Jotul vs Quadra Fire

[corey148]

I have been reviewing several stoves trying to figure out which would be a better purchase. I have a 1650 sq foot rancher with an unfinished basement. My house is only 4 years old so its insulated well. I plan on putting the wood stove in the basement as our main source of heat. I also have a gas furnace that I use, but I try not to use it as much as possible. Plus, I just like the feel of a wood stove. I have been debating on the Jotul F600 CB and the Quadra Fire Isle Royale. I would be interested in hearing burn times and how much square footage your heating. Also, how much do they differ in quality other than looks as compared to say an Englander which is approximately $1,000.00 less. I am willing to pay more for the stove if I know the quality is there. I would think the Jotul stoves have to be fairly decent since they appear to come from Norway. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks,

 

[begreen]

Both stoves are great heaters. The Isle Royale breathes a little easier if draft is weak from a shorter chimney or other issues. It is also a more complicated stove because it's a top loader. The question is do you need a cast iron, radiant heater at all? If this is going to be mostly out of sight, then the Englander will do the same job just as well.

Regardless of the stove, heating from a basement can be challenging for some setups. How well insulated is the basement? How will the heat get upstairs (is there a large open stairway in the same room)?

PS: can you add your location to your avatar? That helps for sizing.

 

[corey148]

Both stoves are great heaters. The Isle Royale breathes a little easier if draft is weak from a shorter chimney or other issues. It is also a more complicated stove because it's a top loader. The question is do you need a cast iron, radiant heater at all? If this is going to be mostly out of sight, then the Englander will do the same job just as well.

Regardless of the stove, heating from a basement can be challenging for some setups. How well insulated is the basement? How will the heat get upstairs (is there a large open stairway in the same room)?

PS: can you add your location to your avatar? That helps for sizing.

I live in Western Maryland and I only have concrete walls in the basement right now. My wife and i will be finishing the basement later on and would like to have a nice looking stove to display. Hope this helps you. Also,do these stoves eat a lot of wood on average or are they fairly efficient??

 

[begreen]

These stoves are quite efficient, but with uninsulated walls up to a third of the heat will be sucked out to the earth surrounding the basement. The stove will probably work best if it is somewhat centrally located where there is large open stairway in the same room. The downside of this style stove is that it has a somewhat shallow firebox. If you like the big square firebox of the Englander, but want something with more eye appeal consider the Enviro Boston (2.5 cu ft), Jotul Carrabassett or the Pacific Energy Alderlea T6 as an alternative.

Have you considered a cat stove? There are some good looking options there too. Blaze King is also supposed to be coming out with their Ashford 30 soon. There are also the Lopi Cape Cod and the Woodstock Progress Hybrid that are worth a look.

 

[topoftheriver]

Most of today's stoves are all good by construction and efficiency standards. The choice is appearance, location, insulated or no insulation, cast or steel. My experience is that cast stoves heat up slower but radiate a steady even heat and stay hot longer. Steel stoves heat up faster and radiate fast but as the fire burns down, the stove will cool faster than cast. You have to consider its appearance. Most have secondary burning tubes for efficiency and emissions. I suggest picking 3 or 4 (max) that you may be interested and make a spread sheet of the qualities is each one and then re-examine what would fit your needs. "Don't forget the wife" She may have a suggestion or two or more. Good luck.

 

[lopiliberty]

I've never seen a jotul up close but have seen the isle royale and it a very nice looking stove. My dealer, Warner's Hearth and Patio in Cumberland actually has a isle royale on display or at least they did the last time I was there. You may also want to check out Curtis Chimney and Hearth in Grantsville they sell Pacific Energy and Jotul.

 

[stovelark]

Hi Corey- Both good choices and good heaters- If you are finishing off downstairs. Its hard to go against the Jotuls, consider the Carrabassett too, its a nice hybrid, has good looks and attractively priced too. My first choice would still be the Firelight.
Good luck

 

[webby3650]

its a nice hybrid,

? I'm guessing you mean steel and cast iron?

 

[stovelark]

Hi webby yes the f45 and f55 are steel/cast hybrids. Not the traditional Jotul gothic arched door or handles either. The f55 is a good seller already though, it has an attractive price. No enamel colors either, but you prob already knew this....

 

[webby3650]

Hi webby yes the f45 and f55 are steel/cast hybrids. Not the traditional Jotul gothic arched door or handles either. The f55 is a good seller already though, it has an attractive price. No enamel colors either, but you prob already knew this....

Ya, I did. I am anxious for them to come out with enamels for this line! Also, i'd like to see the Oslo with the clean door(no arches) available in enamel.

 

[topoftheriver]

Hi Corey- Both good choices and good heaters- If you are finishing off downstairs. Its hard to go against the Jotuls, consider the Carrabassett too, its a nice hybrid, has good looks and attractively priced too. My first choice would still be the Firelight.
Good luck

I agree. The Firelight is a great stove. My Oslo 500 has performed great through the years, only with the exception of the baffle problem I encountered and is not repaired. Heat output and consistency are outstanding.

 

[webby3650]

only with the exception of the baffle problem

What was the problem? I must have have missed something.

 

[begreen]

Hi webby yes the f45 and f55 are steel/cast hybrids. Not the traditional Jotul gothic arched door or handles either. The f55 is a good seller already though, it has an attractive price. No enamel colors either, but you prob already knew this....

I don't call these stoves a hybrid. They are simply castiron clad steel stoves. Napoleon (1100c 1600c) and Quadrafire (Yosemite and Cumberland Gap) have been doing it for years. A hybrid for me is more like the Cape Cod and Progress Hybrid that use multiple burn technologies.

 

[topoftheriver]

What was the problem? I must have have missed something.

Jotul changed their warranty on the baffle to a lifetime warranty. It seemed that the baffle that came installed in new stoves deteriorated. In my stove the rear portion of the baffle, sitting on top of the secondary burn tubes and closing the gap between the firebox and the smoke outlet had broken and the flames, or at least some of them were shooting up the back of the stove into the the flue. This cause improper burn and resulted in less energy going to the secondary burn tubes. Jotul states on their website that they will give you the baffle but you will have to pay for installation. If you are handy then you can do it yourself. I am not saying all of the stoves had that problem but some did and they spoke of it on this forum. It is a simple fix. In no way does it harm the stove, it just an inconvenience and makes the stove less efficient until the baffle is replaced.

Ironically, in the earlier years they used steel baffles. What they found is that during high heat fires the steel tended to warp rendering an improper seal between the burn box and the flue. I am not sure of the material Jotul used when I bought my stove some years back but the new ones are vermiculite. It looks like a molded chip boards,. It is light, endures a great deal of heat and will not warp. It fits on top of the burn tubes and seals the fire chamber in the rear to redirect the flames up, through the burn tubes and then around the top to the flue. I believe the new stoves have the modern style baffle installed except for the new Jotul 50 TL which has a steel baffle. I think they are using the steel because it is a top loader and it is easier to replace the baffle if something happens - not sure. Some users wanted a top loader and that is why they came up with this one.

 

[Jags]

I haven't heard a name mentioned that doesn't deserve due process. Look at them all. Your first two picks in the first post are both excellent heaters. I can assure you that 1650 sqft of well insulated house would be a fairly easy task for either stove...its the cement walls of the basement that might prove to be the weak link. And air circulation. Moving the heat from a basement install to the rest of the home is often a difficult task.

 

[mfetcho]

I haven't heard a name mentioned that doesn't deserve due process. Look at them all. Your first two picks in the first post are both excellent heaters. I can assure you that 1650 sqft of well insulated house would be a fairly easy task for either stove...its the cement walls of the basement that might prove to be the weak link. And air circulation. Moving the heat from a basement install to the rest of the home is often a difficult task.

I have been reviewing several stoves trying to figure out which would be a better purchase. I have a 1650 sq foot rancher with an unfinished basement. My house is only 4 years old so its insulated well. I plan on putting the wood stove in the basement as our main source of heat. I also have a gas furnace that I use, but I try not to use it as much as possible. Plus, I just like the feel of a wood stove. I have been debating on the Jotul F600 CB and the Quadra Fire Isle Royale. I would be interested in hearing burn times and how much square footage your heating. Also, how much do they differ in quality other than looks as compared to say an Englander which is approximately $1,000.00 less. I am willing to pay more for the stove if I know the quality is there. I would think the Jotul stoves have to be fairly decent since they appear to come from Norway. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks,

I am in the same boat as you. I have about 2500 square feet to heat and I am debating whether to buy a Quadrafire or a Jotul. I had a Cumberland Gap in my last house and I heated 2000 square feet without any issues. It's a great stove with excellent control. I also have a Yosemite in my cabin and it works very well. I have read some previous threads from 2011 on the Isle Royal where they had some issues getting it shut down tight for a long burn. My Cumberland Gap could go through the night without any issues and I would want the Isle Royale to do the same.

Has anyone with an Isle Royale had this problem?


Let us know what you decide.

 

[Jags]

Has anyone with an Isle Royale had this problem?

I can shut mine down to yield dead black charcoals in the morning. I always run at 5-10% open on the primary.

 

[mfetcho]

I can shut mine down to yield dead black charcoals in the morning. I always run at 5-10% open on the primary.

Good to know, thanks! Is the Isle Royale a good fit to heat 2500 sq feet? The house was built in the early 80's with a fairly open floor plan and 2 lofts on the second floor.

 

[Jags]

Good to know, thanks! Is the Isle Royale a good fit to heat 2500 sq feet? The house was built in the early 80's with a fairly open floor plan and 2 lofts on the second floor.

My opinion - you are pushing it. The level of insulation, location, air movement, etc. will play a big part. If all the stars aligned perfectly - you may get away with it. Anything off a bit and will probably not be a whole home heater.

 

[mfetcho]

I can shut mine down to yield dead black charcoals in the morning. I always run at 5-10% open on the primary.

How do you like the top load feature? I have never used a top load. Do you get smoke or smell when you load?

 

[Jags]

Other than a few times playing around, I do not use the top load feature. I loves me the double doors in the front. The few times that I have used it, it was smoke and smell free. The bypass lever does a fine job for keeping that stuff in the stove and up the stack.

 

[begreen]

With average winter temps in the low 20's, I think the IR will do ok in Spokane for almost all your heating. If some ridiculous cold front straight from the north pole hits you may need to turn on the furnace to supplement, but for most of the time the stove should handle the load well. Actually, if you get seriously below 0 temps for an extended period of time, having the furnace cycle is a good thing to keep the pipes from freezing up.

 

[northwinds]

No problems controlling my IR either. I also run about 10% closed at cruising temps.

 

[Trilifter7]

I just installed an IR this spring. Burned very little with it but love it so far!! I use the top load to scrape ashes back from the front before I open the doors to keep ashes from falling out. Also have the side shelves and love the looks of it.

 

[Trilifter7]