Replace a Earth Stove or buy the parts?

[FSRBIKER]

I have a Earth Stove BV4000C in a 3100 sqft bilevel and while it puts out decent heat it wasn't great and I try to burn wood exclusively, last two years I averaged about 8 cords. What I just found out is that the previous owner(this is my third winter) didn't have the cat installed nor the cat temp. sensor. Last winter I discovered the liner was just sealed with cement to the top of the stove, I repaired the liner connection with the right collar last winter and the draft was much better. Now there are a few firebricks I could also replace and with the cat and temp sensor it should be running real good this winter...or do I try and sell it and buy a non-cat stove? Keep in mind I am saving for a complete wood burning furnace to replace my existing oil fired forced air unit, this should go in sometime next summer and the woodstove would just be for ambiance at that point.

Anyone have a picture of the cat temp probe installed, I see the knock out where it goes but that is behind the trim plate so how do you read the temp? Has anyone used a digital probe, if so which size fits? Thanks in advance!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Welcome to the forum FSRBIKER.

If you are already planning on a new furnace you might be best served by fixing the old stove; that is thinking in cost only. And why a non-cat stove? Perhaps some of the cat stoves have problems but certainly they are a minority. Plenty of us here have cat stoves and love them. Very clean burning and use much less fuel.

You also seem to burn a lot of fuel for your area. Are you perhaps talking about face cords rather than full cords? Heck, we only burn 3 cords per year here.

 

[FSRBIKER]

I agree I am burning way too much wood, if I am overestimating it's not by much. I split over 4 cords for last winter and bought 3 maybe 4 during the season. I do try and heat the house exclusively with wood, this house is much harder than my last one because of the bilevel design with the stove on the upstairs floor. Besides the cat missing and temp probe there are two side firebricks that aren't there either, I am looking at about $400 I think for parts but then I should be done as i'll replace some other firebricks as well. Nothing against cat stoves in general, replacing a $200 cat every few years isn't the end of the world.

I just talked with lennox regarding the cat temp probe and it makes no sense since they said I have to kind of peek under the trim panels to take a look at the guage, I think I will just go with a digital remote mounted probe. Anyone know the proper depth the probe should stick inside the stove by the cat? Any recommendations on digital probes?

 

[Jags]

In your shoes---don't know. The reason I say that, is because if you have to buy 4 cords of wood again this year (lets say $150 per cord just for giggles) your at $600 for wood. $400 for stove repairs = $1000 bucks and you end up with an old stove that is, lets say, not a gem.

You could take that same money and apply it to an Englander NC30 (and then take some tax rebate off of that), go through half the wood and end up with a real heater.

I know you are looking at a furnace in the future, but if your gonna spend some cash now, get the best bang for your buck (what ever that is). Not knowing your complete situation, I would crunch the numbers (got wood? need to buy wood? Old stove parts? Efficiency of a properly running stove = wood saved? Tax rebate? etc.)

You may be surprised at the final outcome.

 

[mellow]

If you are a do it yourselfer than just buy the parts yourself and do it. That stove still has plenty of life left and can get you through the winter fine, check all your gaskets to.

Another option for the Cat is Condor:
(broken link removed to http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/earthstove2.html)

A new cat will bring back alot of life to that stove.

 

[FSRBIKER]

Tonight I am going to total all the parts I'll need, I will do all the work myself so there are no labor costs. Unless the Englander is a large insert it's not going to work for me, I beleive that model is just a free standing stove. I have read good things about the Earth Stoves, if there are downsides let me know as parts still seem to be readily available. If anyone has pictures of the cat installed and the cat thermometer please post them or send them to [email protected]

 

[savageactor7]

I'd get a new stove ....you'll burn half the wood and enjoy seeing the fire. btw welcome.

 

[BrotherBart]

Get a good cat and thermo in that thing and wood consumption should drop like a rock. With a cat and running that stove right you should be getting more heat and only using three to four cords of wood a season.

 

[FSRBIKER]

I like the stove and I'm about to paint it a nice deep red, I could possibly double the fans as well for more output. Savage it's got a nice big glass door, I think the cat & proper temp fires will make a big difference in my burn times. Time to order the parts and then keep splitting.

 

[Nonprophet]

I think all too often we jump the gun and buy new--part of being a throw-away society I guess........

That being said, I'd be careful how much you spent too--there is a point of diminishing returns.

As far as Earth Stoves go, we were just given a 1400HT, and I'm burning it in our shop as we speak. It's a non-cat, and I must say that I really like this stove!
It's well built, it lights very easily, the clearances are amazing, it really puts out some heat, and it's SIMPLE. No by-pass damper, no cat to worry about fouling....and a nice big window to see the flames and re-burn.

I understand that Earth Stove was one of the first stove makers to introduce baffles and re-burn tubes--in the mid 70's if I remember right. They were way ahead of their time, and I think their stoves
stand up to today's offerings quite well.

NP

 

[ozarkjeep]

IM sorry I just now got your PM fsrbiker.

let me know how it goes.

I updated my fans too, slightly higher wattage fans when one died last year.

they are noiser now, but move more air.

 

[BDerrick]

I was following all the posts on the Earthstove and thought I'd ask about an insert (I have a big masonary fireplace (actually two) to fill). I'm looking at an Earthstove BV-400 which looks to be in good shape on Craig's List. The owners want $1000. Anybody help me out on what this would really be worth? I'm thinking more like $500? thanks.

 

[Nonprophet]

I was following all the posts on the Earthstove and thought I'd ask about an insert (I have a big masonary fireplace (actually two) to fill). I'm looking at an Earthstove BV-400 which looks to be in good shape on Craig's List. The owners want $1000. Anybody help me out on what this would really be worth? I'm thinking more like $500? thanks.

To me, $1,000 seems too high--I think your $500 figure is more realistic. One idea would be to check feeBay completed listings, if anyone has sold one of those in the past year or so it will list the winning bid. You can also search Craigslist nationally and see what others are selling them for.

NP

 

[BDerrick]

NP - great idea. thanks.

 

[FSRBIKER]

Make sure you factor in a new Cat($225) and any firebricks or other parts you might need to make sure the stove is running efficiently. $500 for a used stove is fair, if he can provide documentation for a new cat then maybe a bit more.

 

[BDerrick]

Make sure you factor in a new Cat($225) and any firebricks or other parts you might need to make sure the stove is running efficiently. $500 for a used stove is fair, if he can provide documentation for a new cat then maybe a bit more.

OK Good idea FSRBIKER. Can I get parts for this?

Another question, I will need to get a chimney liner. This model has an 8" flue opening but states in the owners manual either 8" to 6" flue liner is OK. I'm considering getting a 6" in case I don't really like this and want to go on to a new one like a PE Summitt or something in the future. Any problems running a 6" flue to an 8" stove opening or should I stick with an 8" flue.

 

[FSRBIKER]

I used a local store that carries Lennox parts for my stuff but here is a place online plus a link to the owners manual: http://woodheatstoves.com/index.php...ea4b497295fb81a396d2f7&keyword=bv400c&x=0&y=0

(broken link removed) (II&CO.pdf

I scanned the manual briefly but they have a 8" to 6" offset adapter listed which is if your stove doesn't perfectly line up with the flue so I would think a 6" liner would be fine.

Make sure you factor in a new Cat($225) and any firebricks or other parts you might need to make sure the stove is running efficiently. $500 for a used stove is fair, if he can provide documentation for a new cat then maybe a bit more.

OK Good idea FSRBIKER. Can I get parts for this?

Another question, I will need to get a chimney liner. This model has an 8" flue opening but states in the owners manual either 8" to 6" flue liner is OK. I'm considering getting a 6" in case I don't really like this and want to go on to a new one like a PE Summitt or something in the future. Any problems running a 6" flue to an 8" stove opening or should I stick with an 8" flue.

 

[BDerrick]

FSRbiker - thanks very much for all your help!

 

[FSRBIKER]

Well I replaced the gaskets, installed the cat setup with temp probe and next week have to pick up the new firebrick. All I can say is WOW what a difference the cat has made, my burn times have doubled and I am getting alot more heat. Three splits at 10-11pm and by 6am there still is a bit of wood(tons of coals) in the stove and the fan is still running pumping out hot air.Now I have to find the right floor fan to move some cool air towards the stove.