PE Summit or Super 27?

[moosetrek]

So I have been absent for about three years, as I've moved around and am now ready to put a stove in my new-to-me home here in eastern Nevada. My last stove was a PE T6, and I loved it but it went with my house. I used it to heat 800 sq feet of old house in Wyoming. I now have a 1036-sq foot decently-insulated house (2x6 walls, 1993 construction). I am leaning toward either the Super 27 or the Summit. Will the summit be overkill, and is there really such a thing? Burning juniper and pinyon pine mostly. Relatively open floor plan with two bedrooms. I really don't want the electric heat to come on if I'm home. Thoughts? I've read numerous reviews and posts, and it seems to vary. Winter temps in the 10-20 degree range with colder snaps moderately likely.

 

[Hogwildz]

Why not another T6?

 

[moosetrek]

Partly cost, mostly it doesn't go with the house the same way. The Summit or Super will look way better, and I really liked the PE quality and way it burned. Just checked the attic, R30. Lots of windows and a sliding door - leaning toward the Summit, but is it possible to have too much stove? The T6 never felt that way, even in a smaller space.

 

[dafattkidd]

Welcome back. Congratulations on your new house. With those temps and those woods I'd be looking at the Summit. I would like having the extra fire power if needed. I really like having an oversized firebox. I can get go longer periods of time without scooping ashes, get longer pieces of wood in NS and EW, can burn weirdo misshaped pieces, I don't have to jam the firebox full every load and I have the extra firepower during those super cold snaps. That being said, I think you will do fine with either unit.

 

[moosetrek]

Thanks - I realized I should clarify the temps. Those are the lows; daytime highs are 40s in Jan/Feb. This will be my first winter in the high desert so I don't know if I'm overestimating the cold.

 

[prezes13]

I think I would go with summit. I heat roughly 1200sf decent insulated 1994 construction in ct with 2.2 ct fire box and I wouldn't mind 3cf. Not that it's not doing it's job I would like longer burns.

 

[jeff_t]

How about wind exposure? Is the house sealed decently?

With those temps and the insulation level, you should be fine with the super, even with softwood. I suppose it depends on what you expect, but plenty of coals after 8-10 hours should be no problem. PE's linked secondary air control on the super series stoves make them very easy to control, and make for some surprisingly long burns from a 2 cu ft non-cat.

Lots of folks here heating more space in colder climates with a T5/Super 27.

 

[Grisu]

According to this chart: http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/forest-products/wood-heating, the pinyon pine is essentially as good as oak and juniper is also close to hardwood territory. Given that I think you will be fine with the Super. I heat 1300 sqft in VT with that and our temps go lower than yours plus our insulation could be better. Maybe go with the T5 for a more even heat release?

 

[moosetrek]

Thanks - wind exposure is not too bad; though there is a fair amount of glass. I didn't realize the pinyon is so high in BTUs, definitely a bonus compared to the ponderosa I am used to.