Need Advice - Wood Stove for under $3000

[mdmallard]

Hello everyone,

I have been on this website a lot for the past month or so, but finally decided to post to the forum. My wife and I recently bought a 2400 sq. ft, two story colonial. There is currently an old Blaze King that is probably 40 years old. This thing is a mammoth beast. The stove is on the first floor in the family room. I have heated the house with it the past few nights when we were in the 10's and 20's outside. It did a pretty good job with floor fans moving the heat around. I would like to use the new stove to supplement the electric heat pump.

We would like to buy a new one that is more efficient with the wood and better on the eyes than the Blaze King. We'd like to spend $2000-$3000 on the new stove. Maryland has a $500 tax credit if you buy a wood stove that emits 3.0 grams or less per hour. I am pretty new to the wood stove world and I'm still not sure if we should buy a steel, cast iron or soapstone stove.

I have done a lot of research and narrowed it down to the following stoves:

Steel
- Quadrafire 4300 Millennium, $1949 ( $1349 after MD tax credit and $100 quadrafire rebate), 3000 sq ft

Cast Iron
- Jotul 50 Rangely, $2559 ($2059 after MD tax credit), 2500 sq. ft
- Quadrafire Explorer II, $2459 ($1859 after MD tax credit and $100 quadrafire rebate) 3400 sq ft
- Quadrafire Isle Royale, $2709 ($2109 after MD tax credit and $100 quadrafire rebate) 3400 sq. ft

Soapstone
- Hearthstone Manchester 8360, $2749 ($2249 after MD tax credit), 2400 sq ft

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, MDMallard

 

[Fsappo]

I would throw the Hearthstone Mansfield into the mix. For my customers and myself, that stove has been bullet poof, idiot proof, beautiful

 

[Grisu]

What kind of flue does the BK have? Most newer stoves (including all the ones you are looking at) need a 6" flue to draft properly.

When looking at a stove it is better to go with the firebox size than the sqft rating for potential heat output. The larger the firebox, the more wood can be burned and the more heat you will get out of it. Sqft numbers often seem to be made up in the sales department. For your size home (and I assume older and therefore not that well insulated) a stove with a 3 cu ft firebox would be appropriate. That would mainly be the Isle Royale and Manchester with the F50 coming close.

Other options would be the Woodstock Progress Hybrid or the more modern-looking Ideal Steel. Woodstock sells only factory direct but has one of the best customer services in the industry. Both models have an additional catalyst which allows more even heat output and longer burn times at milder outside temps. The same is true of the BlazeKing 30 series (Ashford, Chinook, Sirocco). Another one that would fit your requirements is the Lopi Cape Cod. It's a relatively new stove and initial reviews have been mixed so do a search in the forum. I recommend that also for any of the other stoves you are considering.

All of those stoves will require dry wood to give you enough heat and burn safely. How many cords do you have and when has that wood been split and stacked in a sunny and windy location?

 

[mdmallard]

What kind of flue does the BK have? Most newer stoves (including all the ones you are looking at) need a 6" flue to draft properly.

When looking at a stove it is better to go with the firebox size than the sqft rating for potential heat output. The larger the firebox, the more wood can be burned and the more heat you will get out of it. Sqft numbers often seem to be made up in the sales department. For your size home (and I assume older and therefore not that well insulated) a stove with a 3 cu ft firebox would be appropriate. That would mainly be the Isle Royale and Manchester with the F50 coming close.

Other options would be the Woodstock Progress Hybrid or the more modern-looking Ideal Steel. Woodstock sells only factory direct but has one of the best customer services in the industry. Both models have an additional catalyst which allows more even heat output and longer burn times at milder outside temps. The same is true of the BlazeKing 30 series (Ashford, Chinook, Sirocco). Another one that would fit your requirements is the Lopi Cape Cod. It's a relatively new stove and initial reviews have been mixed so do a search in the forum. I recommend that also for any of the other stoves you are considering.

All of those stoves will require dry wood to give you enough heat and burn safely. How many cords do you have and when has that wood been split and stacked in a sunny and windy location?

The Blaze King has an 8" pipe.

 

[mdmallard]

And our house was built in 1980, but It seems very well built. There is 2x6 exterior framing (rare in MD) with significant insulation. The windows are older and need to be replaced though.

 

[mellow]

Since you already have the 8" pipe and have a good amount of space I would look at the new BK King, I know it is a little more than your budget but you can already see how those things hold up.

Do you not like the looks of the new Blaze King King?

 

[mdmallard]

Since you already have the 8" pipe and have a good amount of space I would look at the new BK King, I know it is a little more than your budget but you can already see how those things hold up.

Do you not like the looks of the new Blaze King King?

The Blaze King King looks pretty nice. I am just scared of catalytic stoves. I've read too many horror stories online of them needing to be replaced after only a few years.

 

[lopiliberty]

I've read too many horror stories online of them needing to be replaced after only a few years.

You must have been reading about Vermont Castings. I've read absolutely nothing bad about a blaze king stove

 

[Grisu]

The Blaze King King looks pretty nice. I am just scared of catalytic stoves. I've read too many horror stories online of them needing to be replaced after only a few years.

Not when you treat a modern catalytic stove properly i. e. don't burn painted or pressure-treated wood, no colerprint paper, no trash, unapproved firestarters etc. And check our door seals regularly as that is a major reason for early cat failure. BK has found that many of their catalysts were still serviceable after 10 years of use. For that extra care you get extended burn times, more regulated heat output and a cleaner burn. Quite a few members here upgraded to a catalytic stove after burning in a secondary burn stove for years and have not looked back.

 

[Grisu]

The Blaze King has an 8" pipe.

That's a bit tough as only very large stoves need an 8" pipe and those may be a bit overkill for you. A BK King would probably be ok as you can run it on low for most of the time.

What is behind the thimble? Is that a masonry flue? Does it have a liner?

 

[bholler]

you should also look at the regency line as well they are very similar to the quads and they have their hampton line that is cast. Also no need to be afraid of a good new cat stove there were problems with many of the old ones but most out now are good

 

[mellow]

BK has a 6 year prorated warranty on their cats, I thought it was 10 but this says 6. (broken link removed to http://www.blazeking.com/EN/faq.html)

 

[charger4406]

BK has a 6 year prorated warranty on their cats, I thought it was 10 but this says 6

Mine has the 10 yr warranty on the cat.

 

[Niko]

save up a lil more and get a Blaze King! It took me 1 year of research and I love my Stove. I purchased the King Ultra and its worth every single penny. Took me less then 1 week to figure it out and from their its pretty much memory muscle About your comment on looks, I think that is a silly way to make a educated purchase.

 

[bholler]

About your comment on looks, I think that is a silly way to make a educated purchase.

i totally disagree that can be a big part of it now i am not saying get a stove just because you like the look regardless of performance but get something you like

 

[BobUrban]

you can vent a 6" stove into an 8" chimney but not the other way around and meet code(as I understand it) Some set ups tolerate it better than others. If your current system is dumping into a masonry chimney all the better - Just line it. If not then you can go 6" to the thimble and use a reducer/expander connection into the 8". I am doing just that with no problems but some find it reduces draft.

If you are dumping into an 8" liner try it for a season and if you don't like the draft just replace the liner.

You could get and NC30 and a whole new chimney system or liner with your planned budget very likely - although it may not meet your cosmetic desire it would certainly rival the heat output of the others listed. And don't be afraid of a quality cat - they seem to be darn nice for many members here.

 

[mellow]

get something you like

Make sure to get the approval of the other half.

 

[marty319]

76I would look at the enviro 2100 a friend has one and it kicks butt, www.enviro.com i have the kodiak 1700 and couldnt be more pleased just my 2 cents

 

[Tenn Dave]

About your comment on looks, I think that is a silly way to make a educated purchase.

If very long burn times and controllability are your primary concerns, then BK's are hard to beat. If form and function are both important, then definitely take a look at the Woodstock Progress Hybrid. There are also other very good stove options out there. When I was looking to buy a new stove a couple of years ago, I needed a stove that would be a great performer and also serve as a piece of fine looking furniture. I went with the Progress Hybrid and have never looked back. Good luck with your search.

 

[Niko]

Dont get me wrong but if we are all wood burners then im guesing we are the type of guys that arent fancy. Im not promoting a product as it might sound like but let me give you a analogy.

Some people go out to eat they like white linen tables, fancy wine glasses, fancy culinary food that looks awesome on your plate, so awesome you want to just sit their and admire it. In the end the bill comes and its 200 bucks for 2 people, your happy your plates are clean but you still hungry. Gotta get more food so you go out and get some delicous dessert from a fresh french pastry shop.

Other people go to a local place nice booth seats with a wood table, New York Jets beer mug, a big ass cowboy steak with vegatbles and potatoes. Tv screens that you admire when your team has a horrible year(lol). In the end the bill comes out and its 200 bucks for 2 people.

But here is the huge difference you are full and just want to go to bed and never eat again. You dont need any more food or dessert maybe some more beer.

So in the end im not dating my stove and ii domt hang out with it 12 hrs a day its meant to produce heat. Granted their are other stoves that are better looking for when you do stare at it like the ones that look like huge cylinders i forget the name but they are like 6000 dollars.

In bed with a nice warm house and dont have to worry about putting wood in for like 20hrs plus. Got it at 2.75!

 

[drewberry24]

Where are you in Maryland? I ask because someone already mentioned a Regency, and since I also have one I would recommend them as well. The dealer that did my install was very reasonably priced, especially when compared to other dealers in the area.

Although based on the status of your wood supply you may want to hang on to the stove you have until you get some dry wood--unless you already have that. A new stove isn't much without good dry wood.

 

[mdmallard]

I live in Howard County. I saw a Regency (not sure what model) at Ace Hardware that seemed reasonably priced. I have plenty of dry/seasoned wood. The previous owner had a lot of oak cut and stacked when we bought the house. I also took down a dead locust tree that I cut and split. I checked freshly cut pieces with my moisture meter and it had 13% moisture in it.

 

[mdmallard]

I went on the roof a few weeks ago to clean my gutters and checked out the chimney while I was up there. It is a terra cotta pipe... 9x12 I think.

 

[mellow]

With that info, I would run an insulated 6" liner down the chimney and convert to 6" at the crock/thimble, reason being it is easier to clean and will draft better, that will also open you up to a myriad of 6" stoves to pick from, one was already mentioned, the Englander 30 NC is a favorite budget stove here, can be sometimes had for under $800 brand new, so in theory as previously mentioned you could get the whole setup and be within your budget.

http://www.englanderstoves.com/30-nc.html

As this will be to supplement the heat pump I think that would be a good choice.

 

[mdmallard]

I was told that I should just run new 6" stove pipe to an 8" increaser at the thimble. I'd rather buy a better stove and not spend any money on the chimney/liner if it's not necessary.