Jotul F3CB in Garage

[zaroot]

Picked up this stove locally because of the name. Very little use, good back and firebox, black stove paint, clear glass. Figured why not

Looking to install it in my 850SF masonry CMU garage. Currently has the 6” rear flue exit. Says it can accommodate max 18” log. Garage is somewhat drafty, only half the roof is insulated up on the top side of the trusses. Other half of truss space is cordoned off with a heavy duty tarp since I don’t use it. Garage currently has some old 2+CF steel plate stove (pic attached). Not sure of make or model, but it does ok. Had to modify & enlarge the front air intake holes a bit, due to the fire dying out when the door was shut (even with the intake door wide open). Still has a lazy fire compared to other stoves I’ve used in the past.

Question being, I see these stoves are rated for adequate heating for 1100-1200 SF. I must have read 15 posts about a F3; most people like and say the stove burns hot and it’s a great casting, but there are a few where people are struggling to heat a smaller area with it. Overnight burn times are irrelevant, which is the main reason I considered and ended up purchasing it. Typically start a fire, get shop up to workable temp, and then maybe do 5-6hrs max.

Size wise, it’s physically about half the mass as my steel giant. Anyone running an F3 in a garage or shop? Basically outside of the traditional better insulated bungalow, cabin, or rancher houses I keep reading about. I like to run my stoves around 425-450 measured at stove output, seems to work well with my straight 6” chimney.

 

[zaroot]

Dammit please move to Woodstove Hearth, and i don’t seem to be able to. Switched between mobile browser and Tapatalk, which changed the sub forum. Sorry!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[begreen]

Moved to hearth forum. Can you go into the tapatalk settings and set the signature line to None? That will eliminate the tapatalk sales pitch at the end of postings.

 

[zaroot]

Done and thank you

 

[begreen]

It's a good little stove, but 1.1 cu ft of wood will only go so far, thus the shorter burn time. It likes to cruise at around 550-650º when setup right and burning good dry wood. I would cut the wood to 16" for easiest loading.

 

[kennyp2339]

The main issue is going to be the masonry acting as a heat sink and having a such a small stove, hopefully since you didn't list your location you live somewhere down south were heating needs aren't as rigorous as say upper mid west or north east.

 

[Blazingembers7749]

Not that anyone wants to hear this but unless u dont know i figured ide throw out that usually your not supposed to install a wood stove in a garage

 

[zaroot]

The main issue is going to be the masonry acting as a heat sink and having a such a small stove, hopefully since you didn't list your location you live somewhere down south were heating needs aren't as rigorous as say upper mid west or north east.

Northern MD, about 45 min North of Baltimore. Winters are pretty cold. Not MN cold, but single digits and teens quite regularly. I have always read that for drafty/heat sink style structures like old homes or CMU buildings, you’re going to lose around 25% heating capacity. Which is right on par of an 1100SF stove trying to heat an 800SF garage. Not a steadfast rule, just an idea to base stove sizing off of.

 

[zaroot]

Not that anyone wants to hear this but unless u dont know i figured ide throw out that usually your not supposed to install a wood stove in a garage

Never heard that. 8/10 shops or garages up here have wood stove chimneys coming out the top. Woods plentiful and no one likes to work cold.

 

[Blazingembers7749]

Ide have to look it up but i believe nfpa211 says no solid fuel burning appliance shall be installed in any garage and something about inginition sources ie gasonline and flamable vapors
Anyway i dont think its going to stop most people that plan on putting a stove in their garage i just figured ide pass along the information. There may be some sort of way around this but im unaware of it if there is. My answere has always been no based off of nfpa 211 but if there is a way of doing it while complying ide like to know cause ive turned down alot of garage installs based off of this

 

[stovelark]

I agree that if you go by the rules no wood stove in a garage where cars and/or open fuel containers can be stowed. I think if you pull a permit, most town officials won't allow it...

 

[Blazingembers7749]

Honestly it kinda sucks... but you know somewhere theres a guy burning a 55g drum stove and hes got fuel tanks within arms distance. My alternarive when i build my next house and garage will be a outdoor wood boiler with radiant floor in the garage and possibly a hot water coil with forced air.

 

[begreen]

I agree that if you go by the rules no wood stove in a garage where cars and/or open fuel containers can be stowed. I think if you pull a permit, most town officials won't allow it...

We've found this to vary with state and local jurisdictions. Some allow it if the stove is elevated 18" above the floor. Some allow it if the garage is detached from the main building. When in doubt it's best to check with the local inspecting authority and the insurance company.

 

[kennyp2339]

Stove might be too small, but try it out, it looks like its in good condition, so you can always repaint and re-sell it at a later date.

 

[Manly]

Stove might be too small, but try it out, it looks like its in good condition, so you can always repaint and re-sell it at a later date.

Small stove yes but a mighty good burner. We have been using a Jotul 3 to heat our small ranch [1150 sf] for the past 20 years. It keeps the family room, kitchen and living room very comfortable. The bedrooms which are in the opposite end of the house stay cool, but we prefer it that way. The house is well insulated and the windows good. Biggest pain is you have to load it very frequently. It will hold coals overnight for morning rekindling. A larger stove would be more suitable for us, but the small Jotul performs well enough and has been trouble free that I wouldn't change it out after living with it all these years. Just my plug for the Jotul 3.

 

[kennyp2339]

The house is well insulated and the windows good.

Such is not the case with the OP's garage / workshop, also there is only so much that a stove can do btu wise due to its firebox size, say 60k btu an hour, smaller boxes might run 60k btu for 1-2hrs at max while a larger fire box can give you 60k btu for 4-6hrs, big difference.

 

[Manly]

Such is not the case with the OP's garage / workshop, also there is only so much that a stove can do btu wise due to its firebox size, say 60k btu an hour, smaller boxes might run 60k btu for 1-2hrs at max while a larger fire box can give you 60k btu for 4-6hrs, big difference.

Yes I agree. The OP's building is smaller and he already owns the stove. Trade offs for sure. I could use a larger stove but get by with the smaller. That was the only point I was trying to make, as well as point out the positive attributes of the Jotul 3. If money in no concern to the OP, I would suggest going with a new larger stove. For my money I would try the #3.