Need help picking a wood stove

[DonnaRay]

I am looking for a bit of advice. We are putting up a new square log cabin in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Here is what I THINK may be relevant:

1) Winter (needing heat) can last 4 months. It's likely we will use it twice a month for a couple days at a time, and maybe twice a year for a week or so (only one of those being potential winter)
2) It will be reasonably airtight.
3) It will have electricity, and a little plumbing (toilet, kitchen area sink, bathroom sink, shower)
4) The footprint is only 350 feet, with a loft of about 125 ft.
5) The foundation is slab

We are really dead set on heating with a wood stove. Of course, we love the soapstone look and efficiency. BUT, money (as you may have guessed by the description of the cabin) is an issue. What we are looking for in a stove is:

1)Safety
2) Keep us warm
3) Small stove to wall distance (remember, 350 feet is all we have)
4) viewable fire
5) adorable

Because of the plumbing, we are probably going to do radiant floor heating , keeping at an above freezing temp (husband's choice). I think we may be able to just do regular wood plank floors, and maybe some baseboard heating around the plumbing....but that is still up in the air.

Husband keeps talking about our stove needs as if we were putting up the Taj Mahal. I think they may be minimal based on the area.

PLEASE.....any advice on what we should pick, or what we should at least be looking for?

Thanks for your expertise!
Donna

 

[begreen]

Almost any small stove would do here. The real issues are clearances and overheating the space. You can burn smaller fires once the place has warmed up so I am going to suggest a small Morso like the 1440, a Jotul 602CB, or Englander VL17 for starters.

http://www.morsona.com/Classic-stoves-527.aspx
(broken link removed to http://jotul.com/us/products/stoves/Jotul-F-602)
http://www.englanderstoves.com/17-vl.html

 

[MasterMech]

Because of the plumbing, we are probably going to do radiant floor heating , keeping at an above freezing temp (husband's choice).

Hopefully there are no extended power outages in sub-freezing weather. Maybe consider adding a way to back-drain the plumbing and fore go the electric heat altogether or use it only as a backup?

 

[NortheastAl]

Hopefully there are no extended power outages in sub-freezing weather. Maybe consider adding a way to back-drain the plumbing and fore go the electric heat altogether or use it only as a backup?

Definitely would save a lot of money not having to keep it above freezing with electric radiant heat. My house has a back drain outside that was installed on the main. It closes off and drains into a dry well. I'm sure you could easily have that added when doing the construction. I would do it regardless of whether or not you use the radiant heat.

 

[begreen]

Agreed, in a cabin, in very cold country I would minimize plumbing and have it all easily drainable upon departure. Insulate the floor and consider electric baseboard or propane (if reasonable in your area) instead. Or maybe just get a nice used RV and drive it up to the property?

 

[oldnfat2]

Definitely would save a lot of money not having to keep it above freezing with electric radiant heat. My house has a back drain outside that was installed on the main. It closes off and drains into a dry well. I'm sure you could easily have that added when doing the construction. I would do it regardless of whether or not you use the radiant heat.

How do you like your Endeavor? I'm looking at that 1 n the Liberty model. Heating a 1500 sq ' home.Does yours have coals left in the mornin?

 

[NortheastAl]

How do you like your Endeavor? I'm looking at that 1 n the Liberty model. Heating a 1500 sq ' home.Does yours have coals left in the mornin?

I love my Endeavor. Only had it since right before Christmas but it heats our 1600 sq ft very well. I can load it at 10pm and have plenty of coals at 6am to restart quickly. I've restarted without kindling at 10 hrs too. It's a great stove.