Recommendations?

[Kwolt]

If this is going to be your main source of heat definitely go bigger than the F35. There may still be some F45’s around if you look. I know there’s one in a stove shop near me in Hayward Wi. I was heating less than 1000 sq ft log cabin with mine. It burned just fine in mild weather with half loads. I almost jumped on the F445 because I wanted a more radiant stove with my open floor plan and high ceilings but I found a cheap Woodstock Fireview to rebuild and went that way. I’d recommend a Woodstock but I think they are going out of business.

Good feedback, thanks. We did look at Woodstock (but I guess now we’re not).

 

[Kwolt]

Then don’t buy anything with a catalytic combustor. Rules out the F445 and F500.

Point taken.

 

[Kwolt]

So we’ve actually narrowed down the recommended stoves to just a handful of models here. My wife called the local stove shop (who we’ve done business with before) and all she said was we wanted to replace our Resolute and “Eddie” immediately and enthusiastically endorsed the Jotul 445. A big👍 to all you guys that suggested that one. This isn’t a done deal by any means but we thought it was kind of funny, like he must be following this thread. He did mention the Alderlea as well so a nod to everyone else. We’re still open to feedback and suggestions but all your input is really appreciated. No doubt I’ll be fielding tips and suggestions for months. But for someone who’s been heating with the same stove for almost 40 years this is almost like replacing a family member so we don’t want to rush into anything.

 

[EbS-P]

So we’ve actually narrowed down the recommended stoves to just a handful of models here. My wife called the local stove shop (who we’ve done business with before) and all she said was we wanted to replace our Resolute and “Eddie” immediately and enthusiastically endorsed the Jotul 445. A big👍 to all you guys that suggested that one. This isn’t a done deal by any means but we thought it was kind of funny, like he must be following this thread. He did mention the Alderlea as well so a nod to everyone else. We’re still open to feedback and suggestions but all your input is really appreciated. No doubt I’ll be fielding tips and suggestions for months. But for someone who’s been heating with the same stove for almost 40 years this is almost like replacing a family member so we don’t want to rush into anything.

If I were heating full time I’d be getting something I could load N/S. It’s just not possible with the F445. Realistically is a 4 -5 hour burn time when it’s pushed hard. I would love to hear real owner feedback on how much heat they put out on low. I can load my F400 with 3 dry splits of pine and shut the air all the way and does well reload as needed usually in 5 hours while it’s still easy to relight on coals.

 

[Kwolt]

If I were heating full time I’d be getting something I could load N/S. It’s just not possible with the F445. Realistically is a 4 -5 hour burn time when it’s pushed hard. I would love to hear real owner feedback on how much heat they put out on low. I can load my F400 with 3 dry splits of pine and shut the air all the way and does well reload as needed usually in 5 hours while it’s still easy to relight on coals.

How about it? Anyone out there have experience with a F445 overnight burn?

 

[begreen]

You don’t think that would be too much stove for a 1200 sq ft house?

Probably not, the user controls the heat by the fuel load size and air supplied to it. It's about a 1.7 cu ft stove. An overnight burn is unlikely in cold weather. Our F400 had about a 4 hr burn time when pressed for heat would do a 6-7 hr burn in moderate weather. 8 hr. burns were possible, but not as common.
What is the stove room like? This is a radiant stove. Room temperature swings due to the burn cycle may be common. More even room temperatures are a benefit of a cast iron jacketed stove like the F35, F45, or T5.

 

[Kwolt]

Probably not, the user controls the heat by the fuel load size and air supplied to it. It's about a 1.7 cu ft stove. An overnight burn is unlikely in cold weather. Our F400 had about a 4 hr burn time when pressed for heat would do a 6-7 hr burn in moderate weather. 8 hr. burns were possible, but not as common.
What is the stove room like? This is a radiant stove. Room temperature swings due to the burn cycle may be common. More even room temperatures are a benefit of a cast iron jacketed stove like the F35, F45, or T5.

The room it’s in is open kitchen/living room/dining area about 24’x24’ with 7’ ceilings but we’re really heating the whole house. From what I’ve seen of modern stoves you can only cut the air back so far limiting your ability to regulate heat output. We’re actually looking around to see if we can find a F45.

 

[Todd]

The F445 and F400 are two different stoves. The F445 has a 2.03 cu ft firebox compared to the F400 1.7 cu ft. I don’t think you should have any problem having enough coals for relight after 8 hours with hardwood. Jotul claims 9 hours.

My little F100 can do easy 6-8 hour burns with good hardwood. Same with my 602 CB.

When I had my F45 I could easily get 10-12 hours burn times but the firebox was N/S loading 2.4 cu ft.

 

[begreen]

Yes, you are correct, my error, the F445 is a little larger. Thanks. The F445 is too new to have a good sense of realistic burn times or maintenance requirements. There are very few reports on it. However, with good hardwood it does sound like it may be capable of an 8-10 hr burn time.

It sounds like there is a difference in defining burn time as the period of meaningful heat vs having enough relightable coals. Brother Bart had the F100 and was lucky to get 4 hrs out of it. We had the F3CB and it was rare to provide a 6 hr burn time with 3-4 hrs between necessay reloads being much more common.

 

[bigealta]

I'd say my f400 has 3 hours of decent heat with dry red oak seasoned 2 to 3 years.
Max reload time might be 6-7 hours but that means just enough coals to relight. (Stove would be just "warm" for hours 4-7)

This is on a 15-16' flue. Good draw but not at all to strong ever.

A N/S stove would be nice, but that said, i still do like my f400 for it's consistent toughness and no problems with its build or burning character.

And i heat 95% of my cape house with it. If it was not for my having to turn on some heat during the coldest days to protect my pipes in a section of my basement it would be 100% .

So really the only drawback is the overnight burn times. Here in NJ i don't always need to burn overnight so that becomes less of an issue for my setup and mildish climate.