must be at least 10 feet from your wood stove.
The reason why is because in certain circumstances the vent can cause enough negative pressure to reverse the chimney draft and suck smoke / carbon monoxide through the house.

Oh, wow, interesting, that's really good to know. Thank you for this!

 

[mainesqueeze]

bholler (user on this forum, certified chimney sweep in Pennsylvania and very active user) told me that all Return air vents must be at least 10 feet from your wood stove.
The reason why is because in certain circumstances the vent can cause enough negative pressure to reverse the chimney draft and suck smoke / carbon monoxide through the house.

Good Day, I can only comment on the GM60 I had installed late last year. It throughs plenty of heat for me. I usually am running it only about 50-60% of its output. That is all I need. The viewing glass is amazing when the secondary gets going. Once you get the secondary burn tube holes blowing flames, this stove gives plenty of heat. As far as the size goes, I will let that discussion go to folks who know more then I do. I am in PA so you have more severe weather. The stove takes a bit to get used to if you are not familiar with the newer EPA/CAT stoves. Took me almost 7 weeks to understand what the stove was telling me to do!... My 6 inch DVL pipes measure OD of 7 inches. Get a digital flue temp gauge as well.

Thanks for your reply. And for the tip on the flue temp gauge. Out of curiosity, how large is the house you're heating?

 

[cabinwarmer]

Mainesqueeze, the stove is in a grand kitchen with a small bath off it. It lies in the middle of the house with two arches doorways going out each side that lead to other rooms. I use a ceiling fan and a free standing fan to circulate out of the center kitchen room. We are only heating around 800 sq', directly, including a cathedral ceiling with the stove. I am sure it helps the other sections of the house, but not as a main source. For sure your 600 sq area will be toasty with either stove, and you will want to circulate the remaining areas. You will not miss the ash pan. My GM60 burns so clean, there is very little ash once cooled down. I do clean the glass every time the stove is cool though. Be sure you have a good draft. Others on here have had some complaints around smoke coming back into the room. I get some, but only when the flue is not hot enough and I do not follow the proper procedure. Top down starts are perfect.

 

[aansorge]

For the other brands we're considering, I have the same questions. I like the PE Summit, but I wonder if we could get away with the Super. Same with Blaze King: the 40 King feels like it's too much; could we get away with something smaller?

The 60 is only a 2.0 cu. ft. stove and the Blaze King King is 4.32 cu. ft. That is quite a range you are looking at! I have a King and love it. It is not a hot running stove at all. It trickles a little bit of heat all day long. It is super easy to reload compared to my tube stove and the greatest part is its deep belly which really reduces ash cleaning intervals. To go cheaper, you could get the princess with the 6 inch pipe. It would be plenty for you under most circumstances. I would hesitate to pull the trigger on a 2 cu. ft. stove in your circumstance. I would try to go 2.5 or up.

 

[2zeroseven]

Now, I really like the Green Mountain line.

mainesqueeze, did you end up going for the Green Mountain 80?

Sorry to resurrect an old thread -- I'm also in midcoast Maine, so facing the same climate.