PE Super or PE Summit

[2PistolPacker]

After combing through the forum I am now left with a hard choice to make. Do I go with the larger Summit that I'm afraid will overheat the room that I spend most evenings in unless I run it at less than optimal capacity, or move down to the Super and run it at it's rated capacity. The Summit will fit in my fireplace, but a custom surround would be needed. The Super will fit with the standard surround just fine. Money is not the issue and since both stoves load n/s the decision to be made is whether to get the bigger stove, run it at a lower temp and risk creosote build up or buy the Super and just be happy with a smaller box. I called PE's customer service yesterday to ask a question about the Summit and after talking to the rep he recommended going with the Super as it is easier to get lit. Any comments or thoughts to help me make a decision today?

 

[Grisu]

I think we would need some more info to help you. How big is the room? How many sqft do you want to heat? Why does the Summit need a custom surround? (Do you have a pic of the fireplace?) You can also judge your heating needs by knowing how much heating fuel (gas, oil etc.) you usually use during a cold month like January. A floor plan would also help to see how well the warm air may flow around your house.

 

[2PistolPacker]

My room is 18 x 14 with a open ceiling to the upper 2 bedrooms, there are 3 door openings in the room and one is a double doorway into the kitchen. I have a 95% efficient nat gas furnace so my gas bills are low, last Dec gas bill was $103, Jan was $200, Feb was $178, so I'm not going to be heating my whole house with wood. My fireplace has a Dutch arch which is 44" wide that the insert would fit up to and the Summit with a standard surround would not fit in there, the Super with standard surround will fit.

 

[Grisu]

To estimate your heating load we would need to know how many therms/ccf's did you use last January or February. Nevertheless, that does not sound like a whole lot especially last winter and if it is just for supplemental heat I suspect the Super would be enough. Maybe on the coldest days the furnace need to run a bit.

As an aside, that fireplace would look nice with a hearth-mounted stove in it.

 

[DuckDog]

I have a Super and am completely satisfied. It sits in our living room, 14'x 26', and heats about 3/4 of our 1250sq' house. Since you are not trying to heat the whole house I'd say it would probably be a very viable option.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Super

 

[2PistolPacker]

Since I got bids on both stoves there is only a $350 up charge to get the Summit over the Super, but I'm not getting a surround with the Summit. Should I just get the bigger stove?

 

[BurningBrutus]

I personally would go bigger, as i would have if i could have fit it. I love my super, but i wish i had the EBT and a bigger stove

 

[prezes13]

Bigger the better.

 

[2PistolPacker]

I didn't add in my description above that I have a 5 bedroom 2700 sf, odd shaped 5 level home. I only really expect to get a good heat spread on the third and fifth levels. The fireplace is on the third level.

 

[Charles1981]

Seems like a super would fit your needs just fine....

But sometimes you think one will be adequate and leave you wishing you had gone big.

2700 sq feet would be better suited for the Summit. But 5 levels leaves a lot to be desired regarding adequate air flow to some areas.

You house would appear to be very well insulated however.

I had a natural gas furnace in a rental that was costing 300$ a month to heat 1400sq ft in february in michigan to keep the house a cozy 67...Really old poorly insulated house.

 

[Grisu]

How well can you zone the heat? You may need to run the furnace anyway to keep the two lower levels from freezing. I would assume that heat would also rise and make the Summit overkill.

 

[Sean Truesdell]

Same decision, opposite floor plan. I was very concerned about overheating the 450 sq ft LR where the insert lives in our 2300 sq ft ranch. After much research and a few inquiries on these forums I decided that bigger would be better for us and the key would be to find creative ways to move the heated air through the house. Not sure if that is as possible in your layout. I am also attempting to eliminate as much of my oil usage as possible. I can say that the summit is a heating machine, is keeping the front half of the house around 70 and back around 65 with smaller hot fires (lows have only been in the 30s-40s.)

I have to say the cost of heating your house is amazing to me. Each of those months last winter we spent about $600 in oil! If you are just looking for a little supplemental heat and the ambiance of burning some wood then go for the super. I think to try and heat the house with wood when you spend so little in gas may not be worth while. Plus the super will fit in the opening with no extra hassle.

I can't believe nobody else has asked... So how are you fixed for wood?

 

[2PistolPacker]

I can't believe nobody else has asked... So how are you fixed for wood?

I have a cord of white oak I split in 4/2013 and 4 cords of black locust I split 2 weeks ago. Both locust trees had been dead for a long time and were dry and barkless. All the limb wood is ready now, the trunk wood not till next year.

 

[BradleyW]

No one ever said they wished they had a smaller stove. Creosote shouldn't be a factor in your decision. You can just build a smaller fire if you don't want a lot of heat.

 

[Hogwildz]

You can burn the Summit with a smaller load, but you can only fit so much in the Super.
Burning smaller loads in a Summit, does not mean creosote build up or less efficient burn.
Don't understand why the rep said one will light better than the other, that is bullcrap.
Given the same wood, and same draft, they will light the same.

By open ceiling, I assume you are referring to a cathedral ceiling?
Any chance you have a ceiling fan in the proposed stove room?
Is there an open area such as loft space up on the 2nd floor?
This is the set up I have, and I get great convection loop/flow between the ceiling fan, the stairs to the loft and upstairs bedrooms and the open area at the loft.
You may get a nice convection loop, and overheating may not be an issue. If this your set up?

That all said,
None of the wood you have is anywhere near ready.
The Oak would need about another year at minimal in my book, and barkless or not, wood split 2 weeks ago, ain't gonna be ready.

What are the average winter temps & lows in your area?

 

[2PistolPacker]

By open ceiling, I assume you are referring to a cathedral ceiling?
Any chance you have a ceiling fan in the proposed stove room?
Is there an open area such as loft space up on the 2nd floor?
This is the set up I have, and I get great convection loop/flow between the ceiling fan, the stairs to the loft and upstairs bedrooms and the open area at the loft.
You may get a nice convection loop, and overheating may not be an issue. If this your set up?

That all said,
None of the wood you have is anywhere near ready.
The Oak would need about another year at minimal in my book, and barkless or not, wood split 2 weeks ago, ain't gonna be ready.

What are the average winter temps & lows in your area?

Thanks for the response Hogwildz,
The ceiling in the room is 9' tall above the fireplace and slopes up to 18' in the center of the house. The room has 2 fans suspended 8' above the floor in the middle of the room, 6' apart in front of the hearth. The fifth level has a 20' long open hallway with 2 door openings to the bedrooms my wife and I use as our offices.
The winter temps in the Kansas City area range from 40's to 10 below zero, last year was a very mild winter until right before Christmas after that we had 14 inches of snow and single digit temps for several weeks.

I have been splitting and selling firewood for the last 10 years but just decided to start burning some myself. I now have a NorthStar 37 ton splitter and split 8-10 cords a year, I keep the best for myself and family sell the rest. A quarter cord of the oak I have left has been split into roughly 2 x 2 inch pieces for firestarters and the rest is split uniformly 2 x 6 x 18 inches, they look like saw mill scraps. Split like this for 17 months and covered only on the top, I believe this wood is ready now.
I think I will go ahead and order the Summit and if I don't use it's full capacity at least I know I have some headroom if I need it. Thanks for all the advice.

Now, any recommendations for a thermometer? An inexpensive non contact infrared gun type or magnetized coil type? any ideas?

 

[Grisu]

Now, any recommendations for a thermometer? An inexpensive non contact infrared gun type or magnetized coil type? any ideas?

Harnor Freight has an inexpensive IR thermometer, often on sale for $30 sometimes with coupon even for $20 (e. g. black Friday).

 

[2PistolPacker]

I went ahead and ordered my Pacific Energy Summit with a Dec 1 install date unless they have a cancellation before then. I will be building a custom surround as soon as the unit comes in and I get exact measurements of the stove. Thanks for all the comments pro and con about the units, it seems that I couldn't have gone wrong with either insert. I now need to order a hearth pad, poker set, ash pan and thermometer. Mike

 

[Hogwildz]

I went ahead and ordered my Pacific Energy Summit with a Dec 1 install date unless they have a cancellation before then. I will be building a custom surround as soon as the unit comes in and I get exact measurements of the stove. Thanks for all the comments pro and con about the units, it seems that I couldn't have gone wrong with either insert. I now need to order a hearth pad, poker set, ash pan and thermometer. Mike

Congrats, you will be happy.
Get a decent ash bucket with lid and small shovel/scoop & keep it outside on a non-combustible surface.
December 1st ain't too bad, just in time for Xmas.
Enjoy that beast

 

[begreen]

Congrats! Take some pictures of that bad boy when it is burning.