I have been heating with a 30 year old Vermont Castings vigilant catalytic stove. This stove has been an alright heater but has been horrible for creosote production and we recently had a chimney fire even though i had just cleaned the chimney a month earlier and am using year and a half old wood. so, i am in the process of replacing my stove and pipe. The footprint of my house is about 800 square feet and it has a vaulted ceiling with a master bedroom loft for a second floor. The house is not the best insulated house i have ever been in. Given that i live in a very cold climate (northeastern minnesota) and rely on wood for my primary heat, i want to get a large stove that can easily heat my space. I am currently looking at four types of stoves. The Regency 3100, Regency 2400, Napoleon EPA1900, and The Enerzone 3.4. What are people's thoughts on these stoves? am i on the right track with these? Please let me know because i really want to make an informed decision that results in a good quality, high heat output stove that lasts for years and years. Thanks so much. appreciate it.
trying to pick out type of stove--HELP!
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I'd be interested in "why" you had a chimney fire in the Vermont Castings set up. Is it because it was a catalytic stove, and there are things that you should have done with the catalytic that you didn't do? It's frankly amazing to me that having had the system cleaned only 3 months before hand, you had a fire. I'd like to learn more about how to avoid that.
As for type of stove, I'm sure all of those are fine, but if it were me, since you said that your Vermont Castings stove was just "all right" at producing heat, I'd be looking at "why" it was "just alright." Was it the catalytic? Was the firebox just not big enough to give you the kind of heat you needed? Were your burning habits and wood an issue?
Once I had come to some sort of understanding as to what it was that gave me trouble before, and what I didn't like about that previous setup, then I'd choose a stove that helped me avoid some of the issues from before. There seems to be no end to types of stoves, and advocates as well as detractors for each brand.
I've looked at the various stoves you've mentioned, and like the Regency products you listed, (all of them). The Napoleon EPA 1900 has a bit of class to its look, but that's not what counts, really.
-Soupy1957
As for type of stove, I'm sure all of those are fine, but if it were me, since you said that your Vermont Castings stove was just "all right" at producing heat, I'd be looking at "why" it was "just alright." Was it the catalytic? Was the firebox just not big enough to give you the kind of heat you needed? Were your burning habits and wood an issue?
Once I had come to some sort of understanding as to what it was that gave me trouble before, and what I didn't like about that previous setup, then I'd choose a stove that helped me avoid some of the issues from before. There seems to be no end to types of stoves, and advocates as well as detractors for each brand.
I've looked at the various stoves you've mentioned, and like the Regency products you listed, (all of them). The Napoleon EPA 1900 has a bit of class to its look, but that's not what counts, really.
-Soupy1957
It sounds like the outcome of using an oversized stove and having to run it on low all the time. It's creating creosote deposits because the flue is operating at below the condensation point for creosote.
What you really need is a two speed stove. A cat is the correct choice. I'm wondering if a Woodstock Fireview would work here? If you want to move off of the cat, I would look at a high mass stove like a Hearthstone soapstone or a Pacific Energy Alderlea. The mass of the soapstone or in the case of the Alderlea the cast iron jacket, will soften the heat and convect warmth after the fire has died down. Regardless of choice, you need to run the flue at higher temps or the problem will persist. The best solution of course is to improve insulation for the best benefits of a smaller stove, more even temps, less wood consumed, greater comfort, etc.
What you really need is a two speed stove. A cat is the correct choice. I'm wondering if a Woodstock Fireview would work here? If you want to move off of the cat, I would look at a high mass stove like a Hearthstone soapstone or a Pacific Energy Alderlea. The mass of the soapstone or in the case of the Alderlea the cast iron jacket, will soften the heat and convect warmth after the fire has died down. Regardless of choice, you need to run the flue at higher temps or the problem will persist. The best solution of course is to improve insulation for the best benefits of a smaller stove, more even temps, less wood consumed, greater comfort, etc.
I agree with Begreen. To big of a stove in a smaller home will force you to burn with less air and create more creosote. I would look for a stove in the 2cu ft fire box range that will give you long burns over 8 hours since that is you primary source of heat. Fireview would probably work and the PE medium sized stoves also have a good rep for long burns. Do you have a ceiling fan in that vaulted ceiling?
Todd: You said, "To big of a stove in a smaller home will force you to burn with less air and create more creosote." .
I'm trying to wrap my mind around what ya'll are saying...........are you guys saying that in a bigger box, if you don't fill the box every time you burn, and keep it full, that it is MORE likely that you will create creosote more quickly?
What qualifies as a bigger box? My Avalon Rainier 90? How does it "force" me to burn with LESS air? I can leave the damper fully open, if that's the issue.
-Soupy1957
I'm trying to wrap my mind around what ya'll are saying...........are you guys saying that in a bigger box, if you don't fill the box every time you burn, and keep it full, that it is MORE likely that you will create creosote more quickly?
What qualifies as a bigger box? My Avalon Rainier 90? How does it "force" me to burn with LESS air? I can leave the damper fully open, if that's the issue.
-Soupy1957
Less air = less hot fire. Assuming this is a pre-EPA stove, it does not function the same way your Rainier does.
i do have a ceiling fan in the house. my insurance company is going to pay for a new pipe and chimney as well as the labor to install it. i have to buy a woodstove to fit the new system. the new system is required to have a 6 inch pipe, so my vermont castings stove is no longer an option. due to the high price of the napoleon, i have been leaning more towards the Regency stoves. I can buy a used steptop 2400 for $1300 or i can buy a new 3100 for $2100. Not sure if the bigger stove is necessary in my house? or is the 2400 adequate? thanks again for the replies, im learning all kinds of things!
Heating a small place efficiently and comfortably is a challenge. You will need to be careful about stove choice to get the best results. This could mean getting a more expensive stove, but considering the help from insurance and the tax credit, I would get the right stove for the job. In non-cat I would be looking at the PE Alderlea T5 or the Hearthstone Phoenix. In cat stoves I would be looking at a Woodstock Fireview or Keystone/Palladian.
That said, if you are trying to do this with no out of pocket money, look at the affordable Napoleon 1450.
That said, if you are trying to do this with no out of pocket money, look at the affordable Napoleon 1450.
Welcome to the forum paddler.
800 sq. ft. should not be that difficult to heat. I agree with BeGreen that you should look at the Woodstock Fireview. It should have the right size firebox and is a cat stove so that you can burn it low without fear of creosote.
Woodstock Fireview
If you purchase now, they have a big sale going and you can still get the tax break if you buy yet this year.
btw, we bought one of these stoves and could not be happier. As for cresote, we also put in a new chimney when we bought the stove and are not going into our 4th year with this stove. We've cleaned our chimney once and got about a cup of soot; no creosote. Naturally, the big key is to have good dry wood and that we have plenty of. In addition to the cleaner burning, we burn only half the amount of wood we did with our old stove and we stay a whole lot warmer. And here is one big advantage if you purchase from Woodstock; you get a six month guarantee! If not satisfied, send it back. Can you do that with any other stove?
800 sq. ft. should not be that difficult to heat. I agree with BeGreen that you should look at the Woodstock Fireview. It should have the right size firebox and is a cat stove so that you can burn it low without fear of creosote.
Woodstock Fireview
If you purchase now, they have a big sale going and you can still get the tax break if you buy yet this year.
btw, we bought one of these stoves and could not be happier. As for cresote, we also put in a new chimney when we bought the stove and are not going into our 4th year with this stove. We've cleaned our chimney once and got about a cup of soot; no creosote. Naturally, the big key is to have good dry wood and that we have plenty of. In addition to the cleaner burning, we burn only half the amount of wood we did with our old stove and we stay a whole lot warmer. And here is one big advantage if you purchase from Woodstock; you get a six month guarantee! If not satisfied, send it back. Can you do that with any other stove?
well, ive done some research on the fireview. it looks like a heck of a stove at a reasonable price, especially right now with the sale and the tax credit. Ive gotta admit, i have a prejudice against cat stoves. The stove i had, a vermont castings vigilant, was a horrible stove that tried its best to burn my house down while at the same time producing no heat. i have been finding lots of good info on cat stoves on this forum and it sounds like they certainly have their advantages. i am a little skeptical because they do seem like they require more maintenance. not sure how true that assumptions is? i am attracted to the longer burn times of a cat stove and the more even heat of soapstone but i am concerned that my house needs a bigger stove with more heat output. (a warm wife is a happy wife---i have learned!) I know that i want a good quality stove that is going to heat well and last for years but, we are fairly poor and spending $3000 for a stove is not gonna happen.
What are people's thoughts on the Regency? both the 2400 and the 3100? i like the bigger firebox of the 3100 but the 2400 seems to get higher reviews (at least what i have found) I am also considering the Alderlea T5?
i appreciate the input. im learning a lot, thank you for helping me make an informed decision on which stove to buy to replace my current one.
What are people's thoughts on the Regency? both the 2400 and the 3100? i like the bigger firebox of the 3100 but the 2400 seems to get higher reviews (at least what i have found) I am also considering the Alderlea T5?
i appreciate the input. im learning a lot, thank you for helping me make an informed decision on which stove to buy to replace my current one.
paddler said:
On the Fireview, I understand why you are hesitant, but this stove in no way will compare with your old one.
Maintenance? What maintenance? Our maintenance consists of simply raising the top lid, lifting out the cat, brushing off a little fly ash, sitting the cat back in and closing the lid. Total time can be anywhere from 2 minutes to maybe 4 minutes. We do this in mid-winter one time and again when it comes time for the annual complete cleaning of the stove. It is so easy a child can do it. But, I understand if you want a bigger stove. Just don't make the cat stove out to be something it is not. We went through this same type of decision in 2007 and have been completely satisfied.
Regency is a decent stove, I use to burn the small one and it heated well but not very long, had to reload about every 4 hours. The medium sized Regency will probably give you a 6-8 hour burn and be the right size for your sq ft. The large stove will give you 8-10 but imo be too much stove.
The T-5 is a nice looking stove, similar size to the medium Regency and has a good rep for longer burn of over 8 hours. It also has a rugged stainless steel baffle system. If I was in the market for a non cat it would be at the top of my list.
Fireview is also a medium sized stove similar size to the others but since it's a cat stove it can be turned down lower when you don't need the heat and I can easily burn 12 hours or more with a full load of Oak. Maintenance is a breeze with this stove, just lift the lid and the cat is right there to brush off once every cord of wood or so, takes 5 minutes at most.
The T-5 is a nice looking stove, similar size to the medium Regency and has a good rep for longer burn of over 8 hours. It also has a rugged stainless steel baffle system. If I was in the market for a non cat it would be at the top of my list.
Fireview is also a medium sized stove similar size to the others but since it's a cat stove it can be turned down lower when you don't need the heat and I can easily burn 12 hours or more with a full load of Oak. Maintenance is a breeze with this stove, just lift the lid and the cat is right there to brush off once every cord of wood or so, takes 5 minutes at most.
i drove to thunderbay today to look at a few places. i was really impressed by the Pacific Energy summit series. I initially was real excited about the T5/6 but the salesman told me the iron was nothing more than decoration. is that true? my other concern with the summit is that it only takes 18 inch logs north south and 20 inch logs east west. i buy 8ft logs from a logger and cut them into fifths. my firewood pieces average between 17-20 inches. i havent had a front loading stove before and it seems like a hassle to load wood in east and west, not sure if this is true?
We also looked at some Jotuls. we were offered a good deal on the F600 fireview. Does the cast iron make a noticable difference in the way it heats? I want to make sure that if i spend more money, i have stove that performs more effeciently with less hassle.
once again, i appreciate the insight.
We also looked at some Jotuls. we were offered a good deal on the F600 fireview. Does the cast iron make a noticable difference in the way it heats? I want to make sure that if i spend more money, i have stove that performs more effeciently with less hassle.
once again, i appreciate the insight.
paddler said:
The sound you just heard was BeGreen's head exploding, lol.
In a word no--the cast iron gives you lots of thermal mass, and smooths out the temperature swings. Alderleas are great stoves.
Personally, in your case I'd recommend one of the Woodstocks. In your small house you'll need the ability to dial back on the burn during warmer temps, and modern cats like the Woodstock do that without fuss and with great efficiency. I can't imagine you being anything but thrilled with one, and there are plenty of enthusiastic owners here to show you the ropes. HTH.
IMO the Summit and F-600 are great heaters but too much for 800 sq ft even in N MN. Did you look at the next size down from those models? The PE line is more of a convection stove where it will heat the air coming in and return it hotter kind a like a forced air furnace. The Jotul is more of a radiant heater and you will get that step out from the shade into the sun feeling. I think convection stoves are better for homes that are broken up into many rooms and radiant stove are better in open floor plans.
wow, this forum has been a huge help for me. i think my wife and i have decided on getting the T5 or the T6. seems like a quality stove that we will love for many years. Now i just have to decide on which size. for the last three winters we have had three different stoves and we have grown tired of being cold every winter. i am naturally inclinded to want to get the bigger stove. after looking at the T5, i am a bit skeptical of a firebox that seems so small. I liked the size of firebox on the T6 but i am also worried about getting blasted out of my house. could i regret buying a stove that is too big? its a drafty house in a very cold climate.
Get the T5, it won't heat you out of the house. In milder weather, just feed it less wood.
And call an insulation company tomorrow...
And call an insulation company tomorrow...
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