Is a Pacific Energy T4 too small?

[TooColdHere]

Hello,
I love this site and can read for hours! I am considering our first wood stove for our 1600sqft rancher in MD. It would be centrally located to the house in the greatroom - living/dining/and kitchen. 3 bedrooms are down the hall directly in front of where the stove would sit. The thermostat and main air return are at the end of that hall, also.
If we kept the propane furnace fan on to distribute heat, do you think the T4 would suffice? The house is pretty well insulated. Thank you for the input!
Toocoldhere

 

[Hardrockmaple]

Too small, go for the T-5. When thinking wood stoves a little too big is much better than a little too small. As you have probably found here, the T-5 seems very popular.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It depends on what you want to do with the stove. If you are looking for really long burn times or to replace the heat of your furnace it is probably too small. If you are looking at weekend ambiance you are probably ok. Since your house is well insulated, do you know how much heat you need to keep the house at the temp you want? You should be able to calculate the amount of btu needed by looking at how many gallons of oil, therms of natural gas, or gallons of propane that you use in a month.

While it might be a small stove, it will make a big dent in your heating costs.

Matt

 

[TooColdHere]

Thank you both for the replies. I guess evening and all weekend burns would be the norm, and when working from home. We seem to use about 100gal of propane a month and am looking to offset that. Usually set at 71deg and 68 at night. (Not sure how to calculate from that, though. Can you explain?)
Thank you!

 

[begreen]

Go for the T5. You will get longer burn times and better heating for those windy cold nights.

 

[Sir_Lancelot]

My ranch is the same size as yours and I also faced the same decision as you did. I also burn wood like you're planning on - evenings and weekends. I ended up choosing the T5 and I couldn't be happier. It has long burn times, produces a nice gentle heat, and easily heats my entire main floor (not the basement). That said, I would not think about using this stove to burn 24/7 in my particular house and climate (SW Ontario) as it would completely bake us out of the house! My home is well insulated (R60 attic, etc.) and is quite air tight (.69 ACH50), so one fire a day is quite enough to keep us nice and cozy. Perhaps the T4 would have been adequate considering the way that we burn, but I have my doubts. At any rate, if you plan on burning like we do, I don't think that you'll be disappointed with the T5.

 

[Highbeam]

You need to consider that the t5 size stove will accept standard sized wood and has a reputation as a long burning heater. That is especially important with a small and efficient home. The longer the burn, the lower the btu output rate so you won't get baked as easily.

It's just much easier to run a larger stove. Easier to load and build fires in. The T4 stove is almost silly small.

 

[Creature]

You need a bigger stove. My T4 is adequate for my <1000 sq ft townhouse, but I would not recommend it to anyone with more square footage. Also, I've found the blower was a very useful option to purchase.

 

[Hogwildz]

Hell, I'd be getting the T6

 

[begreen]

Depends on the location. If south of Jersey then I think the T5 will do the job if the place is well insulated.

 

[TooColdHere]

Thank you, everyone, for the replies! I am definitely leaning toward the T5. I will check out the Lopi Leyden, Jotul 400, and Hearthstone Shelburne later this week just in case but you've convinced me the bigger box is the way to go! This is such a great and informative site!

 

[Ashful]

The Jotul 400 is pretty darn small, too! Would not the T5 be more comparable to a 500 Oslo? The 500 is an equally adored heater, to the T5. Can't go wrong either way, based on all reports here.

On using the propane furnace fan to distribute heat, that typically only works in cases where the furnace and all ductwork are located within the heated envelope of the home. If the furnace is located in a cold basement or attic, the losses are typically too great to use it for warm air distribution.

edit: just looked up the numbers...
T4: 1.4 cu.ft.
400: 1.7 cu.ft.
T5: 2.0 cu.ft. (some list as 2.1)
500: 2.2 cu.ft.

 

[loon]

Took me a bit to figure out, as you might of read? But my T5 runs 24/7 and happy with it for sure

loon

 

[Highbeam]

Small stoves, like below about 2 CF really baffle me. What are you saving? a few inches of physical size? Clearances are similar between large and small. The little stove only burns for a few hours (unless a cat) anyway so why not just build a small fire in a standard size stove? What does a person gain by going with one of these decorative wee stoves vs. a standard size? Surely a guy can make a small stove work if needed but why would you select the small stove if you have a choice?

 

[TooColdHere]

Thanks again for all of the feedback. Let me explain the original question. The stove will go on the end of a peninsula wall that is 35"w with traffic on both sides. I was trying to stay below a 26" width to keep anyone from bumping it while walking past. The reason for the T4 question was because I was looking at a used one just a few years old. If it weren't for the installation location, I would go wider.
Joful, thank you for the firebox sizes...and the tip on the fan! The furnace is in our unheated garage....good point!

 

[Ashful]

If width is the issue, look at the BK Chinook, and note the burn time. There are also many european stoves which are very narrow and tall, if you don't mind the contemporary look.

The other option is a cigar burn stove, such as the Jotul 100. I agree with Highbeam, though... not a great option for burn time. I'd only consider one of those, if installing in the passenger seat of my Volvo 240 wagon.

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/...s-man-installs-wood-burning-stove-in-car?lite

 

[TooColdHere]

Hahaha. I love the Volvo pics. I think it is a race between the T5 and the Shelburne. The Oslo's sideload door would throw off the hearth pad dimensions.
Thanks again for all the help!

 

[billb3]

T4 is kinda small for 1600sf unless your intention is just additional heat for the room it is in.
If your intention is to be burning only wood in real cold weather then you want something a little bigger.
You'd likely be burning at full tilt boogie in December and March and January and February mornings the bathroom toilet seats might be a little tough to be sitting on.

 

[begreen]

Thanks again for all of the feedback. Let me explain the original question. The stove will go on the end of a peninsula wall that is 35"w with traffic on both sides. I was trying to stay below a 26" width to keep anyone from bumping it while walking past. The reason for the T4 question was because I was looking at a used one just a few years old. If it weren't for the installation location, I would go wider.
Joful, thank you for the firebox sizes...and the tip on the fan! The furnace is in our unheated garage....good point!

You can bump against the sides of the T5 or T6 without getting burned. They stay much cooler than the front. Even though the top trivet gets hot, it is not flesh searing. A quick brush with it will not burn you.

 

[raybonz]

Your climate is fairly moderate and your home size would be a good fit for the T-5.. Another advantage of the T5 over the T4 is you can load EW and NS.. EW you can fit a 15-1/2" log and NS 18".. The T5 with good hardwood can burn 10-12 hrs. and like many others here once you start burning you'll probably want to do it 24/7 Welcome to the forum and good luck with your choice! Keep us posted on your decision and we love pics so post away

Ray

 

[TooColdHere]

Boy...if Fortune 50 companies showed as much support as you all do...this world would be a much better place. I'll post pics and reveal the decision! Thanks! Very great points by all.

 

[TooColdHere]

Well, all I can say is....THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!! Guess who just STUMBLED on a PE Alderlea T5 on clearance just two hours away???!! THIS GUY My only concern is, for the price I paid...it's a T4! I'll update tomorrow...fingers crossed. Supposed to be a '12 floor model. Deliver in the next week or two, but I have to do some demo and rebuild before she can be installed. WOOOHOOO! Again, I thank all of you! (I'll have to change my moniker soon!)

 

[Ashful]

Great! Can't wait to see it installed.

 

[begreen]

Nice! You are going to love that stove.

 

[raybonz]

Well, all I can say is....THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!! Guess who just STUMBLED on a PE Alderlea T5 on clearance just two hours away???!! THIS GUY My only concern is, for the price I paid...it's a T4! I'll update tomorrow...fingers crossed. Supposed to be a '12 floor model. Deliver in the next week or two, but I have to do some demo and rebuild before she can be installed. WOOOHOOO! Again, I thank all of you! (I'll have to change my moniker soon!)

Awesome mine is a 2007 unburned floor model I bought 2 years ago.. Congrats you'll love it!

Ray