What size insert for our situation

[faultymechanics]

Looks like we're finally replacing our current insert. Our house is primarily heated with a pellet boiler but we want a stove to help out on those extra cold nights(-30 F isn't unheard of, we live in Northern NH). Your house is from the 1930s and were slowly improving insulation but its no modern home.

Our entire home is 2500sqft

The house currently has a large Winterwarm 2100 which claims a max output of 50000btus. Would it be ridiculous to replace it with a small insert, since we are using it as auxiliary heating? It seems the Hampton Small Cast Iron stove is rated for 55000btu.

Thoughts? Would we be making a mistake going smaller to save some funds?

 

[bholler]

Looks like we're finally replacing our current insert. Our house is primarily heated with a pellet boiler but we want a stove to help out on those extra cold nights(-30 F isn't unheard of, we live in Northern NH). Your house is from the 1930s and were slowly improving insulation but its no modern home.

Our entire home is 2500sqft

The house currently has a large Winterwarm 2100 which claims a max output of 50000btus. Would it be ridiculous to replace it with a small insert, since we are using it as auxiliary heating? It seems the Hampton Small Cast Iron stove is rated for 55000btu.

Thoughts? Would we be making a mistake going smaller to save some funds?

I would not go that small

 

[faultymechanics]

I would not go that small

Okay, so ill look at medium to large. Our living room will house the stove but the house itself is fairly open with my daughter's bedroom directly about the living room(hoping to get some extra heat in there as well).

 

[begreen]

At the least, consider the Hampton Hi500 with its larger capacity.

 

[bholler]

Okay, so ill look at medium to large. Our living room will house the stove but the house itself is fairly open with my daughter's bedroom directly about the living room(hoping to get some extra heat in there as well).

The little Hampton is just tiny. It would drive me nuts

 

[faultymechanics]

The little Hampton is just tiny. It would drive me nuts

Just trying to be fiscally responsible to be honest. A wood stove really is a want not a need since we have a pellet boiler for our regular heating.

 

[faultymechanics]

With the insulated liner install coming in at 3600, fixing the winterwamr is gonna be 800 in parts if I can do the work, if we have someone else do it I'm sure we will see 1200+ for them to do the repair. At that point its gonna be 4800-5k for the job.

If we have a new liner installed and get a tax credit stove we will probably be at 5200 after the credit, so seems like it makes sense to get a new stove.

 

[bholler]

Just trying to be fiscally responsible to be honest. A wood stove really is a want not a need since we have a pellet boiler for our regular heating.

Look at drolet. Simple but reliable stoves for a good price

 

[faultymechanics]

Look at drolet. Simple but reliable stoves for a good price

They seem pretty inexpensive, do they have a history of being reliable? I know that typically, with less expensive items, it may not be the quality as much as the customer service that suffers. From what you've experienced/ read, does the company stand behind them? If they are very reliable, that may not matter as much.

Edit: I also see in the manual the minimum floor protection in the US is 16" but the manual seems to say 23", is the 23" guideline in the manual just a suggestion but 16" is the code requirement?

 

[bholler]

They seem pretty inexpensive, do they have a history of being reliable? I know that typically, with less expensive items, it may not be the quality as much as the customer service that suffers. From what you've experienced/ read, does the company stand behind them? If they are very reliable, that may not matter as much.

Edit: I also see in the manual the minimum floor protection in the US is 16" but the manual seems to say 23", is the 23" guideline in the manual just a suggestion but 16" is the code requirement?

Hmm I never saw the 23 I will have to look. But yes they ave a history of durability. And what the manual says is what is required

 

[faultymechanics]

Hmm I never saw the 23 I will have to look. But yes they ave a history of durability. And what the manual says is what is required

I'll attach a photo of where I found the 23"

 

[bholler]

I'll attach a photo of where I found the 23"

View attachment 342073

That is total depth needed on the hearth extension because the stove sticks out a bit. You still only need the 16 in front of the stove

 

[faultymechanics]

That is total depth needed on the hearth extension because the stove sticks out a bit. You still only need the 16 in front of the stove

Let me make sure i understand what you mean.

If the door was flush with the end of the fireplace, it would only need 16" in front of it?

Due to the nature of the stove/door poking out from the fireplace, you need 23" in front of the door?

Sorry, I'm trying my best to understand. Our current setup has 18" in front of the door with non combustible material.

 

[bholler]

Let me make sure i understand what you mean.

If the door was flush with the end of the fireplace, it would only need 16" in front of it?

Due to the nature of the stove/door poking out from the fireplace, you need 23" in front of the door?

Sorry, I'm trying my best to understand. Our current setup has 18" in front of the door with non combustible material.

You are correct