Help me find small/medium stove for NC...

[NCburner]

Recently bought an old (1895) single story house. Original house is about 1500 sq. feet with 11' ceilings and there is a sunroom added inside the L that accounts for the extra 300 sq. feet. House has a long L shaped choppy floor plan (not great air flow between rooms) and is very drafty (original windows). That said, I'm not looking for this to be primary heat (have new efficient nat gas heat pump), but would like to use it to heat at least a portion of the house (more if I can get fans to move air around right) when in use. Winters are not harsh in Charlotte, but you can burn just about every day in the winter (coldest days in single digits, but typically 20's/30' at night, 40's/50' during the day and my kids (and I) really enjoy a fire. In addition to serving as an auxiliary heat source, I want to enjoy the fire and the very old buck stove insert I have is temperamental, leaky, produces little heat, is not direct connect to chimney liner, doesn't have glass doors and has an ocean of trim as my fireplace opening is is 35" wide, but 40" tall, so I think a free-stander will look better. I am just getting back into burning, but would consider my skill level beginner to moderate (grew up with a stove as primary, but last winter was first burning again... hate the set up in house right now, so am looking for something simple/easy operate).

I have spent a lot of time reading posts and have eliminated a number of stoves for a variety of reasons and also learned to provide as much info. as possible to save playing 20 questions, so apologies for the long post... I'm looking for a small to medium stove (the living room itself is on the smallish side, so don't have much room for big stove, and would probably melt me out). I also have a shallow fireplace, narrow in the back (was designed for coal stove back in the day, opening is 35" wide at front, tapering to only 20" wide in back and just 14" deep, I do have a 19" brick hearth, so 33" total depth (I know everyone will say how much more hearth I need, but buck is on the ground and only 6" from front of hearth and previous owner used it as primary heat source as she worked from home and was on propane). That said, 6" off back wall the fireplace is 26" wide, so I can manage a little bit of width, but at 6" off back wall, I only have 27" of hearth left and don't really have room to extend it, thus need a shallow stove. I am relining chimney, and will match it to the stove.

I'd like to stay under $1200 new or used and have been searching Craigslist. Right now I have determined the following (right or wrong) in order of my present thinking and I think I really have it narrowed down the first 4 as finalists.

1) Englander NC 13 - Lots of good reviews on this, don't have room for a 30, like the slightly larger footprint compared to the Buck 21... but curious thoughts on this vs. Buck 21, unfortunately, about the only Buck I can consider based on proportions. Would buy this new.
2) Buck Stove 21 - I have a connection to get good pricing on a 1-year old stove under $900, but it is really small for the hole I have, although seems to be really great quality and is a strong consideration
3) EFEL Stanford 140 - I know this seems out of left field, but I found one second hand still in box for $1500 and it seems like it is a much higher quality stove than the others I can afford... but is it too much stove, it will fit on my hearth with about 5" to spare at front... and I can't find many reviews, thoughts? Really curious on this one as I know pricing is a steal
4) Drolet Columbia - about the max size I can squeeze into my hole, like the larger firebox compared to 21, concerned I might melt though and can't find many reviews...
5) Vermont Castings Heritage - Like the looks, but reviews seem mixed
6) Dutchwest 2460 - Found a great price on a used one, but reviews seem very mixed
7) Blaze King - Reviews seem great, but all of their stoves are too deep for my application
8) JOTUL F 3 CB - seem to be a lot of negative reviews on quality/burn
9) Quadrafire - Models I like/fit are too expensive
10) Napoleon - Models I like/fit are too expensive

Other brands/models I looked at are all pretty pricey or too square in proportions. If you have made it this far... thanks so much for reading, and even more if you can offer your thoughts.

 

[NCburner]

Crickets... 77 views, no advice... Did I do something wrong? First time posting... Thanks!

 

[Grisu]

The only advice I can give you right now is: Do it either right or don't get a wood stove. With any of the options mentioned you will have a front hearth of less than 10" left which is way too short. It does not matter that it "worked" for the previous owner. We have seen enough bad installs and operation habits here that "worked fine for years" before something bad happened. The code is for your safety and that of your family and in my opinion the current 16" is the bare minimum anyway. I had embers shoot out the firebox and land beyond the almost 40" of hearth that I have. Once you are ok with the idea of doing the install according to the stove manual and code regulations I am sure you will receive plenty of advice here. I actually could suggest a few stoves right now that should fit your requirements but I don't want to encourage you to proceed with such a hazardous installation in your home. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear but it would be irresponsible from me to tell you something different.

 

[NCburner]

Fair enough... and I really do appreciate the advice. I also do not plan on this being a DIY project and have already spoken to two hearth specialists/chimney sweeps, which is why I know chimney is getting relined. When I opened up the trim and saw that the stove was just pushed into the box... I knew enough to know it wasn't good! The hearth can be extended with relative ease, even with a larger hearth though, I really don't want a big stove that sticks out into the room, so still looking for a shallow stove, although I'll take some width. Thanks.

 

[Grisu]

Fair enough... and I really do appreciate the advice. I also do not plan on this being a DIY project and have already spoken to two hearth specialists/chimney sweeps, which is why I know chimney is getting relined. When I opened up the trim and saw that the stove was just pushed into the box... I knew enough to know it wasn't good! The hearth can be extended with relative ease, even with a larger hearth though, I really don't want a big stove that sticks out into the room, so still looking for a shallow stove, although I'll take some width. Thanks.

Good that you are getting rid off that "slammer" install. They are indeed unsafe and no longer up to code. And I am glad that you are considering a hearth extension. You already found quite a few stoves that I would have suggested. Be aware that there won't be an "ideal" one as your fireplace/hearth situation is a real challenge. Nevertheless, to add a few options:

- Englander/Summers Heat Madison: Is about 23" by 23". Thus you can push it further into the firebox and get the same footprint as many of the other models you are considering. Biggest advantage: Has a 2.4 cu ft firebox to get you through the night. Retails for ~$800 at the big-box stores.
- Pacific Energy True North TN20: Is only a bit over 20" wide so you can push it further into the fireplace. With that it should stick out about the same as the others. Is more of a convective design so you should not lose as much heat by warming up the fireplace walls.
- If you like Napoleon take a look at the Timberwolf stoves such as the EPA 2200. That is their "value" line. However, be aware that Napoleon stoves usually like good draft; how tall is the chimney?

From your list I would concentrate on the Drolet and Englander 13NC. Those are proven stoves from good companies. I would stay away from VC and Dutchwest; their quality/design is just not that good judging from the many complaints here. We don't hear much about Efel here but they seem to be built well. However, you probably won't be able to load it from the side.

Can you post a rough sketch of your floorplan? There are ways of distributing the heat from the stove room.

How dry is the wood you are burning? How long ago has it been split and then stacked in a sunny and windy spot?

During the stove installation don't forget a block-off plate: https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/make-a-damper-sealing-block-off-plate/ That will help tremendously in keeping the heat in the house.

 

[DBoon]

If you are willing to spend a little more money, look at a Lopi Answer. It is double-jacketed and can be used with a built-in blower, so it is good for an alcove or fireplace installation. You need 16" of hearth from the wood stove - when the door opens, it will extend 16" from the front of the stove. Also, plan on $1k or more for a good liner in your chimney. Spend a little more and do it right.

 

[NCburner]

Thanks Grisu/Dboon... was out if town for work, but had a chance to sketch out my floorplan (attached)... Chimney is 20' from floor, I have been under the house and can easily expand h

earth. Also, after further discussion with my chimney sweep, I mis-spoke i the liner. The chimney has a "clay tile/terra cotta" liner that he says is in great shape. The confusion came as he said I need to do a "liner" to connect stove to terra cotta liner. Look forward to hearing your stove thoughts based on my chimney size (and relatively warm winters), but also opinion on working with existing clay tile liner that sweep (who has been cleaning it for 13 years) says is in good shape. Thanks!

 

[DBoon]

That's going to be a tough floor plan for a wood burning stove - the air circulation will be pretty limited to the back of the house as the floor plan is not so open. Definitely stay with a smallish stove, and make sure you can zone the back of the house to be heated separately from the front.

Regarding the existing chimney, you'll want to run the liner all the way up to the top of the chimney. You don't want to terminate the liner above the smoke shelf into a terra cotta lined chimney - they call that a "slammer" and it is quick and cheap and ineffective (and against code, as best I know). Others will have more info on this.

 

[begreen]

Agreed. Lots of closed off areas are hard to heat with a stove which is an area heater.

 

[NCburner]

Thanks guys... I kind of figured as much, fortunately it is NC and we're on a new Natural Gas Pack unit that is pretty efficient, so burner does not have to be be a primary heat source. Generally, we will enjoy the heat/fire in the living room and then have the thermostat program set to start warming up rest of house a little before bed time. Thanks for the additional feedback on the liner, I'm going to have another hearth/chimney guy come out for a 2nd opinion. Any other thoughts on best stove out of my original list and/or as suggested by others?

 

[begreen]

What's the height of the fireplace opening at the lintel?

 

[NCburner]

40"... see below...

 

[NCburner]

 

[begreen]

It has enough height for a freestanding stove. Is that the plan? If an ember protection only stove is installed then extending the hearth is trivial.

 

[NCburner]

Yes... plan is to install a free standing, not sure it will be an ember protection only or not, but that is a great that I will keep in mind selecting a stove. Thanks!