PE Super Insert vs Buck Model 74

[setitonfire]

Hello all,
These are the two stoves we have narrowed it down to based on the dealers in our area. Here are the details on our home.

* Just under 2000 sqf;
* Bedrooms to one end of the house down a hallway;
* Dining room and family room on the other end;
* Fireplace is in the center of the house (not on an exterior wall);
* Chimney 15 to 20ft;
* We live in MD - so winters are moderate;
* Drafty windows - hoping to replace shortly;
* Ceiling fans in bedrooms (but hope to use the central fan to move air around as well); and
* Cost including installation will be about $4000 for both.

We are newbies to using a woodstove and we are very excited about what it can do to help us save money and keeping the family warm. Hope this was not overkill on the details but wanted to get your feedback on what might be the best option for us. PE Super insert or Buck Model 74 insert?

Thanks for your insight.

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

I have a 74 and it does really well however I have never had a Pacific Energy. Something's that I see that you may want to compare are:

Efficiency Buck is 78 and PE is 82

Firebox size Buck is 2.6 and PE is 1.97. In reality the Buck is a bit less than 2.6 if you take perfectly square measurements. If you add up all the smaller areas it may be a tad bit larger than 2.6.

This I think is big, but the PE seems to be made to stick out into the room some maybe 8-10" . The Buck can be flush or protrude. The surround can be put on at any protrusion as it is very simple. The reason I say this is big is the more is sticks out the more heat is gained in the room and not lost in the masonry.

The Buck is a box with in a box sorta, it's blower is at the bottom front and blows through the bottom under the stove, up the back and out the top. This get most of the heat out of the insert. Not sure about the PE. Never mind the PE looks to be the same.

Looks, the Buck is a Plain Jane well built heater. The PE is a nice looking well built heater.

The baffle system, don't know the PE but the Buck is ceramic fiber over burn tubes. I think the PE is stainless plate with ceramic blanket on top of that. The Bucks, if you don't damage the baffle plates they last for ever. The PE stainless plate may warp and affect performance, maybe?

Weight, PE is 410 lbs with surround, the Buck is 468 lbs stove alone. I don't think this is a big thing, thermal mass, but my grandfather said if it's heavy, it's good!

Probably no help but some observations I made.

 

[BurningBrutus]

ill sell you mine, brand new, I need a bigger stove

 

[begreen]

The PE Super's patented baffle is unique and a great design. They have combined the secondary air ports, baffle, insulation blanket into one stainless steel encased box. It's durable, efficient and makes cleaning easy. The Super also has a unique coupled secondary air control that helps extend burn times. I like the Buck a lot, but if the price is the same I'm leaning toward the PE.

In full disclosure, I own a PE stove.

 

[Hogwildz]

Neither, get the PE Summit, and save yourself some grief of too small a firebox when those cold nights roll in.

 

[weatherguy]

Neither, get the PE Summit, and save yourself some grief of too small a firebox when those cold nights roll in.

I agree with Hog, with 2000 sf you will do better with the summit.

 

[PLAYS WITH FIRE]

I would also agree with a bigger too! if money is an object wait till you get some more. My Buck is an insert in the basement, in a ranch about 1600sqft total. The heat comes up through a central stairwell. When its cold as hell the furnace will cycle a few times in the middle of the night but if the box was bigger it would not.

The rule of thumb here is you can build a small fire in a big box but you cant build a large fire in a small box.

Can you do the work yourself?

 

[setitonfire]

Thanks for the replies. We planned to have the dealer install. I'm handy to some extent but I think I'd like a pro to handle this one. Looks like we can get it for about $2500 installed, that includes the blower. I thought that was a great price considering other quotes we got ran about $1000 more. I'm concerned that a bigger unit might put too much heat into my daughter's room. She's right of the main living space where the stove would but I'll take a look at the Summit.

I did have a question regarding insulation. I was told that we didn't need to insulate the chimney because it's an interior fireplace. Is that true? Will it make a big difference if we don't put it in. As stated above our were in MD, fairly close to DC so winter's aren't that harsh.

Thanks for the guidance.

 

[begreen]

If the current tile liner is in good condition you'll be probably be ok to go uninsulated.

 

[Cynnergy]

Our Super27 is about 10' from our bedroom and faces almost directly into it. As long as the door is closed it actually stays pretty cool in there (we like the bedroom cooler). We are in an old drafty cabin, but even if it was tight I think it would be ok.

 

[Grisu]

I cannot tell you anything about the Buck 74 but since I have the PE Super myself it is a great insert/stove. It heats the upper floor (~1300 sqft) of our moderately insulated house in Vermont just fine except when it dips below 0 F. Then we let the furnace help out a bit. If you don't mind running your furnace occasionally during the coldest days/weeks of winter the Super will work for you. Otherwise, I would look for a somewhat larger stove. The Summit sounds a bit like overkill for your climate. The Enviro 1700 series with its 2.5 cu ft firebox or the Osburn 2000 or Matrix (2.4 cu ft) may be inserts I would consider.

An insulated liner will help with draft on the not so cold days and usually accumulate less creosote but for an interior chimney in sound condition it is ok to go with an uninsulated one. We did that, too, and we have no problem with draft or creosote. Of course, burning dry wood helps a lot.

Stoves heat air which then needs to move around the house. If you close the door to your daughters room she will actually not get much heat at all.

 

[weatherguy]

Thanks for the replies. We planned to have the dealer install. I'm handy to some extent but I think I'd like a pro to handle this one. Looks like we can get it for about $2500 installed, that includes the blower. I thought that was a great price considering other quotes we got ran about $1000 more. I'm concerned that a bigger unit might put too much heat into my daughter's room. She's right of the main living space where the stove would but I'll take a look at the Summit.

I did have a question regarding insulation. I was told that we didn't need to insulate the chimney because it's an interior fireplace. Is that true? Will it make a big difference if we don't put it in. As stated above our were in MD, fairly close to DC so winter's aren't that harsh.

Thanks for the guidance.

I would consider putting some roxul with a block off plate above the stove and put some roxul at the top maybe 3-4 feet down. You can get a package of roxul at Lowes for $40 and you'll only use 1/4 of it. I have an interior chimney and put roxul with a block off plate, I didn't put any up top and that's where I get all my creosote buildup, when I get a chance i'm going to put some on top.

 

[setitonfire]

Ok...you guys talked me into it. We're planning to get the Summit. Once my wife saw the replies here she said go for it. Will post pics if all goes well.

 

[begreen]

That's a great stove and a serious heater. Keep us posted.

 

[setitonfire]

Just ordered the Summit today. The install in scheduled for next Thursday. I've been splitting wood like a manic prepping for what I hope to be years of toasty winters in the house. Being a newbie, are there any questions I should ask the installer or things I should check before they leave?

Thanks again for all of the feedback.

 

[begreen]

Is that wood being split for next year? Have the installer show you how to start a fire and run the stove.

 

[setitonfire]

Yes...I'm splitting it for next year. I have some that I split last year but it may not be enough to take us through the winter. I may need to buy a half cord to get through the season.

 

[begreen]

Getting some extra wood that it's seasoned or kiln dried might not be a bad idea if you can get it from a trusted source (hard). Maybe ask the stove installers if they can refer you to a good source?

 

[Hogwildz]

Good choice, congrats.
Ask whatever questions come to mind with the installer. If he balks or is not capable of answering, that may be a red flag as to his knowledge or capabilities.
There are plenty of Summit & other PE owners on here, never feel you can't use the resources at hand.