Osburn 3500 or Blaze King King 40

[begreen]

The lack of tax credit hurts the Quadrafire, but the additional depth of the firebox looks like it would make for easier north/south loading, and filling the firebox.

Most people load the 3500 firebox N/S. It's not going to make a big difference as long as the splits are 18" or shorter. Most firewood is cut to 16".

 

[CharlieJ]

Most people load the 3500 firebox N/S. It's not going to make a big difference as long as the splits are 18" or shorter. Most firewood is cut to 16".

That makes sense. The Osburn also includes a blower that is extra on the others. We have never had a stove with a blower, but I am sure it helps to spread out the heat some.

 

[CharlieJ]

The question related to the tax credit that IRS has not responded to:

Is it based upon 75% HHV OVERALL or can it be based upon 75% HHV from a single test run.

IRS conducted a comment period and their ruling is yet to be announced.

BKVP

Thank you. I am waiting for a call back from Osburn to hear what they have to say about it.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

We used to heat a raised ranch home in Virgnia with a Lopi Revere Insert in our finished basement. We bought the stove originally just to heat the basement, but it worked so well we moved to doing the majority of our heating with it. Even though our stove was an insert, it extended beyond the fireplace by ten inches so there was a lot of radiant heat.

One thing we discovered was that running the stove without the blower heated up our large rec. room in the basement just fine. Turning on the blower really helped jumpstart the convective loop that moved the heat up the open staircase to the main living area. I would say that if your plan is to heat from the basement, you’ll want a blower on whatever stove you choose.

A couple more thoughts from your thread:

You mention having cathedral ceilings on the main floor. Be aware that your heat may disappear once it spreads to that room. You have a lot of square footage, and your cubic footage makes it the equivalent of even more. It’s good that you‘re searching for a huge stove.

We live in a large house in a mild climate, and our insert isn’t rated to heat all of it. It heats a big open family room/kitchen/dining room area, and the heat moves upstairs as well. The layout prevents much from moving into our big living room but some does. What I notice, however, is that with the higher ceilings there (they’re ten feet in most of the house, but up to thirteen feet there), the heat seems to disappear. It doesn’t, of course, but it seems to.

Also, you mention that your home is still under construction. Do you have plans for good insulation and an HRV or ERV for fresh air? Will your basement be a daylight basement with access to an outside wall for an outside-air connection for the stove? Both those factors could affect whether you have a negative pressure problem in the basement.

 

[CharlieJ]

We used to heat a raised ranch home in Virgnia with a Lopi Revere Insert in our finished basement. We bought the stove originally just to heat the basement, but it worked so well we moved to doing the majority of our heating with it. Even though our stove was an insert, it extended beyond the fireplace by ten inches so there was a lot of radiant heat.

One thing we discovered was that running the stove without the blower heated up our large rec. room in the basement just fine. Turning on the blower really helped jumpstart the convective loop that moved the heat up the open staircase to the main living area. I would say that if your plan is to heat from the basement, you’ll want a blower on whatever stove you choose.

A couple more thoughts from your thread:

You mention having cathedral ceilings on the main floor. Be aware that your heat may disappear once it spreads to that room. You have a lot of square footage, and your cubic footage makes it the equivalent of even more. It’s good that you‘re searching for a huge stove.

We live in a large house in a mild climate, and our insert isn’t rated to heat all of it. It heats a big open family room/kitchen/dining room area, and the heat moves upstairs as well. The layout prevents much from moving into our big living room but some does. What I notice, however, is that with the higher ceilings there (they’re ten feet in most of the house, but up to thirteen feet there), the heat seems to disappear. It doesn’t, of course, but it seems to.

Also, you mention that your home is still under construction. Do you have plans for good insulation and an HRV or ERV for fresh air? Will your basement be a daylight basement with access to an outside wall for an outside-air connection for the stove? Both those factors could affect whether you have a negative pressure problem in the basement.

We will be insulating well and will have a daylight basement. I will have to look into the HRV/ERV, not sure about that. Also we don’t expect to be able to heat 100% with the stove. Just supplemental heat and a place to warm up after being outside.

 

[Highbeam]

We will be insulating well and will have a daylight basement. I will have to look into the HRV/ERV, not sure about that. Also we don’t expect to be able to heat 100% with the stove. Just supplemental heat and a place to warm up after being outside.

A daylight basement, big SF and CF, why not look at wood furnaces? That 30' new, all interior, vertical chimney will suck hard. Like suck the seagulls off of a landfill hard. You will need to be thinking of ways to keep that under control.

Knowing it's supplemental heat, I would be installing a king for sure and run it at a burn rate that is convenient for you. 10, 24, 36 hour reloads. Whatever. The only bugger is buying 30' of 8" pipe.

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

I can’t say enough good things about our Osburn 3500. I would highly recommend it. Burn times are huge and the stove is very predictable in terms of burn performance. It puts out serious heat without all the maintenance issues I have had with cast iron stoves in the past

The blower makes a HUGE difference in terms of heat distribution while the included side heat shields make it so walls around it don’t get as hot which is great for peace of mind. Same with the back of the stove as it barely warms the wall behind it.

 

[begreen]

I can’t say enough good things about our Osburn 3500. I would highly recommend it. Burn times are huge and the stove is very predictable in terms of burn performance. It puts out serious heat without all the maintenance issues I have had with cast iron stoves in the past

The blower makes a HUGE difference in terms of heat distribution while the included side heat shields make it so walls around it don’t get as hot which is great for peace of mind. Same with the back of the stove as it barely warms the wall behind it.

Time to add that baby to your signature line.

 

[CharlieJ]

We ended up going with the Osburn 3500. With the tax credit it was quite a bit less than the Blaze King so we figured we would give it a shot. I really wanted to try a Blaze King just to see if it is as awesome all of the reviews say, however the Osburn will work for now. Thank you to everyone for all of the advice and suggestions. Now I can’t wait to get it hooked up to try it out!

 

[CentralVAWoodHeat]

We ended up going with the Osburn 3500. With the tax credit it was quite a bit less than the Blaze King so we figured we would give it a shot. I really wanted to try a Blaze King just to see if it is as awesome all of the reviews say, however the Osburn will work for now. Thank you to everyone for all of the advice and suggestions. Now I can’t wait to get it hooked up to try it out!

You will not be disappointed