Looking for wood stove to heat 1,800 SF

[dragon73]

I have been reading a lot on this site and it's a bit overwhelming the amount of information there is to sift through. After lots of reading, I believe I have possibly narrowed it down to the Woodstock Progress Hybrid although I am definitely open to suggestions (that's why I am posting). I definitely want one with an outside air intake. We live in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts and would like to use the stove as our primary heat source. We do have radiant heat on the first floor and baseboard heat upstairs, but we are on oil and I would like to limit our use of it as much as possible. As you can see in the layout, the stove is centrally located and at the bottom of the stairs. I will be using double walled stove pipe, not a chimney, and the total pipe length from the top of the stove to the cap will be around 18'. It is a straight shot up with no bends. The walls are R13 and the roof is R19. We have brand new Anderson 400 windows and new exterior doors. We have a basement and all of the rim joists have been insulated and new basement hopper windows installed. We have done the best we can to tighten up the house as it is an oldie but goodie, but it certainly is not new construction. I did as accurate a heat load calculation as I could and came up with 47,246 BTUs. All insulation is in the roof so the attic spaces are inside the insulated envelope but are not included in the total living space. The upstairs ceilings are 7' at the most with lots of sloped ceilings so there is definitely less total volume upstairs than downstairs. Also, I will need to buy some wood for the winter season and wondering how much I should buy? Hoping to get the most efficient stove possible. Hope this is enough info to get some good advice. Please let me know what you recommend. Thanks.

 

[Rearscreen]

No need to look any further than the Progress, trust me as someone who has owned many high end woodstoves over the years. However, the location is less than ideal for an aesthetic point of view. Like a television, you will be sitting and looking at the fire for countless hours and the beautiful stove. If it can be relocated to a living area that would be better. That confined area will cook! I too have an outside air intake which took a great deal of work to accomplish but is well worth any amount of effort as the results are again worth it. And as far as heat going up? Ours is located about 20 feet from the staircase and plenty of heat goes up to heat the bedrooms.

 

[begreen]

The PH may work well for this house, but I would consider relocating it to the area indicated here by the red rectangle. My concern with the proposed location is radiant heat and clearances. I don't like seeing this stove in a small area because it is quite radiant. I think the stove should be located in a more open space where you will spend the most time and get the most pleasure from it. Having it in the dining/living room will also help warm up cold blast of air coming from people entering the house and you will be able to appreciate the nice fire view.

 

[Grisu]

I definitely want one with an outside air intake.

Is there a crawlspace underneath the house or how do you want to connect the stove in the proposed location to the outside?

 

[begreen]

We have a basement and all of the rim joists have been insulated and new basement hopper windows installed

 

[TheRambler]

Ok, i have to ask. Why are you not installing a proper chimney? Usibg double wall stove pipe for the ebtire length is not a good idea.

 

[dragon73]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I don't think I can move the stove into the living/dining area. I added the actual sized furniture into the space and you can see that it just doesn't work. There is a possibility of removing the part of the wall between the stove and the living/dining area, but I think it's structural. I will ask my contractor tomorrow. I also looked up the clearances of the Progress Hybrid and I don't think it will work unless I remove that wall. It requires 24" on either side and I won't have that with the basement door open (I am assuming that that counts, although maybe they don't count that?) Anyway, I added the Pacific Energy Summit with the actual size and clearances and it seems to fit. I also tried with the Hearthstone Manchester and I might be able to make it fit, but it will be very close as it requires 16" on one side and 18" on the other. I have included the layout with both. As far as the double wall vs the chimney, I am not sure why the double wall stove pipe is not as good. Is it for mass heat storage? It would be a lot more money and time for the chimney and I am not sure what I would be gaining. So, with size and clearances in mind, what would be the stove suggestion? Thanks.

 

[dragon73]

Just checked and the PE Alderlea T6 fits, too.

 

[Wisneaky]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I don't think I can move the stove into the living/dining area. I added the actual sized furniture into the space and you can see that it just doesn't work. There is a possibility of removing the part of the wall between the stove and the living/dining area, but I think it's structural. I will ask my contractor tomorrow. I also looked up the clearances of the Progress Hybrid and I don't think it will work unless I remove that wall. It requires 24" on either side and I won't have that with the basement door open (I am assuming that that counts, although maybe they don't count that?) Anyway, I added the Pacific Energy Summit with the actual size and clearances and it seems to fit. I also tried with the Hearthstone Manchester and I might be able to make it fit, but it will be very close as it requires 16" on one side and 18" on the other. I have included the layout with both. As far as the double wall vs the chimney, I am not sure why the double wall stove pipe is not as good. Is it for mass heat storage? It would be a lot more money and time for the chimney and I am not sure what I would be gaining. So, with size and clearances in mind, what would be the stove suggestion? Thanks.
View attachment 164423 View attachment 164424

I honestly wouldn't put any stove there. Being able to watch the stove is half the fun. If your just wanting heat you'd be better off using a wood furnace where you can have it located in the basement.

 

[rsw49]

As far as the double wall vs the chimney, I am not sure why the double wall stove pipe is not as good. Is it for mass heat storage? It would be a lot more money and time for the chimney and I am not sure what I would be gaining

There may be some confusion in terms. Double wall stovepipe can not be used as a chimney. Class A chimney pipe is used as a chimney. Stovepipe connects the stove to the ceiling support box in roof exits and chimney pipe takes over from there. You may be thinking masonry when referencing chimney but chimney pipe can be used. It is a different product than the single wall or double wall pipe leaving the stove.

 

[begreen]

Just checked and the PE Alderlea T6 fits, too.

That's a better choice for the tight location as would be the Summit. They are convective stoves with closer clearances. But I still prefer the other location even if it meant rearranging the furniture. My concern with the hallway location is that 80-90% of the heat is going to head upstairs making for a cool kitchen and hot upstairs.

Here are a couple more options

 

[Grisu]

The other problem that I see with your proposed location is that most of the heat may just move up the stairs to the upper floor. You won't get that much into the living/dining area as you are expecting. Plus, kitchen and office could really be completely out of the loop.

Would maybe the corner NW of the dining table work? That would give you good heat in the lower living area and kitchen while some should still find its way upstairs. You could run the pipe outside if necessary and add an OAK if you so desire.

As to stoves: I would also take a look at the Jotul F55 for a non-cat and the BlazeKing Ashford 30 for a cat stove like the Progress. Both have pretty good clearances.

 

[dragon73]

Ok, we can remove the little bit of wall separating the wood stove from the living/dining room. It is not a supporting wall. I was thinking about placing the stove with a wall behind it. I think I like the 45* orientation. Will this work well? Also, thanks for the clarification on the chimney vs double walled stove pipe. I looked at the Jotul F55 and like the clearances. I haven't looked at the Blazeking Ashford 30 yet but will later tonight. Are either of those better choices than the Manchester or the Summit/T6? What are the benefits in my location of one verses another? Also, I think that the living room or dining room locations will not work as well because of clearances and maneuverability. I do have the office and master bathroom on separate heating zones just for the reason that they might not get as much heat from the stove. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

I like it, that's a good solution. Each stove has it's strengths. Which are the best fit for you will depend on what is most important. For some it's asthetics, others it's clearances, special features or technical specifications. They are all very good convective stoves and all are front loaders that will work in a corner install. You should be happy with any of them.

 

[Grisu]

The T6 and the F55 are rather similar stoves as they both have a steel firebox with a convective cast iron shell that makes for close clearances and good heat retention. The T6 has an exposable cooktop and a pretty convenient steel baffle. On the other hand, the F55 could be a bit cheaper. Both are from reputable companies and should heat your home well. The BK Ashford 30 shares the steel/cast iron outside design but instead of a secondary burn it uses a catalyst. Due to that the air can be reduced further for a clean burn, lower heat output (if less heat is desired), longer burn times and more even heat over the burn cycle. When it gets really cold you can then still turn it up for more heat but then burn times will be more like a secondary burn stove. Quite a few members here switched to a BK stove after having a secondary burn stove before. The Manchester is preferentially a sideloader than a frontloader and may not work that well in your corner install. A stove blower will be a good idea to get the heat over into the living room.

The locations is nice and central with a view of the fire from the seating area. I like the idea. However, you will also need some room for wood, tools etc. I would also map out the hearth beforehand to make sure it is not taking up too much space in the walkway. One caveat: Is there a second exit from the top floor? If due to the stove there is ever a fire it will block your only emergency exit otherwise.

 

[brad wilton]

If there is no exit you could buy a couple of window ladders.like the corner install should work well,every stove you listed should work quite well but you might need an oak with all the sealing you have been doing

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

The PE's and the F55 need only ember protection on the floor. The PH will need and insulated (thicker) hearth I believe. That was actually an important feature for us. It may not be important for you. For example, we were able to use a tempered glass ember guard over out wood floor with our T5 Alderlea.

 

[Wisneaky]

From all that I have read of here I would choose a BK. I've read so much good stuff about them and hardly anything negative. You should definitely take the time to look into them.

 

[Rearscreen]

If you pushed the kitchen closet to the left (shown as a square to the left of the proposed stove placement) you could have that stove you originally wanted!

 

[BlackGreyhounds]

Blaze King is supposed to be the "cat's" meow for catalytic stoves. I've seen them running in neighbor's' houses and hearth stores but never run one myself. Since the Ashfords are cast iron around stainless, like the PE and Jotul F55, you can really tuck them close to the walls. Just another consideration to weigh, especially since you have some concerns about space.

 

[jeffesonm]

Good solution, should give the house a more open feel as well. I recommend getting a cardboard box and some masking tape and make yourself a scale model of how big the stove will be and where the hearth will fit. Probably easiest if they remove that little wall stub first.

I am very pleased with my F55... does a good job heating my 1800 sq ft home.

 

[Creekheat]

Love our Jotul F55. Heats over 2100sq ft, can cook on it, and meets min tolerances. Cast looks great.