Stove Recommendations

[Big Schoolhouse]

New to the site but love all the information. You guys are amazing. I am looking for some recommendations and advice on a wood stove. I have an open floor plan, two story 1870 brick schoolhouse. There is no insulation in the walls, just 3 brick wide walls. Ceilings are 12 ft downstairs and up. The downstairs is open floor plan. Upstairs the bathroom and bedrooms are situated around the staircase/ open hallway. We currently have a heat pump/ electric furnace which runs constantly when cold. I have pretty reliable and free access to wood so I would like to add a wood burning stove as a primary heat source. The house has a chimney that runs up the middle of the house which would allow plenty of heat to make its way up the center staircase to the upper floor. The house is 2400 sq ft split evenly between floors.

The chimney is original but in good shape except for not having a liner. I recently cleaned the chimney and have ordered a 6" Rock Flex liner which I plan to install this weekend. The chimney is tall and from thimble to exit will be about 30'. I will need an additional 6' or so of stove pipe to get from the appliance to the thimble connection. I would like to heat the entire first floor and have enough warm air escape upstairs through the stairwell that will keep the chill down upstairs. I could also run our furnace fan to help circulate air if necessary.

I want a stove that will be a reliable source of heat and burn through most of the night or work day on a load of wood. I have been looking at some of the Drolet models such as the Decos. I have an opportunity to purchase a new but discontinued 2015 Napoleon Banff 1400 C (Majolica Brown Enamel) for $1000 or a new but discontinued Napoleon 1400C for $500. Both of those stoves are rated up to 2000 sq ft, 9 hours of burn time and 27" deep. The Drolet Deco Alto has a similar capacity and depth. The Drolet Deco II is slightly smaller in all accounts. I have the space but would prefer a stove that is not so deep which gives preference to the Deco II but I am afraid it does not have enough capacity.

I have a few questions:
1. Will my stove choices accomplish my heating needs?
2. Would the long chimney length have an impact on the Drolets? I read they would need to be dampened down.
3. Is one of these stove brands better than the other in terms of ease of use, lifespan, parts supply, etc.?
4. Can these stoves sit as close to the brick chimney as possible without issue? I imagine I will lose a little space because of the elbow connection to the chimney but would like the stove to be as close to the chimney as possible.
5. Should I use double or single wall pipe from the stove to the chimney? Clearances to ceilings and walls are will not an issue, only the brick masonry chimney itself.
6. Anything else I should know or be aware of in this wood stove adventure?

Thank you all for your knowledge and expertise.

 

[bholler]

New to the site but love all the information. You guys are amazing. I am looking for some recommendations and advice on a wood stove. I have an open floor plan, two story 1870 brick schoolhouse. There is no insulation in the walls, just 3 brick wide walls. Ceilings are 12 ft downstairs and up. The downstairs is open floor plan. Upstairs the bathroom and bedrooms are situated around the staircase/ open hallway. We currently have a heat pump/ electric furnace which runs constantly when cold. I have pretty reliable and free access to wood so I would like to add a wood burning stove as a primary heat source. The house has a chimney that runs up the middle of the house which would allow plenty of heat to make its way up the center staircase to the upper floor. The house is 2400 sq ft split evenly between floors.

The chimney is original but in good shape except for not having a liner. I recently cleaned the chimney and have ordered a 6" Rock Flex liner which I plan to install this weekend. The chimney is tall and from thimble to exit will be about 30'. I will need an additional 6' or so of stove pipe to get from the appliance to the thimble connection. I would like to heat the entire first floor and have enough warm air escape upstairs through the stairwell that will keep the chill down upstairs. I could also run our furnace fan to help circulate air if necessary.

I want a stove that will be a reliable source of heat and burn through most of the night or work day on a load of wood. I have been looking at some of the Drolet models such as the Decos. I have an opportunity to purchase a new but discontinued 2015 Napoleon Banff 1400 C (Majolica Brown Enamel) for $1000 or a new but discontinued Napoleon 1400C for $500. Both of those stoves are rated up to 2000 sq ft, 9 hours of burn time and 27" deep. The Drolet Deco Alto has a similar capacity and depth. The Drolet Deco II is slightly smaller in all accounts. I have the space but would prefer a stove that is not so deep which gives preference to the Deco II but I am afraid it does not have enough capacity.

I have a few questions:
1. Will my stove choices accomplish my heating needs?
2. Would the long chimney length have an impact on the Drolets? I read they would need to be dampened down.
3. Is one of these stove brands better than the other in terms of ease of use, lifespan, parts supply, etc.?
4. Can these stoves sit as close to the brick chimney as possible without issue? I imagine I will lose a little space because of the elbow connection to the chimney but would like the stove to be as close to the chimney as possible.
5. Should I use double or single wall pipe from the stove to the chimney? Clearances to ceilings and walls are will not an issue, only the brick masonry chimney itself.
6. Anything else I should know or be aware of in this wood stove adventure?

Thank you all for your knowledge and expertise.

2400 sq ft with 12' ceilings and no insulation? You need a furnace to keep up with that space

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

2400 sq ft with 12' ceilings and no insulation? You need a furnace to keep up with that space

I think adding a wood furnace would be require more than what I am wanting to spend. The center chimney and wood stove option seemed like the best way to lower my heating bill. I just can't stand to hear my heat pump and auxiliary heat run non stop all winter again. I like the upstairs to be considerably cooler for sleeping comfort. My biggest concern is the 1200 sq ft downstairs. Any heat that rises upstairs would be a bonus.

 

[bholler]

I think adding a wood furnace would be require more than what I am wanting to spend. The center chimney and wood stove option seemed like the best way to lower my heating bill. I just can't stand to hear my heat pump and auxiliary heat run non stop all winter again. I like the upstairs to be considerably cooler for sleeping comfort. My biggest concern is the 1200 sq ft downstairs. Any heat that rises upstairs would be a bonus.

Ok but even 1200 sqft 12' tall and no insulation is a big job. Those soft ratings are 8' ceilings with average insulation

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

Ok but even 1200 sqft 12' tall and no insulation is a big job. Those soft ratings are 8' ceilings with average insulation

Do you have a recommendation?

 

[kborndale]

Go as big as you can, if you like the drolets look at the ht-3000.

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

The ht-3000 is over 31" deep. I don't intend for the stove to supply all the heat. My expectation is that it will burn overnight and reduce the cost from my currently all electric heat pump that runs constantly when temperatures drop. If the center chimney and smaller stove does not work out the way I expect I can install an insert in the fireplace located on one of the exterior walls. The reason I didn't do that initially is because lining that chimney is goin to involve much more work. I also thought the center chimney would heat the entire area better since it was centrally located.

 

[Pinesmoke]

Having recently left Ohio I'll say my stove was able to heat the place for when that was my only heat. It happened 6 or 8 times while I was there. Outside temp -20 I could keep the place from Freezing.

You have a large open open Floorplan. A large stove wouldn't get lost in the space and wouldn't stand out as huge.

 

[begreen]

The ht-3000 is over 31" deep. I don't intend for the stove to supply all the heat. My expectation is that it will burn overnight and reduce the cost from my currently all electric heat pump that runs constantly when temperatures drop. If the center chimney and smaller stove does not work out the way I expect I can install an insert in the fireplace located on one of the exterior walls. The reason I didn't do that initially is because lining that chimney is goin to involve much more work. I also thought the center chimney would heat the entire area better since it was centrally located.

Go large. Some of the heat will go upstairs. A 3 cu ft Drolet is what I would put in. In addition to the HT-3000 there is the Astral/Myriad/Legend family. Also, I'd put in a ceiling fan in the stove room. Run it in reverse (winter mode) when the stove is running.

 

[Pinesmoke]

Go large. Some of the heat will go upstairs. A 3 cu ft Drolet is what I would put in. In addition to the HT-3000 there is the Astral/Myriad/Legend family. Also, I'd put in a ceiling fan in the stove room. Run it in reverse (winter mode) when the stove is running.

Good point on the fans. I take that for granted. We have them in every room except the bathrooms. We have 10 1/2 foot ceilings and they move the heat down and stir the place around.

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

There is a ceiling fan directly at the top of the stairs. Should I run it opposite to keep heat down in the main living area? Normally I would try to pull heat upstairs but I think running the furnace blower would pull enough warm air into the return vent and into the duct work upstairs. Anyone have answers on the stove pipe clearance to the brick chimney and whether to run double or single wall black pipe? Also, has anyone bought stoves from home stores? I saw this stove listed and it says its rated for 3500 sq ft. Made in China though. I find the ratings hard to believe for the size.

Hansabenne Stove

 

[begreen]

As far as I can tell that stove has little or no secondary combustion and is not EPA approved for sale in America. It looks like they are selling it as a "fireplace" to get around regs. FYI, the installation instructions are a bad joke, lots of errors.

Get a big Drolet. Made in Canada and SBI stands behind their products. Or get a big Englander which is now a branch of SBI and made in America. The 300L appears to be based on the Drolet Escape 1800.

https://www.englander-stoves.com/us/en/heaters/wood-stoves/esw0008/

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

I am leaning towards the big Drolets. They seem to have a good reviews and a good value. Anyone have insight on these questions.
2. Would the long chimney length have an impact on the Drolets? I read they would need to be dampened down.
4. Can these stoves sit as close to the brick chimney as possible without issue? I imagine I will lose a little space because of the elbow connection to the chimney but would like the stove to be as close to the chimney as possible.
5. Should I use double or single wall pipe from the stove to the chimney? Clearances to ceilings and walls are will not an issue, only the brick masonry chimney itself.

 

[stoveliker]

2. Yes, and maybe even two dampers, if you can fit them.
4. Yes, I believe so,.if all that's back there is non-combustible brick. But do keep a bit of space to be able to get rid of dust back there. Dust stinks when it gets hot.
Double wall is better, because your flue is tall, so you need to keep the heat in there (it'll cool down already on its long way to the top).

 

[EbS-P]

This is what I would be choosing

Wood Stove | Austral III With Heatflow S5 Forced Air System

Austral III wood stove with forced air system Heatflow S5 - Certified at 0.95 g/h - 90 000 BTU/h - Heats up to 2,100 ft² - 20 '' logs - Made in Canada Us.

www.drolet.ca

 

[begreen]

This is what I would be choosing

Wood Stove | Austral III With Heatflow S5 Forced Air System

Austral III wood stove with forced air system Heatflow S5 - Certified at 0.95 g/h - 90 000 BTU/h - Heats up to 2,100 ft² - 20 '' logs - Made in Canada Us.

www.drolet.ca

The Austral is unshielded which makes it a highly radiant stove. It's great for heating large open areas. The downside is that it has higher clearance requirements due to the lack of shielding. If this is a problem, the same stove body is available with shielding and lower clearances. It is sold in two models, the Myriad on a pedestal and the Legend with legs.

 

[EbS-P]

Looks like the heat flow blower attachment has been tested and offers reduced clearances.

https://www.drolet.ca/file/46310A_2023-05-25.pdf

The Austral is unshielded which makes it a highly radiant stove. It's great for heating large open areas. The downside is that it has higher clearance requirements due to the lack of shielding. If this is a problem, the same stove body is available with shielding and lower clearances. It is sold in two models, the Myriad on a pedestal and the Legend with legs.

 

[bigealta]

Post a pic of the space and brick chimney, it will be a big help.

 

[begreen]

Looks like the heat flow blower attachment has been tested and offers reduced clearances.

https://www.drolet.ca/file/46310A_2023-05-25.pdf

Yes, there is that option. It adds $450 to the price of the Legend and has an industrial look. The benefit in an open floorplan would be limited unless the intent was to duct heat upstairs.

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

Post a pic of the space and brick chimney, it will be a big help.

Here is the area. I am wanting to stay as close to the chimney as possible. There is about 5.5' from the chimney to the back of the chair is someone was sitting at the dining room table. I do have exposed ductwork overhead thst feeds both levels. Would it be worth using the add on kit to pump heat through the ducts to distribute heat throughout the house?

 

[bigealta]

looks like a good spot, but yeah it also looks to be in a traffic area so a huge deep stove may be awkward there?
5 1/2 ft to the chair. That's way to tight in my mind for a deep stove. Would even be tight for a jotul f500.

 

[bigealta]

Get a cardboard box about the size of the stoves u are considering and put it there to see how you would like the space with it placed there.

What about that open fireplace. Would a stove or insert be better there?

 

[bigealta]

an Old original jotul 118 would actually be the best fit for that space in the middle of the house.

 

[Big Schoolhouse]

looks like a good spot, but yeah it also looks to be in a traffic area so a huge deep stove may be awkward there?
5 1/2 ft to the chair. That's way to tight in my mind for a deep stove. Would even be tight for a jotul f500.

That's one of the reasons I was leaning toward the Drolet Deco Models. As with most modern looking stoves they seem to have less overall depth. The 5.5' to the chair would be with someone sitting in it which doesn't happen all that often. With the chair tucked in there is around 7' or so. That is comfortable to me if I can keep the stove in that mid to upper 20" depth range.

 

[begreen]

Nice place! The pictures are worth a thousand words. Makes sense now.