Is a PE Vista the right sized stove for my house?

[Bozol]

I posted this in another thread, got a few responses, but was told to make a new thread. Here's the original post and two submitted comments:

"I have a 930sq ft house - is the PE vista a good option for me in terms of having a enough heat? The main part of the house is open, with a narrow hallway down to the bedrooms. I've had enough of my ancient Kozi, live in a small Canadian arctic town (Inuvik, just south of the treelike) and a dealer is offering decent prices on the PE vs. the equivalent Blaze Queen (or whatever its called).

Any thoughts?"

Welcome to Hearth! I'm not one of the experts here, but have asked the same basic questions and I'm sure you will get the help you need. Here's a few questions that are sure to be asked:
What kind of construction is the house? Well insulated? Do you want the stove to be the primary heat source or a supplement? What other sources of heat do you have? Just how cold does it get there (I'm almost afraid to ask

)? What size is the old stove in terms of cubic feet and how well did it perform? Is the existing stove pre-EPA or why have you had enough of it? So many variables...

Good luck. You're in the right place.

and...

Bozol, welcome. Can you start a new thread? Your needs are different. You'll get better responses to a new thread.

PS: If you want a PE stove, get the next size up, PE Super 27 or Spectrum. It will provide much longer burn times and reserve heat for the -40F nights. But let's also talk about the BKs in a new thread."
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As to the first response here are some points to consider: The house is a stick built bungalow built in the 1970s. It, like all of the houses here in Inuvik, is built on ~4ft high blocking (some are on pilings) to allow air to pass under so the permafrost doesn't melt. This means there is no basement. The house I think is pretty well insulated. It has r20 walls plus 2 inch foam board, taped, all around with new siding, it has new triple pane argon filled windows, the ceiling is r40 and the floor is r40 with 1.5inch spray foam all under the house. The stove would be expected to work on par with the current 2 year old gas furnace as the main heat sources. If it worked well I would burn more. The coldest we'll get is -50`C but the average winter temperature for November-March is probably -30`C to -40`C. It's cold The old stove has a bit bigger dimensions than the PE Vista but I don't know exactly. It heated the house fine - the stove is right in the main room which means it heats the living, dining and kitchen pretty good. The bedrooms at the end of the hall can get chilly but I'm getting a blower switch installed on my furnace which should take care of that. The only problem with the old stove is that it burns way too fast and could make the house too hot. It's pretty old I think.

As to the second post: I'm nervous about getting something too big right off the hop because I don't want to be sweating while I watch TV or eat dinner. Also have to consider size in my available space. The Vista will be just smaller than what I have so far so I know it won't be a problem.

Let me know everyone!

 

[Grisu]

The problem that you will encounter with the Vista is that you will not get good overnight burns. Such a small stove gives you about 4 to 5 hours of usable heat. Given your outside temps I would think about a medium size stove with a ~2 cu ft firebox. Heat distribution can be helped with a fan placed in your bedroom and blowing cold air towards your living area. I would also think about a cat stove as they provide more even heat and long burn times. Maybe the Woodstock Keystone or the Buck 20. What is your budget?

 

[Todd]

I think the Vista would be too small for your situation and you would be constantly feeding it to keep up. Look for something a size larger around 2 cu ft. You can always build a smaller fire in a larger stove and still have that extra capacity when you need it. The Blaze King Chinook or Sirocco would be a great fit IMO.

 

[BrowningBAR]

The Super27 or the Spectrum would probably work if you wanted to stay in the Pacific Energy line.

 

[Bozol]

I read in another thread on this site that having a bigger stove would make my living area too hot - that buidling small fires means too much heat for less time - what do you all think of this? I don't know if a cat system is ideal because all we can burn is spruce - no hardwood around at all. The PE line is being offered pretty cheap by a dealer in town and the only competition is Blaze King at twice the cost. That's why I'm interested in the PE. I've heard about weld problems with the Spectrum - any truth to these?

 

[BrowningBAR]

I read in another thread on this site that having a bigger stove would make my living area too hot - that buidling small fires means too much heat for less time - what do you all think of this?

That is rarely the case. Also, we are recommending a 2 cu ft stove to heat 930 sq ft. The vista is too small for your needs.

I don't know if a cat system is ideal because all we can burn is spruce - no hardwood around at all.

Dry softwood works just fine in a cat stove.

The PE line is being offered pretty cheap by a dealer in town and the only competition is Blaze King at twice the cost. That's why I'm interested in the PE. I've heard about weld problems with the Spectrum - any truth to these?

You can find problems with any stove. I don't recall any weld problems being reported here with the Spectrum. The PE Summit inserts have had some issues, though. But, you will find problems reported for every stove manufacturer.

 

[kalevi]

I have a Vista insert. Using dry oak, I can get usable heat for 5 hours and enough coals to restart a fire up to 8 hours or so but the average usable heat is 3.5 hours (blower goes off = end of usable heat) and enough coals to restart is about 6 hours. You should get a stove with a bigger firebox unless you like to wake up 2 or 3 times a night.

 

[begreen]

I read in another thread on this site that having a bigger stove would make my living area too hot - that buidling small fires means too much heat for less time - what do you all think of this? I don't know if a cat system is ideal because all we can burn is spruce - no hardwood around at all. The PE line is being offered pretty cheap by a dealer in town and the only competition is Blaze King at twice the cost. That's why I'm interested in the PE. I've heard about weld problems with the Spectrum - any truth to these?

Your heating temperature range is extreme. In mid-winter you will be stoking the Vista like a fireman to stay warm. It would be better to have a bit of reserve capacity. The mid-sized PE stoves can provide a nice long burn with a half-load of wood so I think you would be ok. With a fan at the end of the hallway blowing toward the stove you will be able to heat the whole house. The weld issues that we have reported here seem to be restricted to the inserts, mostly the Summits of 2006-2008 vintage.

That said, there are a lot of satisfied BK owners up in AK. They are pricey, but would provide even longer burn times.

 

[Bozol]

Your heating temperature range is extreme. In mid-winter you will be stoking the Vista like a fireman to stay warm. It would be better to have a bit of reserve capacity. The mid-sized PE stoves can provide a nice long burn with a half-load of wood so I think you would be ok. With a fan at the end of the hallway blowing toward the stove you will be able to heat the whole house. The weld issues that we have reported here seem to be restricted to the inserts, mostly the Summits of 2006-2008 vintage.

That said, there are a lot of satisfied BK owners up in AK. They are pricey, but would provide even longer burn times.

Hi all,

Boy, you guys are great with providing good advice quickly. Thanks!

Begreen - does the AK you reference meen Aklavik? A friend of mine has a BK princess in his 1300sqft place and likes it a lot. I just don't know about the price. Regardless it seems the conventional wisdom here is to go up a touch in size from the Vista and get a bigger PE model. I'll have a chat with the dealer and see what we can work out.

Hopefull I can get the stove in pretty soon - I've got three cords just waiting to go!

 

[begreen]

AK = Alaska. The mid-sized PE stoves have the longest burn times of all stoves tested by www.chimneysweeponline.com . I think they got about 16 hrs which is excellent for a non-cat stove.

 

[Grisu]

I can certainly recommend the PE Super. I have the insert and it works just beautifully. One caveat for your application, though, is the reliance on softwood. I am really wondering whether that is more the root of your problem than the stove. Do you know the model # of your Kozi? Is it an EPA stove or a smoke-dragon? What is its firebox size? If the specs come out similar to the PE Super you may really want to think about a cat-stove. Otherwise, you will always run into the problem that the temperature is quite uneven.

 

[begreen]

We are burning softwood in the PE as is my neighbor in his Spectrum. I'm pretty sure Tom's test with the Super/Spectrum was with softwood as well.

 

[Grisu]

We are burning softwood in the PE as is my neighbor in his Spectrum. I'm pretty sure Tom's test with the Super/Spectrum was with softwood as well.

I said that because after 2 years of mostly burning ash and maple I am going now through some white pine that was taken down in our yard. It certainly can be burned in the Super but I have to be much more careful not to overfire it and the burns are noticeably shorter. If the Kozi is a midsize EPA stove I am not sure whether the OP gains much by swapping it for another non-cat stove. I just want to make sure we can rule out problems with the wood supply, burning habits etc. before making a recommendation to spend money for a new stove.

 

[begreen]

It sounds like there are 2 choices, BK or PE, but he started out looking at the Vista. For a more even match it would be better to compare the PE Super 27 price vs the Blaze King Sirocco. Both are sized about right for 930 sq ft in a cold climate.

 

[Bozol]

Man, this forum is great.

Wouldn't softwood burn faster than ash or maple regardless of the stove?

I've heard of people with cat stoves here in town who don't really see much advantage as a result of constant real slow burn. I don't know if that makes any sense to you fellas but a buddy has one for two years now and is still tinkering to get it just right, doesn't know if it's worth it. Add to that the BK is being sold almost $1400 more expensive with a much crappier support setup and I think the PE is the way to go. I don't know the exact date of the KOZI stove I have but a couple friends and one contractor have told me it is definetely pre EPA. It was time to get a new stove anyways so this morning put in an order for the PE Super 27. I'm sure it'll be great. I'll update this thread once it's up and running.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Man, this forum is great.

Wouldn't softwood burn faster than ash or maple regardless of the stove?

I've heard of people with cat stoves here in town who don't really see much advantage as a result of constant real slow burn. I don't know if that makes any sense to you fellas but a buddy has one for two years now and is still tinkering to get it just right, doesn't know if it's worth it. Add to that the BK is being sold almost $1400 more expensive with a much crappier support setup and I think the PE is the way to go. I don't know the exact date of the KOZI stove I have but a couple friends and one contractor have told me it is definetely pre EPA. It was time to get a new stove anyways so this morning put in an order for the PE Super 27. I'm sure it'll be great. I'll update this thread once it's up and running.

You are putting too much value in dealer support. Once there is something wrong with your stove it is a pain in the ass to deal with no matter how great the dealer network is or the warranty that is offered.

Do not let that be the deciding factor.

Price/budget is, of course, quite a valid item to determine your selection.

Also, as it has been mentioned, there are many people here that only burn softwood and still receive the benefits that a cat offers. If you do not like cat stoves, that is also fine. But, not buying a cat stove due to only having soft wood available is not the correct reason to avoid a cat stove.

 

[raybonz]

Congrats I think you will love the Super 27 which is the same as my T-5 capacity wise. They can pump out loads of heat when you need it and easily provide overnight burns as well..

Ray

 

[PA Fire Bug]

I hope that you like your Super 27 as much as we do! Be sure to post some pictures after you finish the installation and fire it up. If you have specific questions, there are many members with more experience than me with PE stoves. I've learned a lot from this forum thanks to the good advice from fellow members.

 

[raybonz]

I hope that you like your Super 27 as much as we do! Be sure to post some pictures after you finish the installation and fire it up. If you have specific questions, there are many members with more experience than me with PE stoves. I've learned a lot from this forum thanks to the good advice from fellow members.
View attachment 77956

So far we like our T-5 which is the same firebox.. Great looking setup you have there!

Ray

 

[BrotherBart]

It will be interesting to see how it works out. Don't know how tight and insulated your place is but that could be a lot of firepower for under a 1,000 sq. ft. of tight living space. No matter what happens outside.

 

[raybonz]

It will be interesting to see how it works out. Don't know how tight and insulated your place is but that could be a lot of firepower for under a 1,000 sq. ft. of tight living space. No matter what happens outside.

The OP is gonna heat 1000 sq. ft. with a Super 27?? That is a lot of stove for 1000 sq. ft.. I find it about right for 1632 sq. ft. in Mass. If I am not careful I can cook myself out with the T-5 but have learned alot in the last year..

Ray

 

[begreen]

Take a look again at where the OP lives and then factor in the fact that he's burning softwood. He will be fine. Shoulder season up there is July. This is their current weather, 3 tonight!

 

[raybonz]

Take a look again at where the OP lives and then factor in the fact that he's burning softwood. He will be fine. Shoulder season up there is July. This is their current weather.

View attachment 78017

OMG you're not kidding it's very cold there! I agree he will be fine with the Super 27 and probably will need it. I didn't realize the extreme cold climate there.

Ray

 

[begreen]

Yep, 3tonight. Sunrise at 10:21am?!

 

[BrotherBart]

I didn't miss the location. Am just curious how the balancing act will go given what is probably a home constructed with the climate in mind. Especially given the softwood fuel.

Only one way to know.