Hi friends, we've got a 1350 sq ft manufactured home in asheville NC and we're wanting to install a fireplace. It gets the teens for about a week or two in the winter but otherwise hovers in the lower 30s. I'm trying to figure out which size fireplace is appropriate for our space. I know that they all come with a heating capacity range but I'm not sure how that relates to average winter temperatures, or heating up the corners of a home that have lots of twists and turns. We've been looking at the Vermont castings for a longer burn but open to anything though we're hoping to buy second hand (and would love glass windows). Would the Aspen c3 be big enough? Other suggestions?
Installing fireplace in a manufactured home
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Welcome. You are saying fireplace, but these are wood stoves. If a freestanding wood stove is the goal, there are many options. Note that good looks don't always coincide with ease of operation, low maintenance, or longevity. If the intent is to heat 24/7 then look at stoves in the ~2 cu ft range. The Aspen C3 is about 1.2 cu ft. A better choice if available would be the Jotul F45, or a PE Super or Alderlea T5. That said, if the stove can be a plain steel stove, then there are many more options. Choice may be narrowed however, by the shorter flue system on a manufactured home. Look at stoves that can operate on a 12-13' flue system.
Regardless of stove choice, all require fully seasoned firewood. It's getting late for that, but see if someone has firewood that has been seasoning since last year.
Regardless of stove choice, all require fully seasoned firewood. It's getting late for that, but see if someone has firewood that has been seasoning since last year.
Thanks for this. I haven't seen a lot of those stoves second hand but for some reason Vermont castings is pretty common. Would an intrepid be a better fit? We're happy to go with plain steel but I thought cast iron had longer burn time and therefore less effort building and maintaining the fire.
How do I know of a stove can operate with a 12-13' flue?
We have access to fully seasoned wood.
How do I know of a stove can operate with a 12-13' flue?
We have access to fully seasoned wood.
Cast iron stoves don't have any longer burn time than steel stoves. Often the burn time is shorter due to their shallower fireboxes. Burn time is more a function of firebox capacity, load density, and combustion rate. The longest burntimes will be from a steel, pure catalytic stove but there are steel stoves in the ~2 cu ft range that will heat well for 6 hrs. and have good coals for a restart after 10 hrs.
VC stoves prior to 1984 were good heaters. Then, for a period of time, the company tetered on economic collapse and went through several owners. In 2013 they were bought by HTH which had deep enough pockets to put them back on track. That said, the stoves are complicated and some can be fussy to run. Typically now, they like a strong draft. The stoves from the 1984-2013 time period were not their strongest hour. You may find a 1980 VC Resolute, which would work, but the question is, what condition is it in after 45 yrs. of service?
In general terms, many Canadian stoves from Regency, Pacific Energy, Enviro, will work on 12-13' flue systems. The best place to check is in their respective manuals.
VC stoves prior to 1984 were good heaters. Then, for a period of time, the company tetered on economic collapse and went through several owners. In 2013 they were bought by HTH which had deep enough pockets to put them back on track. That said, the stoves are complicated and some can be fussy to run. Typically now, they like a strong draft. The stoves from the 1984-2013 time period were not their strongest hour. You may find a 1980 VC Resolute, which would work, but the question is, what condition is it in after 45 yrs. of service?
In general terms, many Canadian stoves from Regency, Pacific Energy, Enviro, will work on 12-13' flue systems. The best place to check is in their respective manuals.
Another vote for re-considering a VC stove, and a firebox above 2cu-ft. VCs are beautiful stoves, but have more complicated designs than a lot of there competitors; and specifically their Catalytic stoves are finicky to get to run (this is someone that owns and runs a VC stove).
If I wanted a good looking stove I’d be investigating Jotul options. If looks were less important I’d be looking at steel stove (blaze king for catalytic, droltet or englander for lower cost non-cat versions).
If I wanted a good looking stove I’d be investigating Jotul options. If looks were less important I’d be looking at steel stove (blaze king for catalytic, droltet or englander for lower cost non-cat versions).
BKVP
Minister of Fire
I'd suggest you get a moisture meter and learn proper operation. There are many threads on this site to help learn a great deal.
Hardwoods take considerably longer to dry vs softwood. As a frequent visitor to your region (RTP EPA offices), you have beautiful pines that make great firewood when properly seasoned.
The humidity in NC at times might force additional drying time.
BKVP
Hardwoods take considerably longer to dry vs softwood. As a frequent visitor to your region (RTP EPA offices), you have beautiful pines that make great firewood when properly seasoned.
The humidity in NC at times might force additional drying time.
BKVP
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