I've been burning this stove for a week now. I couldn't be happier with it! I previously had a VC Resolute Acclaim and was tired of putting several hundred dollars into it every 2-3 years.
The most surprising thing about this new stove is how much differently it burns and heats the house. The VC was a top load which I really liked but I am adjusting to front load - it helps that the stove is on a 6" hearth. The VC burned a load fairly quickly and then cooled fairly quickly. It came back up to temperature with a new load. The PE stove burns the load slower and then leaves a big pile of very hot coals for hours. This hot coal bed is something I didn't expect and I really like because it helps to moderate the temperature over a longer period. I also am surpised that the radiant heat through the front glass is much more than the VC stove even though the actual glass size is not that different.
I now go through very little kindling. With the VC stove, I would need cardboard and kindling to restart the stove in the morning. Now, I load the fire box in the evening and 8-9 hours later, there is a significant bed of coals that does not require kindling, I can load some small splits and open the draft and it is burning in less than a minute.
So far, I am very pleased with the PE stove. I don't know if the stove will burn less wood because I haven't had it long enough but I do know that the basement temps are consistently about 8-10 degrees warmer than previously.
Warrenoliver
The most surprising thing about this new stove is how much differently it burns and heats the house. The VC was a top load which I really liked but I am adjusting to front load - it helps that the stove is on a 6" hearth. The VC burned a load fairly quickly and then cooled fairly quickly. It came back up to temperature with a new load. The PE stove burns the load slower and then leaves a big pile of very hot coals for hours. This hot coal bed is something I didn't expect and I really like because it helps to moderate the temperature over a longer period. I also am surpised that the radiant heat through the front glass is much more than the VC stove even though the actual glass size is not that different.
I now go through very little kindling. With the VC stove, I would need cardboard and kindling to restart the stove in the morning. Now, I load the fire box in the evening and 8-9 hours later, there is a significant bed of coals that does not require kindling, I can load some small splits and open the draft and it is burning in less than a minute.
So far, I am very pleased with the PE stove. I don't know if the stove will burn less wood because I haven't had it long enough but I do know that the basement temps are consistently about 8-10 degrees warmer than previously.
Warrenoliver
