Radiant stoves pros/cons

[NextEndeavor]

I'll be studying free standing stoves for a while yet before deciding what to place in the basement. Our upstairs insert runs with the fan 90% of the time and we are very pleased with its performance. I don't remember where on here but someone wrote in about a radiant stove might be too hot if setting nearby and they recommended a convection type to move the heat around for whatever that situation was. So, in what cases would it be more desirable to run a radiant stove, large open room with few obstructions to block the radiant? Currently, I like the looks of the Jotul Castine best. It's up against the Alderlea T5.

 

[ArsenalDon]

I have read that too on posts here....WE have a radiant stove. 90% of the time I sit 10 ft away on the couch and have no issues...once in a great while I feel overheated...but very rare....I love being able to come in from the cold and being able to really feel the heat...love radiant heat in our home.

 

[begreen]

The T5 has a larger capacity and will hold a fire significantly longer than the F400.

 

[ArsenalDon]

The T5 has a larger capacity and will hold a fire significantly longer than the F400.

your knowledge continues to amaze me

 

[begreen]

catch it while it lasts. I don't know how long these brain cells will retain it.

 

[jharkin]

Remember that a "convection" stove is made by adding a blower to a "radiant" stove. It will still be radiating a lot of heat if you sit right next to it.

The only time I have found the radiant heat objectionable is standing right in front to top load and the heat of the hot coal bed radiating through the front door glass is very hot on my legs. This is at a distance of about one foot

 

[Bluerubi]

If you really like radiant heat then using a blower might not be in your best interest. The radiant portion of heat transfer is driven by surface temperature differential to the power of 4, so even a small change in the the stove temp that faces ambient air will be noticable. The air movement will help with the convective portion, but if you really like getting cooked by IR, then get the temp as hot as you can.

 

[Woody Stover]

I don't know how long these brain cells will retain it.

Or even how long they will last, given your prodigious consumption of wine.
Seriously, you are a fount of knowledge and a valuable asset to these forums.

 

[NextEndeavor]

Does Jotul sell a blower for the F400? Don't think it has air channels around it anywhere. Would a small floor fan aimed at it make it act like a convection stove? Seems like there are more convection stoves to choose from out there.

 

[begreen]

Remember that a "convection" stove is made by adding a blower to a "radiant" stove. It will still be radiating a lot of heat if you sit right next to it.

The only time I have found the radiant heat objectionable is standing right in front to top load and the heat of the hot coal bed radiating through the front door glass is very hot on my legs. This is at a distance of about one foot

There's a variety of convective stoves. A jacketed stove like the Alderleas, Napoleons, Quad Yosemite and Cumberland Gap convect without a blower. You can add one for more aggressive convection, but in many homes this isn't necessary.

 

[Slow1]

Does Jotul sell a blower for the F400? Don't think it has air channels around it anywhere. Would a small floor fan aimed at it make it act like a convection stove? Seems like there are more convection stoves to choose from out there.

I've been experimenting with a fan forcing air across the stove here. I do believe it makes a difference but it is difficult to quantify how great a difference or even if it is worth the trouble. With the forced air movement I find more even heat in the house (forced air mixing perhaps) which does make the thermometers away from the stove read higher temps, but I can't imagine it is anything like having a convection jacket and fan forcing air through it.

I like the radiant heat and our house is very well suited to natural convection carrying the heat about so YMMV of course.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I like the radiant heat and since we tightened up this old crate the only fan we run is the ceiling fan. We have no trouble getting heat to the far rooms and around corners. And yes, I can sit right next to the stove; a 55,000 btu stove.

 

[begreen]

The soapstone stoves I have been near are semi-radiant. A bit more heat from the sides than the T6, but much less than a bare-sided steel box and some cast iron stoves. It's a very pleasant warmth.

 

[Todd 2]

IMO, the T5 will be one of the lowest maintenance stoves you can buy, It will survive an "accidental" over fire (one of the best) and you get the best of both worlds with convection & radiant heat with the blower option.
If the Summit I had was rapped in cast (a T6 basically) I would probably still have it, the cast should absorb more heat and release it later towards the end of the burn to keep the temp spikes evened out. That is why I really like this PH, I don't get the temp swings at all between reloads in the basement, the mass keeps releasing when the fire dies way down. But there is a little more maintenance to it compared to the Pacific Energy stoves witch you can burn 24-7 all winter and do nothing but feed it. and the steel fire box will never need re cement sealed or such.

Happy stove shopping, Todd2

 

[NextEndeavor]

Many options and all great points to ponder. Thanks!

 

[Pallet Pete]

We have a F-50 Rangeley with cast jackets over a steel box and we can sit right in front of it or in the same room most of the time without any issue. It is a much softer heat than our old steel box that cooked you out. I am convinced that if your well insulated stone or convection/radiant is really the best way to go if your after soft heat.

Pete

 

[Dutch]

And perhaps the new Jotul model F 45 wood be of interest. Would be a safe bet with the success of the F 50 and F 55. Anyhow, to stay on topic, any stove with a large glass window will emit a lot of radiant heat through the glass, meaning there probably isn't a night and day difference between stoves listed as radiant or convective, in my opinion. I think convection is somewhat of a bi-product of stoves that are built for tighter clearances.