Ideal Steel and Progress Hybrid

[JA600L]

Maybe I'm second guessing myself, but which of these Stoves do you guys see being a better "whole house heater?" I don't need the higher output of the Progress, but it does look much nicer and I've heard good reviews.

I am heating from a "to be" insulated basement up.

 

[mtrel]

I'm in a similar predicament. I love the Woodstock stoves and I'd like to get in on that sale but I'm trying to heat the whole house as best I can from the first floor of a 3000sf colonial. I've been reading the convective vs radiant stove discussions and I'm thinking we would both be better off with a convective type stove.

Also, I'm not sure the Progress would produce higher output than the IS. The firebox is quite a bit smaller.

 

[Jags]

I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the BTU ratings of the stove. The facts are that the IS can hold a bunch more fuel than the Progress.
Heating from the basement I would go with the big one. Long, even burns with a larger fuel load.

 

[toddnic]

I have the Progress Hybrid and love it. It kept our house quite warm over this past winter. I think you have to look at a number of factors in making your decision:

1. Size of area to be heated.
2. The look you want. (The PH looks like a piece of furniture)
3. Overall cost
4. Size of firebox and the burning technology being used (catalytic / hybrid / ability to control air / etc.)

We purchased our stove this past summer before the Ideal Steel was developed. Personally I think I would still make the same decision regarding the PH. We wanted something that looked really nice since it was going to be in the main area of our house and something that would retain heat even after the fire had died out due to our work schedules. My guess is that either choice you make will make you happy and the stove will give you years of satisfaction.

 

[JA600L]

I'm in a similar predicament. I love the Woodstock stoves and I'd like to get in on that sale but I'm trying to heat the whole house as best I can from the first floor of a 3000sf colonial. I've been reading the convective vs radiant stove discussions and I'm thinking we would both be better off with a convective type stove.

Also, I'm not sure the Progress would produce higher output than the IS. The firebox is quite a bit smaller.

Convection stoves arnt all their cracked up to be. .... I have a quadra fire now. Unless you are sitting right in front of it you just don't feel the warmth. Convection is a process in your house that will occur regardless of stove design. The ideal steel may even have some convective channels in it..idk.

 

[JA600L]

I'm only trying to heat about 1800 sqft here. I have a very good convection pattern in my house. The toilet paper trick confirms that. Almost all new windows, New doors before the winter, foam boarding the garage and basement, and bringing the attic r value up to spec. I'm hoping all of this effort mixed with the Ideal Steel will give my house a nice cozy feel.

 

[unhdsm]

I think that in your case the two will behave so similar that my decision would be based much more on aestetics, design (side or front loading), and price. There are some minor differences in the way they work but in the real world, when you are staring at the stove for the next few decades, they aren't nearly as pronounced as a stove that doesn't fit into your room.