It's been a while since I've posted. Been in denial that winter is coming. But finally getting around to replacing all the gaskets on the Fireview 201 today and DH and I started talking about whether a bigger stove this year might make us more comfortable.
I've spoken with Woodstock extensively about this and they think that a new Fireview is not going to give us noticeably better results/more heat output. Now they could have sold me a stove last year if they'd said it would but instead they said the changes between the 201 and 203 are so minor it would not be noticeable at all.
So our house, for those who've not heard me whine before (lol) is an antique cape. The main house was built in 1758. This is where the very narrow, steep, short stairway is. We have a pellet stove in the keeping room at the bottom of the stairs, and vents in the floors, but the heat never seems to get up there.
There is an addition on one end that adds about 1000 SF to the house (family room 32X19 below, master bedroom with sloped ceilings above). Fireplace with Fireview 201 (completely refurbished) is located at the midpoint of the outer wall of this room. There are two large openings into the kitchen and dining rooms. Total living space is probably 1800 SF (assessor claims 2000 but I don't think so).
We've struggled with every configuration of fan to move heat out of this room, and frankly when it's below 30 or so this room is never above 70 and if it's in the teens the room struggles to be 65. WITH the woodstove running full bore and reloading every 8 hours or so (full loads of reasonably good 15-24 month wood).
So my wood the past 2 years has not been the bee's knees but I see no difference when I run a full load of wood from the grocery store or a full pack of bio bricks so it's not JUST the wood. The house EATS heat and spits it out.
We have 20" (at least) of insulation in the attic crawls, we blew insulation into all the walls last year and put foam on the floor and rims between the crawlspaces and living spaces. We do not have insulation under the "cathedral" ceilings at the roof level and I know this makes a "chimney effect" with heat but I'm not in a position to rip off the roof, add insulation, build up the roofline and add a new roof at the moment.
Woodstock recommends the PH. Which I love but I don't love the price. So I'm curious what else I might consider. I need a rear vent, prefer a side load option so the stove can sit out a bit from the fireplace, don't love the idea of an insert because of the need for a blower. Flue was lined 2 years ago with 6" pipe so I'd be looking for another stove that takes that size.
So folks hit me with your ideas please. Do keep in mind that this house is a very different bird than most and I know it doesn't fit with the general models. I really do need more BTU power than you think I should. It's my 5th house built prior to 1900 and I thought I knew a thing or two after the couple of 1880's homes I owned but going back another 130 years makes for some very strange (and beautiful) things.
Thanks so much for reading!
Mary
I've spoken with Woodstock extensively about this and they think that a new Fireview is not going to give us noticeably better results/more heat output. Now they could have sold me a stove last year if they'd said it would but instead they said the changes between the 201 and 203 are so minor it would not be noticeable at all.
So our house, for those who've not heard me whine before (lol) is an antique cape. The main house was built in 1758. This is where the very narrow, steep, short stairway is. We have a pellet stove in the keeping room at the bottom of the stairs, and vents in the floors, but the heat never seems to get up there.
There is an addition on one end that adds about 1000 SF to the house (family room 32X19 below, master bedroom with sloped ceilings above). Fireplace with Fireview 201 (completely refurbished) is located at the midpoint of the outer wall of this room. There are two large openings into the kitchen and dining rooms. Total living space is probably 1800 SF (assessor claims 2000 but I don't think so).
We've struggled with every configuration of fan to move heat out of this room, and frankly when it's below 30 or so this room is never above 70 and if it's in the teens the room struggles to be 65. WITH the woodstove running full bore and reloading every 8 hours or so (full loads of reasonably good 15-24 month wood).
So my wood the past 2 years has not been the bee's knees but I see no difference when I run a full load of wood from the grocery store or a full pack of bio bricks so it's not JUST the wood. The house EATS heat and spits it out.
We have 20" (at least) of insulation in the attic crawls, we blew insulation into all the walls last year and put foam on the floor and rims between the crawlspaces and living spaces. We do not have insulation under the "cathedral" ceilings at the roof level and I know this makes a "chimney effect" with heat but I'm not in a position to rip off the roof, add insulation, build up the roofline and add a new roof at the moment.
Woodstock recommends the PH. Which I love but I don't love the price. So I'm curious what else I might consider. I need a rear vent, prefer a side load option so the stove can sit out a bit from the fireplace, don't love the idea of an insert because of the need for a blower. Flue was lined 2 years ago with 6" pipe so I'd be looking for another stove that takes that size.
So folks hit me with your ideas please. Do keep in mind that this house is a very different bird than most and I know it doesn't fit with the general models. I really do need more BTU power than you think I should. It's my 5th house built prior to 1900 and I thought I knew a thing or two after the couple of 1880's homes I owned but going back another 130 years makes for some very strange (and beautiful) things.
Thanks so much for reading!
Mary
