looking to switch to a larger stove and have ??????'s

[T.J]

Hello all...I've been around the forum for awhile, "lurker", but this is my first time posting. I currently have a 1188 square foot ranch home heated by a lopi republic 1250. It does a good job, but has its limitations once the temps drop below 32. Hard to get overnight burns due to the 1.6 fire box. We are putting an addition to our home which will increase the square footage to around 1588. I feel this stove will definitely struggle to keep the home at a comfortable temperature, especially for my wife who likes to cook me at 80 degrees or higher ( I'm comfortable at 70). We don't have a large budget, so cast iron or soapstone is out of the question, I've been keeping an eye on CL in case a deal pops up. So I've read a lot of forums on the Englanders and drolets, I have a local Lowe's and home depot so getting either isn't an issue. I'd like a larger fire box so I can try and achieve overnight burns and add more wood in the mornings when I leave for work so its not freezing when I get home..I had the lopi installed 3 seasons ago, all new pipe and hearth, but it was built to the specifications of the lopi stove. So now I fear I can't really add a different larger stove due to there is not much R value under my current set up (I know the englander requires 1.5. I have a concrete foundation, hearth is a wood corner construction with a stone tile on top of that raise about 4 inches off of the concrete foundation, and a stone backing on the wall around it. Would a drolet be a better solution? From what I've found the foundation only needs to be non combustible (no specific R value required). The specs are close on the drolet legend, except its a lot deeper which pushes the stove close to the edge of my hearth in the front. Any information/clarification is appreciated. Or if I'm incorrect about anything please tell me. Thanks all.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Welcome to the forum T.J.

Perhaps a better stove might not fit your budget and we can relate as we've been there before. I can tell you thought that had we did this over again and knew then what we know now, we would have went for the more expensive stove and would have been better off. We were heating our old drafty place with a much larger stove than we have not and burning lots of wood. We'd even close off part of the house as the temperature went down, especially when it got down into the teens and below.

A bit over 6 years ago we finally broke down and got our present stove and the benefits are tremendous. The best part is that we no longer close of part of the house (and have even enlarged it), we stay warm all winter no matter the temperature (we keep our house at 80 or above all winter) and the real kicker is that we use only half the amount of wood we used to burn. So the extra dollars were well worth it. So you might keep this in mind as you are shopping.

In addition, occasionally Woodstock will sell some refurbished stoves for a discount but not too often. You'd have to call them and have them keep you updated as to when they might have one. Their number is 800-866-4344. You can see their web site at www.woodstove.com

Good luck.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Welcome to the forum T.J.

Perhaps a better stove might not fit your budget and we can relate as we've been there before. I can tell you thought that had we did this over again and knew then what we know now, we would have went for the more expensive stove and would have been better off. We were heating our old drafty place with a much larger stove than we have not and burning lots of wood. We'd even close off part of the house as the temperature went down, especially when it got down into the teens and below.

A bit over 6 years ago we finally broke down and got our present stove and the benefits are tremendous. The best part is that we no longer close of part of the house (and have even enlarged it), we stay warm all winter no matter the temperature (we keep our house at 80 or above all winter) and the real kicker is that we use only half the amount of wood we used to burn. So the extra dollars were well worth it. So you might keep this in mind as you are shopping.

In addition, occasionally Woodstock will sell some refurbished stoves for a discount but not too often. You'd have to call them and have them keep you updated as to when they might have one. Their number is 800-866-4344. You can see their web site at www.woodstove.com

Good luck.

Wow BS what make and model was your old stove. It must have been a NON EPA smoke dragon to give that poor a performance.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

For sure as that stove was made somewhere around 1980. It was an Ashley. One of the worst is we had to clean the chimney several times every year.

 

[T.J]

Well unfortunatly its a money thing...I understand that buying a more pricey stove would benefit me and eventually pay for itself in terms of wood usage etc. But with the new addition to the house (and family). We won't have that kind of money for a few more seasons. I'm more concerned with properly installing, or getting a larger stove that can be properly and safely installed on my current hearth without clearance or R value issues. Maybe going up to the Republic 1750?? Anyone have any input on that stove?? Could it adequately heat a 1580 square foot home? The dimensions seem to match up with the install of my 1250, just a little deeper stove. I bought my current stove used, so selling it again to a deserving wood enthusiast will help offset the purchase of a new one.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

TJ, more folks will be chiming in here with more suggestions. Have you considered an Englander? And hey, the stove we had before our present one was a used stove. Barely used, and we got a whale of a bargain, but we had a bit of a problem with the dollar situation at the time. It kept us from freezing.

 

[T.J]

Yes I've looked and read up on the Englanders and Drolets. Just don't know if either could work with my current hearth set up.

 

[jaunty.Joe]

OP -

I'm a little unclear as to the details of your existing hearth, but this might help you determine your current R-Value, and what additions may or may not be needed to accommodate the R-Value of the Englander or Drolet you were looking at. Don't forget to look at clearances to combustibles as well. Good luck!

(broken link removed to http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/horvalue.htm)

 

[PapaDave]

TJ, welcome to the Hearth.
Glad you finally jumped in.
So, are you saying the existing hearth is on a concrete slab?
If that's the case, you shouldn't have a problem with any stove installed.
I'm in a similar situation, and plan to wait for the stove I really want. Problem is, there are more new stoves coming out soon, so more stoves to choose from.

 

[Tenn Dave]

TJ, welcome to the Hearth.
Glad you finally jumped in.
So, are you saying the existing hearth is on a concrete slab?
If that's the case, you shouldn't have a problem with any stove installed.
I'm in a similar situation, and plan to wait for the stove I really want. Problem is, there are more new stoves coming out soon, so more stoves to choose from.

Yes, sometimes it is better to wait then to settle........at least that has been my personal experience

 

[jeff_t]

So, are you saying the existing hearth is on a concrete slab?
If that's the case, you shouldn't have a problem with any stove installed.

Sounds a raised hearth is built of wood with tile on top for an ember protection only, no R-value hearth, sitting on a concrete slab floor?

Here's a thread that may help with the R-value thing
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-only-ember-protection-now-with-a-poll.70874/

 

[T.J]

Yes, concrete slab foundation, removed the carpet and build a hearth out of 2x4s and plywood, covered with slate tiles from home depot to make the hearth non combustible...Yes, unfortunately I only feel the reprocussions of jumping the gun once I want to enhance or upgrade hehe...Anywho needed to keep warm and the lopi 1250 fit the bill at $400 at the time for the square footage.

 

[webby3650]

See if any of your local hearth shops carry Enerzone stoves from SBI. They make a great product, and are priced nicely. Look at the 2.9.

 

[T.J]

Does it change something since its a wood based hearth on a cement slab? Rather then just being directly on the slab? I assumed it did...or else I would figure my cement foundation the be more than enough on the R value for any stove.

 

[BrotherBart]

Nah. The R value has to between the stove and the combustible wood.

 

[fossil]

...I would figure my cement foundation the be more than enough on the R value for any stove.

Take out everything combustible between the stove and the slab, and you're golden.

 

[fossil]

...build a hearth out of 2x4s and plywood, covered with slate tiles from home depot to make the hearth non combustible..

You didn't build a non-combustible hearth, you built something that will provide ember protection only.

 

[T.J]

Ohhh right.....that's what my brain was thinking, I dont know why I wrote non combustible. But there are other stoves out there which only require ember protection correct? Along with proper clearances of course. I would hate to rip out a couple of hundred bucks of nice slate etc...maybe something like going up to the 1750 version is my only option.

 

[Augie]

I currently have a 1188 square foot ranch home heated by a lopi republic 1250. It does a good job, but has its limitations once the temps drop below 32. Hard to get overnight burns due to the 1.6 fire box. We are putting an addition to our home which will increase the square footage to around 1588. I feel this stove will definitely struggle to keep the home at a comfortable temperature, especially for my wife who likes to cook me at 80 degrees or higher ( I'm comfortable at 70).

I have the 1750 version of this stove. @.2 Cu Ft Firebox. Really nice heat output and keeps me tosty down below zero the few nights we had it last year.

 

[webby3650]

Ohhh right.....that's what my brain was thinking, I dont know why I wrote non combustible. But there are other stoves out there which only require ember protection correct? Along with proper clearances of course. I would hate to rip out a couple of hundred bucks of nice slate etc...maybe something like going up to the 1750 version is my only option.

Most stoves on the market require ember protection only. Most manufacturers are steering that direction.

 

[fossil]

...there are other stoves out there which only require ember protection correct?

Absolutely.

 

[T.J]

Hmm good to know, I suppose ill just have to find a stove in the desired range which clearances will still be met by my current set up. Am I correct about the drolets requiring no R value on the floor?

 

[Seasoned Oak]

For sure as that stove was made somewhere around 1980. It was an Ashley. One of the worst is we had to clean the chimney several times every year.

Thats where a lot of your BTUs were going,to coat the flue walls instead of burning.

 

[webby3650]

Hmm good to know, I suppose ill just have to find a stove in the desired range which clearances will still be met by my current set up. Am I correct about the drolets requiring no R value on the floor?

Thats correct. Drolet is made by SBI that I referenced above.
Enerzone is another line of stoves from SBI that are available through dealers. It's worth a look.

 

[T.J]

Gotcha, thank you ill take a look at that line.