looking to percolate coffee on a wood stove insert top.

[MrsFlea]

Help! I'm getting ready to buy an Alderlea T5 insert from Pacific Energy. My big question was weather or not the surface area would get hot enough to heat a tea kettle or percolate a small coffee pot. Would it reach temps hot enough with the blowers off say if there was a power outage where I would be able to make tea or coffee on top.... If not, what medium range wood insert would be good for doing so. Thanks!

 

[1kzwoman]

Help! I'm getting ready to buy an Alderlea T5 insert from Pacific Energy. My big question was weather or not the surface area would get hot enough to heat a tea kettle or percolate a small coffee pot. Would it reach temps hot enough with the blowers off say if there was a power outage where I would be able to make tea or coffee on top.... If not, what medium range wood insert would be good for doing so. Thanks!

This probably isn't the answer you want but you can boil water in a paper cup with a candle if you choose to. I suggest you consider a small camp propane stove and avoid scratches on your insert or worse boil overs. I am not trying to be a smart *ss, because I also considered cooking stew on my wood stove when I bought it

 

[begreen]

The T5 insert is not a good choice for this. It has a convection lid on it above the actual insert firebox top. It's top is more like a warming shelf. An insert presents a challenge. They often have convection tops that do not get that hot. For that reason you need to look at inserts that will fit the fireplace, but have direct stovetops and enough of the stove top projecting into the room to safely have a pot sit on it. The Regency Hearth Heater I2100 and their I3100 are a good inserts for power outage cooking.

 

[MrsFlea]

Hmmmm there's so much to consider. I definitely want an insert with power outage cooking capabilities... Must keep looking. Thanks for all feedback

 

[Hogwildz]

IN an emergency situation, although tough, you could remove the top cover plate and cook directly on the firebox top. I have cooked inside my insert, and heated already cooked food on the top plate, but have not tried to cook row food on top. Not sure if it would heat enough or not.

 

[kingquad]

Enviro Kodiak 1200 or 1700 are good for cooking. I used to boil water all the time. The Venice and Boston models will have the same problem as the T5 though.

 

[MrsFlea]

I appreciate all the feedback. Still looking for the right insert. Now I gotta figure, I'm really trying the keep this purchase under or around $3,000 not including installation. this is an important purchase for our home and I only want to do it once. We have a decent size home, two levels around 2500 square ft. Will be happy to find a unit to at least accommodate the main level. But we must find a unit with power outage cooktop abilities (coffee is vital to this family, lol) the recency and Kodiak look promising. I'm going to cast a wide net and keep looking. Would appreciate any feedback.

 

[MrsFlea]

Does anyone know anything about the Montlake 230 ? This seems like a good choice for what we are looking for.

 

[begreen]

That is a convection top insert. Early reports here complained about workmanship. Not sure if that is representative or just a few kinks being worked out.
Check out the Osburn line of inserts for potential cooktop.
(broken link removed to http://www.osburn-mfg.com/en/heaters/osburn-2400-wood-insert)

 

[MrsFlea]

ok thanks! were also looking at the kodiak 1200, a dealer by us is willing to intall it, all said and done for about 3500. i just have to see if it will suit our needs. i would love the 1700 but it will not fit... Anyone have experience with Kodiak?

 

[MrsFlea]

Enviro Kodiak 1200 or 1700 are good for cooking. I used to boil water all the time. The Venice and Boston models will have the same problem as the T5 though.

Do you have the 1200 or the 1700. I'm getting a great deal on the 1200 and it looks so promising. Before I pull the trigger I just want to know how many inches the cook top shelf comes out. Ide be happy with 7" or more but can't seem to find the exact measurements. It's hard to tell from the picture whether or not the 1200 will support a coffee percolator or a tea kettle

 

[kingquad]

Do you have the 1200 or the 1700. I'm getting a great deal on the 1200 and it looks so promising. Before I pull the trigger I just want to know how many inches the cook top shelf comes out. Ide be happy with 7" or more but can't seem to find the exact measurements. It's hard to tell from the picture whether or not the 1200 will support a coffee percolator or a tea kettle

I had the 1700. I sold it with my old house, so I can't get you an exact measurement. I would say there is at least a six inch shelf though, maybe 7 at the center. I had a cast iron half kettle on it and it had plenty of room to spare. I would try to find a taller kettle, as opposed to wider just to be sure. The 1200 has the same front dimensions as the 1700. The depth of the unit (behind the surround) is what's different. For the size of your home, you would definitely be happier moving up to the 1700, but I understand that it won't fit. Also, if the Enviro 1700 won't fit, then neither will the PE T5 or Super or the Regency 2400. Sounds like fireplace depth is your limiting issue. With your size house, I would check the dimensions of the Lopi Freedom and Osburn 2400 to see if either would work. 2500 sqft is a lot of house for the Enviro 1200. Enviro makes a great stove though. Their not as popular as some of the other brands, but every review you read on this forum is positive. I would definitely buy from them again.

 

[kingquad]

I started this post earlier, and got sidetracked doing some housework.

Before buying my Enviro 1700, I looked at the PE Super, Regency 2400, Lopi 1750, and Enviro Kodiak 1700. All very well respected brands. The PE has the nicest baffle system, but is the smallest and was very close on my lintel height. I didn't care for the Lopi dealer, so I passed on that brand. The Lopi 1750 is built like a tank though. In the end, it came down to the Regency and Enviro. The Regency was also very close on height, but the dealer was willing to take it back if it didn't work for me. They are very similar in construction. I bought the Enviro without actually seeing it, a decision I did not regret. I did a pretty extensive inspection of the Regency though. The door latch is the only thing I liked better on the Regency, compared to the Enviro. It's very stout. The Enviro has beefier burn tubes and they are slid into place rather than screwed(one less thing to break). The Enviro also has a variable speed blower that is very quiet and comes standard on the insert. The Regency has a two speed blower which doesn't come standard on the unit. The Enviro also has a removable flue collar, which was great for my tight install. Price on both units was pretty close, but the Enviro was slightly cheaper.

There are lots of great brands and stoves out there. Make sure you buy from a good dealer who will support you if you run into any problems. I personally haven't seen the Montlake (it's a newer stove), but the Lennox/Country line is supposed to be pretty nice and well built.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Your going to have to find something with a cook top or just improvise.....

 

[blacktail]

Lopi 1750?
(broken link removed to http://www.lopistoves.com/product-detail.aspx?model=303#dim-tab)

 

[MrsFlea]

Awesome. The good thing is I do also have a really nice fireplace insert in the basment plus zone heating with my fuel oil. We were hoping to use the Kodiak 1200 in the living room as supplement heat. So it really only needs to heat the main area of the downstairs of the house. Having a hot surface during a power outage to make coffee or tea on would be ideal. My percolator is 5" on bottom and a nice half kettle too should suffice. This is all great feedback. Looks like I came to the right place.

 

[MrsFlea]

Another biggie will be wether or not the 1200 will burn seasoned hardwood through the night because there is nothing worse to waking up in the morning to a pile of ash ...

 

[branchburner]

I definitely want an insert with power outage cooking capabilities...

Keep in mind, an insert (as opposed to a free-standing stove) is not only deficient in power-outage cooking capabilities, it is also deficient in power-outage HEATING capabilities. An insert typically is more dependent upon a blower to maximize heat, so going without a blower for a few days can be a problem in some situations.

In my fireplace, I chose a free-standing stove to maximize both heating and cooking capabilities should I be without electricity for a day, week. month, year or decade.

 

[mwatt65]

I have the Enviro cabello 1200 last year was my first year burning, overnight burns were hard because the fire box is a little small! (kodiak is the same size)
I might of been a little nervous packing the fire, but i'm ready to play tetris with it this year

 

[kingquad]

Another biggie will be wether or not the 1200 will burn seasoned hardwood through the night because there is nothing worse to waking up in the morning to a pile of ash ...

You would probably have enough coals for an easy restart, but the insert probably wouldn't be making a whole lot of heat.

What are your fireplace dimensions?

 

[MrsFlea]

42" wide 24 1/2" high and 20" deep

The masonry fireplace has a steel box form (hetalator) so the slope restricts the height a bit

 

[kingquad]

42" wide 24 1/2" high and 20" deep

The masonry fireplace has a steel box form (hetalator) so the slope restricts the height a bit

I would take a look at the Lopi Freedom or the Osburn 2400 if I were you. Both will easily pull off an overnight burn, and could probably heat most of your home too.

 

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

This probably isn't the answer you want but you can boil water in a paper cup with a candle if you choose to. I suggest you consider a small camp propane stove and avoid scratches on your insert or worse boil overs. I am not trying to be a smart *ss, because I also considered cooking stew on my wood stove when I bought it

I've done both on my old Ashley Wood stove insert. Naturally the cast iron pot can't be as big as the one that would go on the kitchen stove, but it can be done with care.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm