New Englander 17 vl up and running--beautifully

[Englishteacher]

After 6 frustrating years of trying to get my Jotul 3 to burn effectively with little success-even with all kinds of valuable advice from this site, I began to look for another stove. The Englander had caught my eye right away for reasons of look, footprint/clearances, the positive comments on this site about the stove, and the fact that one of its own was involved in its development. Once I got the wife go ahead I made the move. Jotul out-Englander in.
In fairness to Jotul and a relief for me we discovered that an improper install of the Jotul might have been the culprit. The installer did not use the included top flue collar adaptor, merely used a crimped end to insert it, never attached it to the stove and it later rode all the way up into the slip connector that had been placed over it.

That, however, is water now finally under the bridge and my new Englander is better even than advertised. All the talk about burn cycles, properly seasoned wood, radiant and convection now make sense in a stove that is functioning even beyond expectations---with easily accessible and responsive tech support from Englander as a bonus. I’m burning it in April just because I want to and with each burn I learn more about not only the basics of burning a modern stove but the nuances as well. The efficiency is remarkable and the blower makes this thing a blast furnace. I’m back to enjoying wood burning again. Thanks for all the helpful advice here in helping me get to this point. I’m probably the only guy around who wishes it were November and not April.

 

[mellow]

You might be able to burn it once again this weekend. Throw up some pics of your install when you get a chance.

 

[Jags]

Yeah, we like pics.
Sounds like you are golden with that little stove. What kind of burn times and stove top temps is it holding? I know the young lad that developed the stove and Englander was proud as a new papa when it came out.

 

[SmokingAndPoking]

Still smiling

 

[Jags]

Still smiling

Where ya been young lad??

 

[begreen]

Still smiling

One of these days I'm going to get a chance to try this little beauty.

 

[Englishteacher]

It takes a while to get going, and I think there's a learning curve in that. Once it's cranked up it seems to cruise effortlessly at @550 and stay there even as the half full firebox burns down. I haven't really let it go yet since it's about 70 degrees outside and I'm still getting to know this stove and my wife has only so much patience. But his thing is not just some bonfire in a box, it clearly has its way of burning. The manual talks about charring before achieving a good burn and it's true. You can see the efficiency of the burn right before your eyes. Better than TV. I'll try to upload some pix if I can figure it out.

 

[yooperdave]

I bought the nc-13 but did consider the 17 seriously before I settled on my choice. Definetly interested in seeing pics of it in action!! Good job!
Englander has a very good customer service department.

 

[Woody Stover]

The installer did not use the included top flue collar adaptor, merely used a crimped end to insert it, never attached it to the stove and it later rode all the way up into the slip connector that had been placed over it

Sheesh. Stove installation is no place to be cutting corners.

I’m burning it in April just because I want to

the blower makes this thing a blast furnace... I’m probably the only guy around who wishes it were November and not April. .

How are these Englander blowers, pretty quiet?
I'm glad it's April; I need to stack more wood to insure that my reserve grows instead of shrinking.

 

[Oldhippie]

I’m probably the only guy around who wishes it were November and not April.

Aye-Yi-Yi!! please no more winter!

 

[billb3]

Isn't that a 17 in your sig pic avatar ?

 

[Englishteacher]

Old stove- pretty face New stove-pretty hot






First charred burn after breakin Better than TV



I would not describe the blower as whisper quiet, more like all business. But it moves some serious hot air especially if you're looking for curculation. My old stove could not turn corners this blower does that. It's strictly a manual contol, off/low/high, but it's easily accessable at the cooler rear of the stove and if you want it you turn it on, when you've had enough turn it off, not something you'd leave on overnight.





I hope this pix upload works.

 

[raybonz]

Congrats ET! Now some pics

Ray

 

[BrotherBart]

The VA/DC/MD Craigslist has one running brand new that the owner couldn't get installed. $499.

 

[joecool85]

We love our 17. As a heads up, it likes small splits. We find splits that are between 2" and 4" across perfect. Much larger than that and it just doesn't burn as well. We normally get 2-3 hours between loads and burn mostly softwood.

 

[Englishteacher]

I think you're right. I've also found it won't even deal with poorly seasoned wood. With former stoves I could throw an unseasoned piece in among seasoned pieces and it would burn OK. In this stove an unseasoned piece just sits there. It's like the stove won't even acknowlege the wood's existance. On this site many times I've seen posts about the importance of properly seasoned wood. It is absolutely true with this stove, but with a properly seasoned split it looks like it's sucking every possible BTU out of each piece.

 

[joecool85]

I think you're right. I've also found it won't even deal with poorly seasoned wood. With former stoves I could throw an unseasoned piece in among seasoned pieces and it would burn OK. In this stove an unseasoned piece just sits there. It's like the stove won't even acknowlege the wood's existance. On this site many times I've seen posts about the importance of properly seasoned wood. It is absolutely true with this stove, but with a properly seasoned split it looks like it's sucking every possible BTU out of each piece.

I agree entirely. Sometimes and unseasoned split will sit there for 2 loads of regular/dry splits before it burns down. That said, it's always best to burn fully seasoned and dry wood anyway. And you are right, it puts out some serious heat for such a small stove. People can't believe it when they come into my house and it's a frigid -10F outside but a toasty 72F inside thanks to our little gem of a stove. Only downside I can find is the lack of burn time. I'd love to be able to get an overnight burn. Or even just have coals in the morning. In the 2 seasons we've had this stove I could count on 1 hand how many times we've had enough coals in the morning to start a fire.

 

[Englishteacher]

I agree. I haven't had an opportunity to try an all night burn, but I think it would be tough. And especially because it has a slow and rather long start up time, I could see how having to literally start cold each morning could get old and the need to have plenty of kindling around. Fortunately my wife stays up late and I get up early. That might be our best strategy.
My home is modestly sized and pretty-well insulated. It's our goal to heat 24/7 and we don't have the temp extremes down our way that you folks experience, so we'll see. Haven't you seen where the Washington DC gov't shuts down with an inch of snow. They're not exactly mountain men down this way.

 

[joecool85]

I disagree on the long startup time. I can get usable heat out of the stove in 15-20 minutes no issue what-so-ever. What I do is use some kindling split down to about 1" square, normally full length (15"-16"). Put in some crumpled newspaper (only takes 1-2 sheets) and then the kindling stacked loosely on top. Then put 1 or 2 pieces of 2-4" splits on top of that kinda towards the back of the stove. Light it up and leave the door cracked till it's all lit. Slowly close the door (sometimes I do it in 2-3 steps over a couple minutes). Once the door is closed wait till the stove temp gets up to 300F, then back down the damper to half. This short "starter load" will only burn 30-45 minutes really, so pay attention then load in your normal load on top once this has burned down. I try to always reload at 300F or higher, but not higher than 450F. Reload temps depend on species of tree, level of seasoning, size of split and desired heat output.

I try to use pine for my small kindling and willow for my 2-4" starter splits. Not an issue since I have an abundance of both around here. Temps measured via magnetic thermometer on side of the stove at the top front of the right hand side, maybe 1" below the stove top. Hope that helps.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

Congrats! Looks great. I love my 17. I thought I might be done for the season, but we had one last cool day today so she is burning away as I type. The blower really does take this stove to whole different level. You could do what I did and wire the receptacle that the blower is plugged in on a wall switch. Makes it a little nicer.

 

[joecool85]

I never found the blower necessary, so I sold it to a fellow hearth.com member.

 

[Englishteacher]

I haven't done too many start ups yet, but I can tell there's a learning curve. I'll try that approach next start up which looks like it might be this weekend. Thanks.
I'm suprised, although I've only had 5-6 burns, how long the stove stays at a cruising temp without falling off. I'll walk over, look at the wood burning down, get ready to put in a piece, look at the thermometer- placed as you said- and see that's it's still burning a 450-500 or so, and it stays that way for a while. I'm hoping my wood consumption might go down with this stove as well.
MM, your posts on this site helped me decide on this stove.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

MM, your posts on this site helped me decide on this stove.

Awesome. Maybe I should work on commission...lol..

 

[Dix]

I have always liked the look of the 17. Nice

A bigger firebox would be awesome on the stove, I think !

 

[Pallet Pete]

That is beautiful ! Very very very cozy looking install.

Pete