Hearthstone Shelburne/Phoenix or Pacific Energy Alderlea T5 or?

[JRodAK]

Greetings-

We are looking to replace our 30 year old steel wood stove. We are struggling with which wood stove to pick from, specifically the Hearthstone Shelburne or Phoenix. We live in a temperate climate here in Juneau, AK that typically hovers in the 20s to low 40s in the winter w/ of course colder stretches and our spring and fall temps are typically in the 40s. We are burning Sitka Spruce or alder.


The main room where the stove would be located is ~750sf, w/ tall 20'+ cathedral ceilings w/ ceiling fan, huge skylight, 3 exterior walls w/ lots of windows and a door (see attached pic). Open to this room on the second story is a tv room and behind that the master bedroom. Down the hall from the main room are 3 other bedrooms. The home is well insulated no drafts, windows are newer, and the stove would sit next to a 20' chimney. The entire home is ~2,200 sf.

We are concerned the Shelburne would not sufficiently heat our main room and that the Phoenix may be too much stove and over heat our upstairs. We also have been looking at the Pacific Energy Alderlea T5. Any advice on which stove would be a good fit for us would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[begreen]

Welcome. I prefer the square firebox of the Alderlea, but if it were me I'd order the T6 for more capacity.

Is there a ceiling fan in place to help with heat stratification at the high ceiling peak?

 

[JRodAK]

There is a ceiling fan at the high ceiling peak.

 

[Rickb]

I don't have much to add as far as stoves... I have never used any on your list, but your living room looks fantastic from the bad picture!

 

[Blazingembers7749]

I think the shelburne would be inadequate for your needs. Its a good small stove. A manchester on the otherhand would be a very good option and would like similar to the shelburne but bigger with a side load door as well.

 

[flhpi]

Welcome. I prefer the square firebox of the Alderlea, but if it were me I'd order the T6 for more capacity.

Is there a ceiling fan in place to help with heat stratification at the high ceiling peak?

Agreed. Go big if you can.

 

[stovelark]

Yes, get the bigger stove... The T6 would give the best of both, easy steel stove operation and attractive cast iron cladding. If you want a cast stove, I'd be looking at the Jotul Firelight too. The Shelburne is a nice stove, but with your space, the larger stoves will do great.

 

[Blazingembers7749]

The boston is a nice cladded stove as well. The firebox is a little smaller at 2.5 than the t6 and the manchester but the heat output is very comparable to the manchester in my experiance with easier maint. The door handles are my favorite among wood stoves because of the way they lock and open. Also the handle latch is adjustable allowing for longer gasket life and the baffle does not have a blanket which in my opinion makes for easier maint. Ceramic baffle board on the boston can be removed without any tools in about 15 seconds...

 

[heatwise]

Hi, Phoenix owner here. After using this stove for several years and heating in varied temperature ranges it has covered them all extremely well. Mostly Our stove runs at a pace that's mid range at about 300 on top. If it should get bitterly cold and breezy outside we have the headroom to wind it up to an output at 450 to about 500 , then it becomes a real heat machine. So many variables with wood specie and log size . Most fires are short and hot ones to heat up the stove which heats up the house nicely. When it's mid January I still have heat output in the morning along with enough red coals to get things going again. If I had to do it all over I'd go up one more size again. Big fan of these type stoves and hope your decision leads you to an awesome one regardless of brand.