jotul 3tdic-2??

[TCT1971]

Hello! We're looking to put a small stove in our solarium, both so we can use that space year-round, and because the solarium is right next to my home office and makes my office freeeezing all winter. The heat from the rest of the house just doesn't get to these back rooms. The solarium is about 168 sq feet and the office is abt 144, but of course we'd lose a lot of the heat out of the glass walls.

I was originally hoping to get a new Jotul 602 or QT, but once I found out the price of the pipe (the amt we'll need for it to meet code will run about $1200-1400), the $1300 price tag on the new Jotul wasn't looking so spiffy.

So we started looking on Craigslist for used Jotuls that might fit the bill. A 3tdic-2 catalytic popped up a few days ago with the attractive off-white enamel finish. But I'm a bit confused, as the sellers say they bought it brand new 5 years ago. But didn't they stop making these in the 1990s? I know Jotul doesn't make catalytics at all anymore, and I couldn't find much info about this model at all online. I admit I'm a little nervous after reading a lot of negative feedback about catalytics in general. But if it is in good working order, it could provide a lot more heat than the 602 or QT, for a relatively small footprint and a more doable price tag.

The sellers say it's in great shape and are asking 600. I wouldn't pay 600 for the stove alone, but it comes with a good bit of pipe, which could be a big plus. They claim that it's been serviced and cleaned regularly, and that the only reason they're selling it is that they built an addition on to the house and now need a larger stove to heat the space.

I know the newer ones are more efficient, but I just don't think we can plunk down $1400 for the pipe and $1300 for the stove right now. It's just not in the budget at this time. But I don't want to wait a year and freeze in my office for another winter! So, do you think the 3tdic-2 could be a good solution, even if it's not our ideal stove, or will it be more trouble than it's worth? Any advice much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[begreen]

Welcome. You are correct. This was an early attempt at clean burning in the 3 series. I haven't owned one but the story is that it was not the best. And if it needs a new cat or parts, the price is going to be a lot more when done.

It sounds like the Englander 17VL would do the job well here and this sells for only $549 at Home Depot. It's a nice little stove designed by Corey, a hearth.com member.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Englander-1-200-sq-ft-Wood-Burning-Stove-17-VL/202051504#.Uhum_LRYSf4

 

[TCT1971]

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll definitely take a closer look at that one. I see that none of the Home Depots in our area carry it, but I guess the $55 shipping charge isn't that bad for a large item.

I was afraid the series 3 Jotul with pipe sounded too good to be true

On another note, how do you like your 602? I guess I'm still hoping somehow to swing a new little Jotul, though it seems very unlikely to happen this year...

 

[begreen]

We've had the little 602 for years. This is a very capable little heater, as long as you are willing to keep feeding it. The longest burntime is only a few hours due to the small firebox. Ours is the pre-EPA version and in semi-retirement now. We just use it for a greenhouse heater on extra cold days now.

 

[mellow]

For something that small have you looked at pellet stoves? Not as much for pipe and you can control them better.

 

[TCT1971]

For something that small have you looked at pellet stoves? Not as much for pipe and you can control them better.

You know, I never really have. I guess I always thought of myself as the more old-fashioned type! But I could be flexible, if it would be the better option for the space. I seem to remember the pellet stove prices being a little steep on my last visit to the local stove shop...definitely more than the little Jotuls (602 & QT) I was looking at. Are there any more reasonably-priced brands that would do the job well? Thanks!

 

[TCT1971]

We've had the little 602 for years. This is a very capable little heater, as long as you are willing to keep feeding it. The longest burntime is only a few hours due to the small firebox. Ours is the pre-EPA version and in semi-retirement now. We just use it for a greenhouse heater on extra cold days now.

Thanks for the info! So much to consider...

 

[begreen]

You know, I never really have. I guess I always thought of myself as the more old-fashioned type! But I could be flexible, if it would be the better option for the space. I seem to remember the pellet stove prices being a little steep on my last visit to the local stove shop...definitely more than the little Jotuls (602 & QT) I was looking at. Are there any more reasonably-priced brands that would do the job well? Thanks!

I think a decent pellet stove setup is going to cost quite a bit more. The are more complex and pricier than a basic stove. Noisier too.

 

[mellow]

You can find a used englander pellet stove, I saw some listed in your area on craigslist. To me it makes sense that you can fill the hopper and be set the temp so it doesn't run you out and it will come on and off when you need it for supplemental heat, if the power goes out you have your other stoves to heat with. Not to mention the savings of the pipe.

 

[Ashful]

The solarium is about 168 sq feet and the office is abt 144, but of course we'd lose a lot of the heat out of the glass walls.

Small space with high heat loss... perfect recipe for a mid-sized catalytic stove.

A 3tdic-2 catalytic popped up a few days ago with the attractive off-white enamel finish. But I'm a bit confused, as the sellers say they bought it brand new 5 years ago. But didn't they stop making these in the 1990s?

I do not know the exact model history of the 3tdic-2, but Jotul sold catalytic stoves in the USA up thru at least 2001. I think Jotul still makes and sells catalytic stoves in other countries, but not the USA.

I admit I'm a little nervous after reading a lot of negative feedback about catalytics in general.

Actually, catalytic stoves are the higher performance option, with better efficiency and a wider range of burn rates, than can be achieved with a non-catalytic. The negative feedback you've read about catalytic stoves comes from "casual burners," who don't really understand the proper use or advantages of a catalytic stove. They're not for everyone, hence Jotul's reasoning for discontinuing catalytic stove sales in the USA, but for someone who's attentive enough to join a stove forum to ask questions before purchase... they're likely the better option.

So, do you think the 3tdic-2 could be a good solution, even if it's not our ideal stove, or will it be more trouble than it's worth?

I would not buy the 3TDIC-2, especially if this were my first stove. As begreen already stated, this was a retrofit of an earlier stove, as an effort to make an old design meet newer emissions standards. If you want a nice looking smaller catalytic stove at used prices, check out the last rendition of the Jotul 8, which was "one of the best stoves we ever made," according to Mark at Jotul's factory tech support. Do your research, though, as there were many versions of the Jotul 8, and only the final version was considered very good.

Better yet, I'd be looking at a smaller factory refurb from Woodstock. Maybe a Fireview? Lots of those are coming back to woodstock these days, as more serious burners are looking to upgrade to the Progress Hybrid. As stated, a small - medium catalytic stove would be ideal for your situation, as you can set it to burn very low and slow, for very long burns at low heat output for even all-day heating. In a non-cat stove, you cannot burn as low and slow as a catalytic, which is usually not that big a deal. Non-cat burners heat smaller spaces (or on less cold days) by burning a small hot fire (more quickly than a catalytic), which pumps some heat into the house, letting the house retain and radiate that heat. This works well in many cases, but is less than ideal in cases like yours, where the heat retention is very low / heat loss is very high.

Another option is any Blaze King 20 series... but those are a wee bit expensive new, and Blaze King has no factory refurb program, of which I'm aware. I'm recommending you stick with factory, rather than private, on the assumption this is your first EPA stove. If you're an experienced burner, then have at it with the used market.

 

[mellow]

Maybe I am overlooking something but even a small cat stove seems like it would be overkill for this space of 300 sq ft, yes you can turn them down but you can only dial them down so much, you gotta keep the cat fed with fuel. Then the budget issue comes up, running triple A costs an arm and a leg.

If you like woodstock's looks then I would get a gas stove from them, not a woodstove.

A mini-franklin might be the best bet.

(broken image removed)

 

[begreen]

I think the F3, F602, or F100 would all be fine for this small space. This is a solarium with a lot of glass. It takes the 602 about 2 hrs to warm up the greenhouse substantially when it's 25 outside. I am assuming that the office and solarium are attached via a doorway to the main house. If so, and it gets warm in there, just put a fan in the main house on the floor and blow the cooler house air into the space to cool it down. The warm air will spill into the main house.

 

[suprz]

I own the exact stove you are looking at. I got mine off Craigslist for 450.00 it had alot of nicks in the enamel, and needed a good cleaning and a door gasket. The cat was in good shape when i got the stove (last august) when you go to look at the stove, look straight down the hole where the chimney goes, and you will be able to see the top of the cat, that will give you a reference as to its condition. The stove is a great little stove and works very well for us. It heats the upstairs of my house quite nicely and is frugal on wood. Someday i might replace the cat, but for now it works well enough. The biggest part of the efficiency is to get that stove up to temp before engaging the cat fully. But even on moderate days, just to take the chill off, i seldom use the cat, i might close the damper 1/2 way and close the air alittle just to slow the burn, and the stove just cruises along. To deal with the chips i got the actual enamel paint straight from Jotul thru my local stove shop. ($20.00 per small bottle) but the bottle goes along way. The ONLY down size to this small stove is the size of the splits you can fit into it. Most of the time, i have to make sure i dont make the splits too long. If i get wood from my local recycling place, i mostly have to cut it up smaller because of this. Last year i burned questionable black locust and Biobricks, and when i checked the chimney this summer, it was clean, with very little soot and no creosote that was noticeable. And YES you can burn biobricks in a cat stove. (I had alot of questions about them). But they do burn hot, so dont load up this little stove or you might over heat it. I have the owners manual if you want a copy