So after going through stove choices over and over in my head (and a bunch of PM's with BG) I decided on PE T4 for my basement, to replace my Jotul 602. The 602 worked o.k. for the space (800 sq ft) but had to be run way too HOT to do it. The basement is a stone foundation and gets pretty darn cold down there in the winter (low as 52*F).
So after ordering the T4, I started thinking that maybe I should just get the T5 instead, for a few reasons. I always remember reading on the forum to take the stove that has heating specs that would work, and go one bigger. I also read about the E-W loading of the T4 being a bit of a PITA. The T5 gave me a bigger stove, a firebox to allow N-S loading, and would also allow me to relocate it up to the living room of my house if I ever decided to go that route in the future. So I changed my order and the T5 arrived 2 weeks ago.
Hoping its not WAY oversized for the area, but I guess i could leave the basement door open to the upstairs if needed. I'm only a "weekend burner" and not looking to offset my primary fuel usage -- just looking for a nice heater for the Man Cave in the winters. Will post pics when its all hooked up and ready to go, as right now its just sort of sitting in the space where I want it to be hooked up.
2 Questions:
1) Break-in fire procedures for this stove? I've never had to break in a stove before. The Jotul was handed down to me.
2) Stove top thermometer placement? Because the Alderleas have the swivel out warming trays on top, I wasn't sure if that was the best place for the Thermometer to go, or if another place would be better.
As always, thanks for any thoughts or info!!
So after ordering the T4, I started thinking that maybe I should just get the T5 instead, for a few reasons. I always remember reading on the forum to take the stove that has heating specs that would work, and go one bigger. I also read about the E-W loading of the T4 being a bit of a PITA. The T5 gave me a bigger stove, a firebox to allow N-S loading, and would also allow me to relocate it up to the living room of my house if I ever decided to go that route in the future. So I changed my order and the T5 arrived 2 weeks ago.
Hoping its not WAY oversized for the area, but I guess i could leave the basement door open to the upstairs if needed. I'm only a "weekend burner" and not looking to offset my primary fuel usage -- just looking for a nice heater for the Man Cave in the winters. Will post pics when its all hooked up and ready to go, as right now its just sort of sitting in the space where I want it to be hooked up.
2 Questions:
1) Break-in fire procedures for this stove? I've never had to break in a stove before. The Jotul was handed down to me.
2) Stove top thermometer placement? Because the Alderleas have the swivel out warming trays on top, I wasn't sure if that was the best place for the Thermometer to go, or if another place would be better.
As always, thanks for any thoughts or info!!