New to the board and looking for suggestions for a stove.

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jk2012

New Member
Jan 2, 2013
6
indiana
Hello everyone. I found this board and was very happy.I hope someone can give me some good suggestions for a good wood stove. Also any to stay away from. My parents had a Fisher grandma bear and my mom still uses it today.It has been the only stove I have used.Here is what I am working with.

I would like to keep the cost of the stove only under $1000
About 1000 to 1100 sq ft house about 80 yrs old and not sealed real tight.
The room it will be in is approx 20 x 24 and it will be in the corner

Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated.Thanks
 
Hate to say it but you probably want to save some more $$ unless you can score a great deal on a large used EPA stove.
 
A True North TN19 should do ok with that house. Call around to PE dealers for current pricing. It was under $1k last time I checked. There are also some Drolets and Century stoves that could work.
 
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Thanks begreen. I like the tn19 alot. I found a PE dealer not to far from me,going to check them out today. I was thinking I would almost prefer a stove with a small glass window or none. I really dont care about looks.
 
I was thinking I would almost prefer a stove with a small glass window or none. I really dont care about looks.
Being able to see the fire is the key to learning the stove and making it perform efficiently.

Another member here put it this way... Without the glass, it would be like driving your car blindfolded.

MnDave
 
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I suppose on a new stove that may be true . I have only used the same stove with no glass,no fan since the mid 80's. So I have learned how to operate it easily.Practice makes perfect. I always thought the window on stoves was just so you could look at the pretty fire. I have a problem sleeping with even a tiny led light on electronics, that is why i was thinking, the least amount of light would probably be better. I would probably be awake all winter with a roaring fire visible.
 
Do they make a stove that has windows with a cover so you can have the fire visible or covered? I have not seen one.
 
You could make a shield that attaches using a magnet or it could set on the ash shelf.

Some other questions that would help are:
Do you want to burn wood to heat? And if so will you be there to reload? Overnight burn?
What is the climate like where you live?
Maintenance?
Chimney... what is it made of and how tall is it?

Personally I like plate steel stoves. They are affordable, heat up quickly, low maintenance.
They sell Drolet/Century at our nearby Northern Handyman stores. $700 or so. Has all the EPA features but the materials are not as beefy as what you may be used to.

You might find a good used stove on craigslist. A guy here bought a barely used Quadra Fire 4300 (Steptop vs Millenium) for $500. That stove without fan and ornaments etc runs at least $2000 new including tax and all.

MnDave
 
I suppose on a new stove that may be true . I have only used the same stove with no glass,no fan since the mid 80's. So I have learned how to operate it easily.Practice makes perfect. I always thought the window on stoves was just so you could look at the pretty fire. I have a problem sleeping with even a tiny led light on electronics, that is why i was thinking, the least amount of light would probably be better. I would probably be awake all winter with a roaring fire visible.


The stove should not be installed in the bedroom.
 
My stove wont be in my bedroom just directly off of it with no door.Light will prob reflect into it though.Went and looked at some stoves.Wow ,there is so much to choose from. I thank all of you for your input and Iook forward to more in the future. I am really happy I found this. Alot has changed from what I know about stoves , I guess the A team isnt a popular show anymore and stove technology has exploded. I found an englander 13 for 400 that is only a yr old. What do ya think? Would it suit me well?
 
I found an englander 13 for 400 that is only a yr old. What do ya think? Would it suit me well?

I looked at the specs here:
http://www.englanderstoves.com/13-nc.html

IMO, that stove would do the job and save you a nice chunk of money. One year is almost nothing in a stoves life. Check to make sure that it has not been overfired, i.e warping, cracking. Check that all the pieces are there, baffle and blanket, tubes, etc. Anything missing ask for more off. Get an owners manual either from the guy or from online.

Ask the guy if he has the legs and the pedestal. It's says it (now) ships with both.

Not to rush you but good deals come and go fast thanks to craigslist.

MnDave
 
Do they make a stove that has windows with a cover so you can have the fire visible or covered? I have not seen one.
my old BK had two doors..one with glass and one without.
I mostly used the glass one.
 
The 13 NC is a capable small stove. It should work. But pay attention to it's hearth requirements and clearances. They are higher than average and for some pose a challenge.
 
If my memory serves me correctly you get alot more heat out of the new EPA stoves through the glass ?
 
The 13 is an excellent heater, but burn times are max 5 hours with primo fire wood. Clearances are very important with the 13, as BG said.

Welcome to the forums !
 
Your specs are similar to mine and I upgraded from the 13 to the 30. I needed longer burn times and the 13 didn't cut in my drafty cabin when it was really cold.
 
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