wanted to say hello and need some suggestions

[triage1998]

I just found this great site and wanted to say hello before I ask for some suggestions.

I'm looking for a wood burning stove that will help heat a 1978 1875 sq ft home. I have baseboard heating and currently have an old majestic fireplace. The Majestic looks like it is from the late 70's. It really doesn't look right with the rough cut cedar walls I have in my family room. I have to put 5 or 6 decent size logs in there to heat my family room and they only last for about 2 hours before I have to stoke the fireplace again so the efficiency of my fireplace is horrible.

My sister just picked up a used Vermont Castings Resolute wood stove. It was made cast in 1979 and looks brand new. Picked it off of E-bay for the sum of $200. She had to drive 5 hours to pick it up but it is well worth it. I love the look of those wood burners. After seeing my sisters stove the wife and I decided we would like a similiar stove to her VC. I did some searching on this site and found wood stove styles from the following companies that I really like.


Vermont castings
Jotul
Hampton
Woodstock Soapstone
Waterford


My home is considered a tri-lever or split level. The picture you see is the family room located in the right center of the home on the first level. It is about 4 feet below ground level and is the coldest part of the home. This is our first home and the wife and I our 5 months pregnant with our 2nd child. She loves the warmth and feel of the fireplace.
I would prefer to pick a used one up off of E-bay and drive the max of 5-6 hours from Medina, Ohio.

If you all could make some suggestions on what model I should look for or suggest another quality company that makes wood stoves similar to the ones listed above it would be much appreciated.


Also, I forgot to add that the old chimney components were replaced in 1999 with double wall 8” class-A- chimney components. That is good news as I would not have to replace any of those parts for a long time.

 

[Hokerer]

Also, I forgot to add that the old chimney components were replaced in 1999 with double wall 8” class-A- chimney components. That is good news as I would not have to replace any of those parts for a long time.

Don't mean to rain on your parade but almost all high-efficiency woodstoves today use a 6" chimney.

 

[Hokerer]

Oh yeah, as far as the brand names you mention...

Vermont castings - It's too bad that Craig doesn't have all the old (pre new message board format) posts from Hearth.com around as you could read all about the quality problems with VC the last several years. If I remember the discussions, it looked like VC might have been starting to get their act back together but I don't really know the current status.

Jotul - Nice cast iron stoves that seem to get nothing but positives reviews.

Hampton - Don't know much about these.

Woodstock Soapstone - Cast iron/Soapstone stoves that also seem to get nothing but positive reviews. Be aware, though, that all of their models are catalytic (not that that's necessarily a good or a bad thing, it just is). If you'd rather a non-catalytic Soapstone, look at the Hearthstone brand.

Waterford - Again, from the old Hearth.com posts, I think Waterford discontinued supplying stoves to the US and there have been major problems with getting parts and such.

...and it looks like your list addresses only Cast iron or Cast iron/Soapstone stoves. If you're open to widening your criteria, there's a whole bunch of brands that make plain plate steel stoves.

 

[Sandor]

I have been staying at my lady's house for awhile and have been burning a VC Resolute Acclaim 24x7. Its maybe 10 years old and does have some issues. However, this thing is a rather efficient wood burner. I would not think twice about putting it in my own home, but, just be aware it will need some maintenance.

I installed a Woodstock Keystone in my own home and this thing is a heating demon and looks like a high quality piece of furniture. I bought it because I read every review on here and I don't think I saw one thing negative.

Just my experience, but I'm sure others will have something to add.

BTW, I have not seen one of those fireplace things since the 70's ! LOL.

 

[Willhound]

BTW, I have not seen one of those fireplace things since the 70's ! LOL.

No kidding. A buddy had one in the living room of the house he lived in for awhile in the late 70's, early 80's. We used to go over there and "barbecue" smoked sausages right over a grill he had for it, right in the house while listening to his extensive Rolling Stones collection. 'Course back then, the Stones and the sausages weren't the only things that were "smoked".

Triage - Check the specs for any of the units you are considering, but I think you may have some major clearance issues at the back and sides, particularly with that very flammable cedar wall covering you've got. Beautiful looking, but will flame right up.

Willhound

 

[triage1998]

Be aware that on those Vermont Castings products, the date that you see cast into the back plate indicates the original DESIGN date of that particular MODEL of stove.

I did not know that. Thanks for the info Dylan

Don’t mean to rain on your parade but almost all high-efficiency woodstoves today use a 6” chimney.

Is this a major problem? will my stove just be less efficient?

If you’re open to widening your criteria, there’s a whole bunch of brands that make plain plate steel stoves.

I haven't even heard of any steel plate stoves. Any web links to the best brands?

BTW, I have not seen one of those fireplace things since the 70’s ! LOL.

When the wife and I were looking for homes, I almost fell over when I saw this thing. The only thing I didn't like in the house. Its easily fixed though

Triage - Check the specs for any of the units you are considering, but I think you may have some major clearance issues at the back and sides, particularly with that very flammable cedar wall covering you’ve got. Beautiful looking, but will flame right up.

Willhound

No problem. I plan on ripping the base out and bring the unit out at least 30" or whatever the specs are on the wood stove. Plenty of room . I plan on putting slate or some other ceramic tile as the base. I haven't decided if I will have a raised platform or not.

 

[Willhound]

OK, I gotta ask. One your second post you've figured out how to do multiple quotes in one post. I haven't been able to do that yet after 140. Are you using the quote tag I see at the top of the message editing box?

Also, glad to see that you've given some of the other issues some thought. The 8" chimney thing might be an issue because I understand that a larger diameter chimney may draw at a slower velocity than a smaller diameter, particularly when going from small stove opening to larger chimney. There was a post here somewhere on this a while back.

Willhound

 

[triage1998]

Also, glad to see that you’ve given some of the other issues some thought. The 8” chimney thing might be an issue because I understand that a larger diameter chimney may draw at a slower velocity than a smaller diameter, particularly when going from small stove opening to larger chimney. There was a post here somewhere on this a while back.

Willhound

I have some reasearch to do. Hopefully someone can chime in and help me with this

OK, I gotta ask. One your second post you’ve figured out how to do multiple quotes in one post. I haven’t been able to do that yet after 140. Are you using the quote tag I see at the top of the message editing box?

Hi Willhound- I open up another window from the this website and copy and paste the sentences I want to quote and click on the quote tag in the second window and stick my copied sentences between the {quote][/quote}. That way you can quote multiple people in the same thread. Pretty easy when you get the hang of it.

 

[Willhound]

Thanks Triage
That's about what I thought. I'll give it a try next time.

Now, let's get back to getting you some of the info you wanted. Dinner time is just about over, so maybe some of the others will post soon.

 

[elkimmeg]

I own and run 2 Vermont castings wood stoves 24/7 A 3 year old VC resolute acclaim so far no mantiance issues it does what I expected it would do, no complaints here.
The second stove is a VC Intrepid II cat stove preforms better than I ever expected. Full story behing this used stove click on this link https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/399/.

Code wise a 6" appliance can vent into an 8" round flue. Some larger VC Encores Defiants and Villigents have 8" flue collars

 

[Hokerer]

[quote author="triage1998" date="1135913116]I haven't even heard of any steel plate stoves. Any web links to the best brands?
[/quote]

I don't know much about steel stoves (as you can see, I'm a soapstone kind of guy), but here's links to some of the brands that seem to be talked about a good bit (in no particular order)...

Quadrafire - (broken link removed to http://www.quadrafire.com/products/stoves/woodStoves.asp)

Regency - (broken link removed to http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/)

Lopi - (broken link removed to http://www.lopistoves.com/dept.asp)

Avalon - (broken link removed to http://www.avalonstoves.com/dept.asp)

Don’t mean to rain on your parade but almost all high-efficiency woodstoves today use a 6” chimney.

Is this a major problem? will my stove just be less efficient?

I think you should be fine venting a 6" stove into an 8" class-A especially if, as it appears, the Class-A is inside the insulation envelope of the house (as opposed to going up the side of the house on the outside).

 

[carpniels]

Hi Triage,

That is one interesting and completely old-fashioned fireplace.

Of all the brands to replace it with, I have experience with a few. I will mention all and hopefully it will help with your decision.

Vermont Castings Intrepid II. Small and powerful. Catalytic combustor. Will do the job if the area is not too large. Will not do you 1700+ ft.

Jotul Castine. Non cat. Mid size model. Really nice, easy overnight burns, good heat. Will do your 1700 ft.

Quadrafire Isle Royale. Large model. Really nice. cast iron. Convenient top loading and small clearances. Will easily heat your 1700 ft.

Several other models you should look at are the Harman exception and harman oakwood (both top loaders but larger clearances). Also Morso has some sweet looking stoves.

I have a Jotul castine now but would have bought the quadrafire if it were not for the fact that I could get the jotul used and the quad only brand new. My wife realyl wanted the top loading quad over the front loading jotul. But I bought some stove gloves for $21, which is better than 1500 extra for the other stove

Good luck

Carpniels

 

[begreen]

My sister just picked up a used Vermont Castings Resolute wood stove. It was made cast in 1979 and looks brand new. Picked it off of E-bay for the sum of $200. She had to drive 5 hours to pick it up but it is well worth it. I love the look of those wood burners. After seeing my sisters stove the wife and I decided we would like a similiar stove to her VC. I did some searching on this site and found wood stove styles from the following companies that I really like.

Vermont castings
Jotul
Hampton
Woodstock Soapstone
Waterford

1979 VC Resolute was my first new stove. It is a really fine heater. I hope your sister has many years of pleasure from it. For a new stove, I would probably focus on a Jotul or Wooddstock, but also consider Morso and Hearthstone models and the Harmon Oakwood. Another stove that is very well built is the Pacific Energy Summit. It's a bit different aesthetic, but has a reputation for great efficiency and long burns. VC had some bad years, but now is working on improving quality and may have turned the corner. Unfortunately we won't know how the new stoves stand up for a few years. Waterfords are pretty, but hard to get parts for.