Heating 3,500 square foot house

[blanchelola]

First post. Just learning and trying to decide what to do. Can't afford oil anymore...

We have a 3,500 square foot side-hall colonial.
1,500 sq ft on the first floor
2,000 sq ft on the second floor (bedrooms)

Stove would go in living room on side of first floor of house. Living room has two large openings - one leads to dining room into kitchen into family room. Other leads to two-story foyer and up to the bedrooms.

If we put a large stove in (I've seen some rated for up to 3,500 sq ft) would we be heated out of the living room (which wouldn't be the worst that could happen as we spend most of our time in the kitchen and family room) or would the heat eventually even itself out through the house?

Are we nuts for thinking we may be able to heat the whole house? We do have two heat ones upstairs, so I figure we'll have to use that as a supplement while we're sleeping.

Almost bought a pellet stove last month. Backed out and started looking into wood stoves (and reading these forums like an addict)

Any thoughts? Recommendations of stoves we should consider? It will be in the living room, so it will have to look great. All the contemporary-style stoves seem to only heat smaller spaces.

 

[smokinj]

thats a lot of sqft may look in to a wood boiler or furance

 

[begreen]

Welcome NF.

It's unlikely that you will see the full rated, sq ftg. capacity of the stove. Heating sq ftg. is too much of a marketing variable. A stove the heats 3500 sq ft in Western WA at 30 deg outside temps, might be underwhelming in your colder climate on a windy zero degree day. The wood burned and house design also affect this rating. If the goal here is to have even heat from wall to wall throughout the house, a central wood fired boiler is a good idea here. But if having the core of the house at a reasonable temp and the outlying areas a bit cooler, then a central wood stove can work, especially with an open floor plan in a tight, well insulated house. Sometimes a well placed fan or two can help with heat distribution. Another option is to close off parts of the house in the winter.

If you chose to use a single stove, it should have at least a 3 cu ft firebox. You'll have to tell us more about the location, aesthetics, and stove design desired before we can give specific recommendations. There are stoves on the market that will not drive you out of the room. By the description so far, if it is a soapstone or heavy cast iron stove, it should not overheat the immediate area. Another option would be two stoves, but that means twice the work too.

You'll also need to assure that you can get a lot of seasoned wood stored and stacked right now. That is not as easy as it may seem. A lot of wood that is claimed as seasoned is not fully seasoned and burns poorly. This can make a 70,000 btu stove act like a 40,000 btu stove.

 

[blanchelola]

Thanks for the replies.
Not sure about a furnace - don't know anything about them.

The house is 3 years old and well-insulated.

I often work from home - if I can keep the heat off during the day, then half the battle is won. If we need oil heat in the bedrooms at night, we can deal with that.

Should still be able to get some wood - probably won't be as seasoned as it should be, but I can also start cutting from my lot for next year. Lots of fallen trees need to be taken care of anyway.

My better half says the soapstone stoves look to "country," though I do like the Hearthstone Equinox. We like the Pacific Energy Fusion, but it may be too small - I can't find the firebox size, but it says for up to 2,000 square feet.

(I know how many square feet they say it will heat is a marketing play, but it's giving me a good reference point to go by).

Thanks.
Don

 

[smokinj]

begreen right 3 cu ft box!

 

[swestall]

The Equinox will heat in that range; you may get lower temps when its outside in the teens. Also, a big part of this has to do with how well you will be able to move the heat around in the house. Lots of rooms are not as easily heated as a few open spaces with adjacent rooms.

 

[blanchelola]

Any other large stoves we should look at besides the Equinox?
Any recommendations of stove stores in western CT or even Putnam/Lower Dutchess Counties in NY?

I've found a few stores here around Danbury. Haven't found any just across the border in NY.

Thanks!
Don

 

[MikeR]

Similar size house up in the Nwest Hills of Ct. Having my Equinox istalled in a few days.
Green Mountain Stoves in New Hartford by far the best prices and most knowledgeable staff.

 

[begreen]

I'd consider the Equinox seriously. The problem with most cool looking contemporary units is that they usually are not available with larger than about 2 cu ft fireboxes. If a steel stove, then the PE Summit, with porcelain enameled sides (maybe white?) and nickel trim. Or for a less expensive alternative in your area perhaps a Napoleon 1900? In cast iron, maybe a Morso 3610?

Another option might be to centrally locate a big ZC fireplace. That would allow you to get heat in the immediate area and also to duct some of the output to more remote areas. Some of these units are quite large. Take a look at the RSF and BIS sites for starters.

 

[yukiginger]

I would definitely go with a large stove like the Equinox if you can afford it. Also, understand that you are talking about $5000 or more to have a stove like that installed and hooked up to a suitable chimney (you didn't mention that you had an existing masonry fireplace through which you could possibly run a liner [not that that's cheap]). Since you said you were considering a pellet stove I mention price because you should be sure that you are committed to burning wood and the "lifestyle" before you spend that kind of money. Get some wood soon and think about how you will get it into the house near the stove.

Look at other manufacturers also, but be sure to stay at 3 cu. ft. or larger.

Keep us updated on how it goes.

MarkG

 

[Henz]

Truthfully, you will save enough by having one wood or pellet stove in a centrally located area where you spend most of your time. You can keep the furnace thermostat down. Upstairs bedroom door should be left open as the hall doors to to promote some of the heat up the stairs. Could also use a fan. A ceiling fan in the woodtove room area is something to definatly consider.
If you have a big country kitchen, a small parlor stove would be ideal. I always wanted a very large kitchen with open sitting area right off of it with a small stove there for comfort and a big leather couch and recliner!

 

[tradergordo]

You really need to think hard about where you put it. If at all possible you also want to make the flue and chimney go straight up, and inside your house. I like the idea of putting the stove somewhere that allows the rising hot air to flow easily upstairs to the bedroom areas without fans, if that is possible with your home design. You also said you spend the most time in your family room - I'm a fan of putting the stove in the room you use most. There is nothing like sitting in front of a woodstove with that wonderful radiant heat hitting you directly. The cozy goodness is priceless. But if this room isn't good for moving heat out of and into the rest of the house, it might not be the best location. Another MAJOR consideration should be where the wood will be stored, and how easily you can get it from there to the stove. Do you want people tromping all over the house with wood? It can make a mess unless you are careful. Many put their stove in a spot that is easily accessible for this reason. I can't emphasize enough to do it right the first time, because their usually isn't a second time.

And finally, you sometimes have to compromise between looks and function. Enamel doesn't radiate heat as well. Many of the soapstone stoves have small fireboxes and users complain about slow warm up times (read the reviews for yourself in the hearth.com review engine).

 

[blanchelola]

Thanks, everyone, for responding.

There is no fireplace there now, so this would be a free standing stove. Have to vent out the side wall and then up outside of the house (main floor of a two story house).

The living room is the most central area for the stove to heat other parts of the house and most convenient for getting wood into the house. We thought of putting it in the family room, but that room has the worst scenario for getting heat to the rest of the house. We figure maybe this will make us use the living room more...maybe make me add a TV there, too!

The PE Summit is something we'll have to look into. I know looks shouldn't be the deciding factor, but it will be very visible. And, I need to keep some peace in the home. The Morso may be an option.

I'd go pellet if I was confident with pellet availability and costs. But, I've got 7 acres of woods, so I should utilize that. The whole reason is to save money. And, I miss having a real fire.

Thanks
Don

 

[gpcollen1]

I live in the same area as you do Don - same town I think. I have an Avalon olympic - large firebox and a great burner. Mine is inserted in a fireplace but they do stand alone too - for your situation. I would head up to V&V;in New Milford [by the high school] and chat with them if you want a big boy like the olympic. There are Stove shops in NM, one in Danbury and one in Ridgefield if you want to poke around. You may want to figure out your top 1 or 2 stoves on your wants and go from there. You may not be able to heat the entire house but you will cut your oil bill for sure. Not too much local across the border in NY to look at.

I'd be happy to show you my set up and talk wood/stoves if you want. Id also be willing to share some of that 7 Acres too?? Shoot me a PM.

 

[kevin85]

+1 on the Olympic.....I got mine from Dean's in Plantsville.

 

[pumiglk]

Faced a similar dilemma though I had an existing fireplace. About 3000sq ft total with Kitchen, living and dining area all one big room. My office opens into this with double doors. Looked at a lot of info on this sight, had a couple of ideas and then chased them down with searches on this sight. In the end I went with the Equinox. I actually posted pics of a break in fire just this AM at https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/22186/.

That is what the equinox looks like installed in real life. For reference that fireplace opening is 42x42. The color looks more subdued in real life due to the artificial light of the flash but it definately has a soft light green hue. I also considered the big top loader from quad (isle royale?)- but I liked the look and the long slow heat the soapstones are rumored to have. The Mansfield was another top contender but with that there was an enamel option which my wife liked that put the proce similiar to the equinox. The Woodstock seemed to small but got great reveiws.

 

[blanchelola]

CTWood - I'm in New Fairfield.
I stopped in at V&V;and Trading Post about a month ago when I was looking at pellet stoves. V&V;were so busy unloading shipments that they could barely take the time to talk to me. Trading Post was depressed about not being able to fulfill all their pellet stove orders.

I'm going to try to go back to them next week. I may take a ride out to Dean's in Plantsville, though they're a bit far. I've heard good things about them and that they have a good quantity on display.

Thanks guys.

 

[gpcollen1]

It is tough on most places when it gets very busy as you might imagine. Probably need to hit any of the stove places when the first open or when the should be slower. Busy busy busy..

Any stove in particular catching your eye?

 

[blanchelola]

It is tough on most places when it gets very busy as you might imagine. Probably need to hit any of the stove places when the first open or when the should be slower. Busy busy busy..

Any stove in particular catching your eye?

I don't blame the stores for being busy. But, it seems that if you go when they first open, that is also when they're receiving their shipments...

I think I'll start visiting the stores again next week. When I went last time, I was mainly looking at pellet stoves. I'll go again and look at both pellet and wood so I can compare better and figure out what we want.

Don

 

[Todd]

If I had 3500 sq ft to heat, I would consider the Blaze King Parlor stove. Big 4 cu ft firebox with very long burn times.

 

[blanchelola]

If I had 3500 sq ft to heat, I would consider the Blaze King Parlor stove. Big 4 cu ft firebox with very long burn times.

I'll have to take a look at that one. I just found it online.
Thanks!

 

[tradergordo]

Have to vent out the side wall and then up outside of the house (main floor of a two story house).

Just be aware that this will probably cause problems. See:

(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/chimneys/trichim.htm)
(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/technology/bpfireplaces.htm)
(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/chimneys/evilchim.htm)

How can your chimney go straight up though your house? Where there's a will, there's a way, but it usually isn't much harder than doing it the wrong way (out and up the outside of the house).

 

[begreen]

If you don't mind a big black box then also look at an Englander 30NC. At 3.5 cu ft it is probably the best bargain on the market. And you can get it at a local Home Depot or Lowes. (Englander also is sold as Summer'sHeat brand.)

 

[blanchelola]

Have to vent out the side wall and then up outside of the house (main floor of a two story house).

Just be aware that this will probably cause problems. See:

(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/chimneys/trichim.htm)
(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/technology/bpfireplaces.htm)
(broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/chimneys/evilchim.htm)

How can your chimney go straight up though your house? Where there's a will, there's a way, but it usually isn't much harder than doing it the wrong way (out and up the outside of the house).

OK, so how to add an interior chimney? It would be going through a bedroom and/or bathroom (above the living room)

 

[blanchelola]

If you don't mind a big black box then also look at an Englander 30NC. At 3.5 cu ft it is probably the best bargain on the market. And you can get it at a local Home Depot or Lowes. (Englander also is sold as Summer'sHeat brand.)

Holy crap that's cheap. $1,299 at Home Depot.
Hmmm...
Wonder if I can get away with the looks of it?