Wood Inserts - BTU ??

[minnow19]

I have done plenty of searching on the forums and have read them all.

We are looking at
Jotul 450 Insert
PE Pacific Insert

pretty much those 2.

We have a 1900 sqft ranch about 50 years old. Fireplace is in biggest room. aprox 20 x 20

Why in the brochures are the BTUs list every different?

Jotul claims 55,000btu - 1600sqft
PE claims 72,000btu - 2000sqft

Wife likes the looks of the Jotul better, but I am thinking about HEAT

******also any other suggestions would be appreciated******

 

[burntime]

Take a gander at the Hampton by Regency. It may be one of your top 2 as well with 75000 btus and the porcelin face...

 

[Todd]

Measure the fire box sizes of both, I think they are pretty similar and should put out about the same BTU's. There is no set rule or standard for manufactures to follow when they state those numbers, so they can differ like that between similar sized stoves. Your wife has good taste, I also like the Jotul insert.

 

[boostnut]

"Wife likes the looks of the Jotul better" And you're still debating what to buy? Dont forget, you'll never hear the end of it if you put in something she doesn't approve of (least thats how it works in our house).

 

[minnow19]

"Wife likes the looks of the Jotul better" And you're still debating what to buy? Dont forget, you'll never hear the end of it if you put in something she doesn't approve of (least thats how it works in our house).

boostnut - I hear you on that But we have made mistakes in the past - going on looks alone. Not talking about my marriage either, at least not on my end. If my wife went off looks, we would never have been married in the first place.

That is why I am here. Looking for people with some experience on using these models. I see you have the Jotul 450. How long? Would you recommed?

I like that the PE seems easier to clean, ie taking out baffle

 

[Todd]

Check the stove ratings section out. https://www.hearth.com/ratings.html

 

[BrotherBart]

Read all of the stove ratings, ask a lot of questions here, decide what you think is the best insert and then buy the one she liked best in the first place.

A tried and true methodology. :coolsmirk:

 

[begreen]

If there is ample opportunity for heat circulation, then with 1900 sq ft in WI, I'd be looking at the big brothers of either of those stoves if there is room to fit. The extra cu ft in capacity will be appreciated.

However, if the fireplace room is closed off from the rest of the house then perhaps 2 cu ft is the right spot to be.

 

[summit]

the jotul is more attractive, but; you will be able to coax a longer burn out of the Pacific, and the glass stays cleaner. they both have a heavy, removable solid baffle, so that part is a was. the biggest difference is how you load the wood; the PE loads straight in, the jotul runs east, west. you can pack more wood into the PE, and i will not roll forward onto the glass! The glass stays cleaner on the PE, but both throw a respectable amount of heat. Despite the manufactures specs, I think they will both heat a similar area, and during normal use throw the same btus. The PE will burn longer, thus giving you a little more performance. PE is coming out with an "alderlea" insert which will utilize the company's cast iron facade for the more traditional look, while retaining the same D1 series firebox, but that unit is still @ a year away from hitting the market.

 

[Todd]

PE is coming out with an "alderlea" insert which will utilize the company's cast iron facade for the more traditional look, while retaining the same D1 series firebox, but that unit is still @ a year away from hitting the market.

They better hurry it up. It's a good time to procure a new stove with this rebate. I also noticed Lopi is coming out with their cast insert late this summer called the Walden.

 

[boostnut]

Minnow, this will be our 4th or 5th year with the C450. The only real complaints I've had are
1) Fan is 2 speeds, not variable speed. Its either on high or low, sure would be nice if it were variable like the other 2 Jotul inserts.
2) Glass gets dirty if you're wood isn't reallllly seasoned. Cutting and splitting 6 months before the heating season may be some peoples idea of "seasoned" wood but I can tell you that they dont own a C450. You gotta have dry wood if you want to see thru the glass.

I would purchase another C450 IF I were to ever need an insert in the future. Thats a big "IF! After running an insert for a handful of years I can say I'd much rather have a free standing stove. I really get tired of hearing the fan. Its fine on the days when you dont require max output and can run it on low speed but gets annoying when running in high gear. Once again, the variable speed option would sure be nice. Have you looked at the Lopi Declaration? I know if my wife would have seen it before our Jotul we may have decided otherwise. Anyway, good luck!

 

[minnow19]

Another question I have on the Jotul 450, for those that have them. Do you like the double door?

I guess I am really leaning towards the Jotul, and people seem to be happy with them on here. The btu rating has me a bit nervous, especially since the PE, and now looking at the Hampton, the but rating is much greater. I would really like to use this for about 3/4 of my heating. I am sick of walking around in a snowmobile suit in the house.

 

[Wet1]

I'd go with a larger stove if you plan on heating 1900 sq ft with it. With a 2 cu ft fire box, you'll be loading that stove way more than you want to... and I doubt you'll be able to get overnight burns while still trying to heat that area. I'd look for a 3 cu ft box (or better).

 

[minnow19]

would like to get bigger but the dealers that I have been working with tell me those are my options.

Let me know differently

34"W x 27"H x 18"D

I believe that the back of the box goes down to 24"W

 

[boostnut]

I think the C450 is greatly underrated. I can easily get 8+ hour burn times with good wood (oak, locust, ash, hickory.....). It will flat out run us out of our 1400 sq. foot ranch, most of the rooms that is, its not a very open floor plan. My neighbor has the same unit in a slightly larger home (1600 to 1800 sq. foot ranch). His home is insulated better, new windows and is all brick. He claims to only use the high speed setting when he's been away from home for long enough that the stove load has been burned out for hours and the house temp has dropped below 70. I think he likes to keep it around 75 degrees, too warm for me.

 

[Wet1]

Another option you might want to look into is the BK Princess. I don't know the size off hand, but guys claim very long burn times with that stove.

 

[BrotherBart]

1) Fan is 2 speeds, not variable speed. Its either on high or low, sure would be nice if it were variable like the other 2 Jotul inserts.

Get ya one of these and then just plug the fan cord into it and turn the switch on the fan on high and have infinitely variable control.

(broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5SA-4008)

 

[Dix]

I became very fond of my Pacific insert this winter, I now ask myself why I waited to put one in !!

My chimney is centrally located in the house, and I've got 2000 SF ranch, including a totally seperate 550 SF apartment on it's own OHW zone. The Pacific did an awesome job of heating the entire house most of the winter. The apartment zone would come on if it was below 20 outside, and the main house was usually a balmy 77 when the stove was running.

Easy to load and run, glass stayed pretty clean,except for my error in putting the boost baffle back in the wrong way, resulting in a clogged chimney pretty quickly :-S

Good over night burns, when packed for a cold night, I had a large amount of coals for restart with smallish splits. I can load it N/S or E/W, just need a 16" split for E/W loading.

Fan isn't that noisy unless cranking, I usually had it set halfway and on manual.With the ceiling fan in the room running, it did a good job of moving around the heat, and an additonal fan on the floor did the job in colder temps.

Likes dry wood, as opposed to wet wood, there is a huge differance.

All in all, I'm quite happy. I'd do it again. My only caveat is that if I didn't have a central chimney, I would have gone with a stove.

Good luck, and welcome to the forums !!

 

[oconnor]

The Kennebec gave us great heat last year, but I didn't get the long burn times as my wood was short lengths, so the box was never truly full. Wasn't an issue for us as we don't mind the electric boiler kicking in eack morning for a bit.

Planning to have longer (18" vice 16") wood this fall, and dryer wood (had 2 cord delivered yesterday and 1 cord left from last year - only used 2.5 cord over last winter) - hoping for better burn times this coming winter.

I was quite surprized at the high K and R values the Kenebec wants for floor protection though - not sure what the PE wants for the same.

 

[minnow19]

we are probably going to go with the Jotul. Dealer really came down in price after I told him I was VERY interested in cross town competitor.

Another newbie question. I have heard you need to break in a stove. What is that about?

Also on a insert where should they be installing block off in the chimeny?

Thanks

 

[granpajohn]

1) Fan is 2 speeds, not variable speed. Its either on high or low, sure would be nice if it were variable like the other 2 Jotul inserts.

Get ya one of these and then just plug the fan cord into it and turn the switch on the fan on high and have infinitely variable control.

(broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5SA-4008)

I used one of these for several years, and recommend it. You won't be sorry. Was not too expensive either.

 

[karl]

I have a PE Summit, and I can say nothing but good things about it. Great heat, long burn times, no dirty glass, simple operation, etc.

If Jotel is givining you a better deal take it, but I would seriously consider a 3 cubic foot box if you get either brand.

 

[minnow19]

I have tried to super-impose the stoves onto an existing picture of my fireplace. Not the best, but really give the general idea.

Having a tough time picturing either in there, so this was my best option.

Anybody have opinions, our house is torn between the Jotul C450 and Pacific Energy Pacific

 

[summit]

the jotul looks great, but i think the pacific will give you the best bang (burn/ heat output) for the buck

 

[lobsta1]

What are your plans for the rug in front of the hearth? Since your hearth is raised, you might be able to get away with just ember protection. I think it will depend
on how strict your inspecting authority is.
Al