As posted in my last topic, we have a new PE T6 that replaced an Englander 30NC. The 30 was too intense, and the PE is, after some frustration, followed by education, contemplation, and insulation, now heating our 900 sq ft home well. Though it's only 20 degrees at night, so a true test is yet to come. We expected more radiant heat than the Alderlea offers (or more correctly, we underestimated the feeling of a convective stove). The stove does exactly what it says, offers a great amount of gentle heat. I think we're looking for a little less gentle heat, but not the level of the Englander. I know this is sort of a goldilocks deal, but before we pursue returning a 580-lb stove with the associated financial hit, I figured I'd try to ask the right questions. I hate to even think about it, but that's just too much money to be unhappy with the purchase, and we plan to have this stove for a good 10-15 years including in a much larger house within a year or two - 2000 sq ft or so. Wood will be our sole heat source. After the excellent level of customer service from PE, we'd like to keep with that company if feasible, but have added a couple stoves for feedback and how they compare to the T6.
The stoves we would consider so far include:
1. PE Summit - does it have enough more radiant heat that it's noticeably more than the T6? If so, this is our #1 choice. No one has a model in stock, or hooked up.
2. Jotul F600 - can a small fire be liveable in warmer temps with it?
3. Lopi Liberty - probably the same as the Englander - steel stove, to intense radiant heat?
So far, we love the PE construction, burn times, and operation. I have read almost every thread and review I can find on the Summit, and the F600, etc. Hands down, the Summit is our preferred alternative to the T6, but only if, as a steel-clad stove, it will offer noticeably more radiant heat while not driving us out of the room like an all-steel stove. The Jotul also has a great reputation, and if the cast iron is a slower-to-heat-and-cool stove we would consider that too. We have a dealer that will work with us on the T6 toward either the Summit or the Jotul, but as mentioned we want to know better before we pursue this as getting a new stove is a pretty big deal to us and we don't have any ability to see them in action.
Thanks as always for the candid advice-
The stoves we would consider so far include:
1. PE Summit - does it have enough more radiant heat that it's noticeably more than the T6? If so, this is our #1 choice. No one has a model in stock, or hooked up.
2. Jotul F600 - can a small fire be liveable in warmer temps with it?
3. Lopi Liberty - probably the same as the Englander - steel stove, to intense radiant heat?
So far, we love the PE construction, burn times, and operation. I have read almost every thread and review I can find on the Summit, and the F600, etc. Hands down, the Summit is our preferred alternative to the T6, but only if, as a steel-clad stove, it will offer noticeably more radiant heat while not driving us out of the room like an all-steel stove. The Jotul also has a great reputation, and if the cast iron is a slower-to-heat-and-cool stove we would consider that too. We have a dealer that will work with us on the T6 toward either the Summit or the Jotul, but as mentioned we want to know better before we pursue this as getting a new stove is a pretty big deal to us and we don't have any ability to see them in action.
Thanks as always for the candid advice-