Need suggestions on EPA certified stove in CO on a $1,000 budget

[spenceuiuc]

I doing a renovation on an addition to my house and plan to add a wood stove to supplement heat in the room. I've seen the cheap ones at Lowes (~$600) and went around to the specialty stores and saw a lot more expensive models (~$1400). Surely there is something in the middle that is a good quality stove. I'd really like to keep it under $1,000 but get a decent quality appliance seeing as how it will house a fire inside my house and all.

So, can anyone recommend a stove based on the following:

• EPA certified (City requires it for permitting)
• Sold/buyable in Colorado
• ~$1,000 budget for stove alone
• 240 sqft room, but with large opening that could allow heat transfer into rest of house (1,400sqft)
• Looking for ambiance more than whole-house heating
• Glass front to watch fire
• Want a stove on legs, not a pedestal option

Thanks!!

 

[claydogg84]

Many members of this forum love the Englander NC30. I believe it's around $800 @ Home Depot.

 

[hardwaregrrl]

1k for just the stove or is the chimney in that budget? I love my Englander 17VL....Heating about 600 sqft with it. Nice large window for viewing....small firebox. You can find them for 550 or so.

 

[spirilis]

Englander 17VL or the Madison (Englander 15-SSW01, Summers Heat 50-SHSSW01) sound good for that. Madison would be a serious heater for that space but lots of glass, 17VL would get you a nice fire in a compact package and still throw the heat a bit if you need it. That's assuming you can take a freestanding stove easily and aren't trying to fit it into a fireplace for instance...

(I believe 17VL only takes up to 16 inch splits arranged East/West, Madison can take 18 inch splits E/W or 16" splits N/S)

 

[usmc1371]

I just installed an Englander Madison and I can't say enough good things about it. Its heating my 1800 sq ft house as good as can be expected considering the lame floor plan ie hot in the living room and cool but comfy every place else. Loving the big front glass it makes for very atractive viewing of the fire. The stove was 750 at lowes.

 

[spenceuiuc]

Wow- thanks for all the quick replies! So the $1000 budget is for stove alone. Also, I forgot to mention that I'm looking for a stove with legs, not a pedestal option. I edited the first post accordingly.

It looks like the Englander 13-NCH or 30-NCH might fit the bill.

Anyone have experience with the Pleasant Hearth LWS-127201 for 1,800sqft? Lowes has it for $560 and its size + clearances would fit well.

Another option I found was the True North TN20- any input on this model?

 

[branchburner]

It looks like the Englander 13-NCH or 30-NCH might fit the bill.

Welcome to the forums.

Don't neglect the Englander Madison mentioned above, which falls between the 13 and the 30 in size, and seems well-suited for your needs. At least on these forum pages, the overall consensus seems to be that Englander stoves provide about as good a bang for the buck as you are likely to find, and happily are below budget and readily available at Lowes and HD.

True North is made by a very good company, PE, so is probably a good bet. I can't recall hearing much bad about Pleasant Hearth, but not much good, either. Based on the reputation here, I would take Englander over Pleasant Hearth. for about the same money. You could spend a little more for no real additional benefit, so unless you find a great gently-used stove you will have to go way above budget for any significant step up in quality, IMO.

 

[spenceuiuc]

Yeah honestly the Madison is perfect, except it's on a pedestals and not legs. I did a quick search and couldn't find if Englander makes legs as an option for the Madison- anyone know if they do? Thanks!

 

[Jags]

Not sure about leg options, but would like to point out that a couple of the stoves in question have high R value hearth requirements. Simply pointing it out as something to pay attention to.

 

[spirilis]

Yeah honestly the Madison is perfect, except it's on a pedestals and not legs. I did a quick search and couldn't find if Englander makes legs as an option for the Madison- anyone know if they do? Thanks!

No legs on the Madison. The stove is designed around the basis of being built atop a pedestal (and it's welded to it). The ash pan and OAK airflow is built into the pedestal.

 

[Ash]

If you have any Menard's in Colorado check out the Drolet Legend. Good stove at a good price

 

[spenceuiuc]

Also just found a nice used Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim- anyone have thoughts on that model?

 

[claydogg84]

Also just found a nice used Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim- anyone have thoughts on that model?

No.

 

[begreen]

Also just found a nice used Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim- anyone have thoughts on that model?

Walk away, Quickly!

The True North series stoves have received praise. That would be a much better choice along with the Englander Madison.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

Look at Englander ( AKA Summers Heat, Timber Ridge), Drolet, and True North(TN19). All will have stoves in your budget that are proven heaters.

 

[saskwoodburner]

1k for just the stove or is the chimney in that budget? I love my Englander 17VL....Heating about 600 sqft with it. Nice large window for viewing....small firebox. You can find them for 550 or so.

I agree with this. Too bad the poster wants a stove with legs.

 

[Cburke]

I run a timberwolf 2200, second season with it and noooo complaints with it. Heats my 2200sq foot home no problem and it's on legs. I think I paid around a grand or so for it. Also it's a napoleon product which even tho made in china (I think?)still makes me feel good. In retrospect I would have gone with the nc30 englander but I didn't have the clearance for one. Good luck!

 

[spenceuiuc]

Well, I think I'm gonna stick with the Englander 13-NCH, 30-NCH, or True North TN19 (I had mistakenly thought the TN20 was available). All seem like good options. I've got a couple more questions based on the remaining group:

• What are the advantages/disadvantages of the N-S loading of the TN19 vs the 13-NCH?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of going with a smaller (13-NCH/TN19) vs. larger firebox (30-NCH) for a scenario where it won't be the primary heat source for the whole house? Is it a bad idea to go with the larger 30-NCH/is it too large?
  
• Last, are there any other special characteristics I should be considering for a stove's application at an elevation of ~5,000ft?

Thanks again for all the discussion- it's been really helpful amidst my research into stoves (as a newbie), which has felt a bit overwhelming at times.

 

[Jags]

disadvantages of going with a smaller (13-NCH/TN19)

The 13 has a very high R value required for the hearth. Something to consider. It is a very capable unit but I believe that ESW is consciously designing new stoves to NOT need that high of R value going forwards (such as the Madison).
Unless you really have the ability to move air from that 240 sqft room - that 30 is gonna melt stuff off of the walls. You are talking about a big beast of a heater that loves to run north of 500F stovetop (cruise is often reported at 550-650F).
5000 Ft elevation should not really pose any special hurdles. Maybe need a touch more stack height, but that is doable.

 

[spenceuiuc]

Right on. I think hearth requirements will be okay for the 13-NCH. It's on a tile floor over concrete, has a brick wall behind it on one side (will be in a corner), but a wood-panel wall on the other side of the corner.

As I read the manual (link), it looks like it needs 13.5" from the corner of the unit to an uninsulated wall with no heat shields- does that look right to everyone? I can give it more than that clearance-wise to be cautious, if needed.

 

[Jags]

Right on. I think hearth requirements will be okay for the 13-NCH

Cool cuz that is a very capable little heater.