Hi all, New to the forum! I'm retiring my Vermont Castings Encore this year. It's been a good unit but at 22 yrs. old and used 24/7 for the last 12 years, it's time for a new stove. I was considering a Jotul Oslo, but I came across a leftover Quadrafire Isle Royle at a discount and don't feel that I can pass that up. I like the cook top on the Isle Royale as I actually used the cook top quite a bit on the Encore.
Our house is 800 square feet downstairs and 600 square feet upstairs. Both upstairs and down are open areas. While most of the house is well insulated, we've chosen to have a large portion of the living area and the kitchen area roof be plastic roofing to let in light. The ceiling in the downstairs portion of those areas are open to the roof, so we lose a lot of heat in that area. I know it's not the best for heat retention, but it's a very nice way of getting more light in a house when the house sits in the woods. So, that's not going to change. Placement of the stove is centrally located and I've always found it ideal for heating the house. There is open space on all sides of the stoves with no combustibles within 3 feet of the stove. Again, so placement is not a problem.
The stove sits in the middle of the downstairs and heat goes to the upstairs via a stairway to the upstairs. The chimney is a straight run from the stove through a cement block chimney with a square clay liner about 24 feet. Although I've never had any draft problems, I'm considering a liner for the chimney. I'm not sure I need it, but with the changing of the stove, this would be a good time to do it. Because it's a straight run, I think any type liner would do. Of course, I'd like to keep it as inexpensive a possible, but cost would not be the main determining factor.
Any thoughts on the choice of stove, or, especially advice on the chimney liner, would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, although we buy most of our wood presently, I'm fully retired this year and will be cutting a lot of wood from my property. I've cut my own wood in the past but started buying it when I had more money than time. Now that I have more time than money, I'll be cutting a lot more. I'm well equipped with chainsaws and a truck with lots of downed and dying trees on the property every year.
Thanks for any advice.
John
Our house is 800 square feet downstairs and 600 square feet upstairs. Both upstairs and down are open areas. While most of the house is well insulated, we've chosen to have a large portion of the living area and the kitchen area roof be plastic roofing to let in light. The ceiling in the downstairs portion of those areas are open to the roof, so we lose a lot of heat in that area. I know it's not the best for heat retention, but it's a very nice way of getting more light in a house when the house sits in the woods. So, that's not going to change. Placement of the stove is centrally located and I've always found it ideal for heating the house. There is open space on all sides of the stoves with no combustibles within 3 feet of the stove. Again, so placement is not a problem.
The stove sits in the middle of the downstairs and heat goes to the upstairs via a stairway to the upstairs. The chimney is a straight run from the stove through a cement block chimney with a square clay liner about 24 feet. Although I've never had any draft problems, I'm considering a liner for the chimney. I'm not sure I need it, but with the changing of the stove, this would be a good time to do it. Because it's a straight run, I think any type liner would do. Of course, I'd like to keep it as inexpensive a possible, but cost would not be the main determining factor.
Any thoughts on the choice of stove, or, especially advice on the chimney liner, would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, although we buy most of our wood presently, I'm fully retired this year and will be cutting a lot of wood from my property. I've cut my own wood in the past but started buying it when I had more money than time. Now that I have more time than money, I'll be cutting a lot more. I'm well equipped with chainsaws and a truck with lots of downed and dying trees on the property every year.
Thanks for any advice.
John
