What new Stove is the best choice?

[namyzarc]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and I've been doing a lot of research trying to find the best stove for our needs.
Our home is 2700 sq ft., 8 ft ceilings, mostly open floor plan - we Live in NW Indiana.
1 floor (with unfinished basement).
I plan on using this mostly as supplemental heat, but, if we can achieve sufficient burn times, this may change to become the primary heat source.
House was built in the 50s, and has seen several remodels since... the room where we are installing it is surrounded on 2 sides with floor to ceiling glass, (with some leaks) and on a third side with a sun-room (I'd also like to have some heat get in there too)

There was a non operational pellet stove installed when we bought the place, and I'm looking to install a wood stove in it's place since we have some acreage and plenty of fallen branches and trees to use as fuel.

Still in the research process, but there are a couple of stoves I'm leaning towards
(Mainly because they're available here at Home Depot...):
US Stove Model 3000 or Model 2500
The Home Depot reviews seem mostly positive, but I was wondering if anyone here has any experience or any opinions on these?
Also would the larger stove be better?

edit: added some additional info about the home

 

[begreen]

If the location where the stove is going to be is fairly open to the rest of the house go for the largest stove. While at HD also check out the Englander 30NC. There are lots of satisfied owners here and it has great support.

 

[Jags]

Yep - if you have the ability to move the heat (not overheat the stove room), get big firepower. 2700 sqft is a bunch to heat with a woodstove.
If you don't think you will be able to get a good thermal loop - size the stove to the appropriate heating area (the area that you expect to heat with the stove.)

(I hope this reads better than I typed it.)

 

[namyzarc]

The room that the stove will be put in is the largest room of the house at about 23 X 27. on one side, it is partially open to the kitchen (two large "windows" going into the kitchen + a wide doorway. On another side it connects to a sun-room - I prefer to have the doors to the sun-room open so it can get some heat in there since I have plants that I don't want to freeze. The kitchen is then open to the living room (1 doorway and one wider entrance), and hallway, which leads to the bedrooms.
Begreen: I have looked at the Englander 30NC, but it seemed slightly on the small side for the square footage... weird thing is that the US Stove 3000, seems to have an only slightly larger firebox (3.62 vs 3.71), yet it is "supposed" to be able to heat an additional 800 sq feet, while weighing less...

 

[begreen]

Most stove mfg sq ftg ratings are not too useful. There is no generic house in a generic location which is what these specs are derived from. Cathedral ceilings, lots of glass, windy locations, etc.. can totally change the picture. The 30NC is a workhorse and practically speaking the same size. Truth be told, heating 2700 sq ft with one stove is going to be a challenge, regardless of who makes it, unless the house is very tight and well insulated.

How is your wood supply? It's too late in the season to get good dry wood unless someone sells kiln dried in your area.

 

[Jags]

Don't buy into the advertised "square footage" that stoves claim to heat. There are waaay too many variables to make a blanket statement like that. Go by the firebox size.

 

[namyzarc]

I have a stack of wood (about 2 cords worth) that I've cut in the spring and summer. It is a mix of some dry logs from dead trees or braches that had fallen the previous season and some fresher braches that fell off during some of the larger storms.

The Englander will definitely be under consideration...
Does anyone have any opinions or experience about any pros/cons of the US Stove 3000?

 

[BCC_Burner]

I would say you need to find some pallets, compressed hardwood bricks or kiln dried wood. Regardless of what stove you choose, it sounds like your wood supply is going to be too wet to burn well this winter.

 

[namyzarc]

Thanks BCC. I might just use it a bit less this year, and make sure I only use up the dry wood.

Still hoping someone with first-hand experience with the US Stove 3000 will be able to chime in...