We will be replacing the 35 yr old wood stove in our house. We've done lots of research on our own and have visited a couple of local dealers. I get the sense that most wood stoves nowadays do a decent job. While everyone seems to have their favorite brands, are there any brands that should be avoided (in terms of manufacturing quality)? Should we stay away from brands carried by the big box stores? Thanks
Wood stove manufacturers to avoid?
- Thread starter gwise11
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JA600L
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Yes, most wood stoves do a decent job, but if you describe your house, insulation, wood supply, price range, and heating needs, we could help you narrow it down pretty easily.
With new technology you have the capability of getting extended burn times and a lot higher efficiency.
Not all of these stoves are created equal though. If you want less wood handling and usage then carefully consider your options.
Downdraft stoves have a poorer track record in general. They tend to be fussier about draft, wood and operation. What are your favorites so far?
i'd say its as much up to the end user's taste (what type of stove one is looking for (cat/non-cat/hybrid etc) cast, steel or soapstone, budget , whether the end user wants to self install or have a dealer do the install. as for brands to be avoided , i'd avoid any which are not EPA certified (oops I see you are in Washington state so you have to purchase a unit which meets their standards which are even tighter than the national EPA phase 2 standard.)
as for the "big box" nothing wrong with them in my opinion other than the difference in the way service is offered for things such as warranty issues (relatively rare with woodstoves but they pop up occasionally) full disclosure, I run the customer service department at England's stove works we sell predominantly through the Big box stores so I am biased
big box products are warrantied through the factory rather than through the dealer as the dealer is essentially a department store with no technicians. in our case for example , say you bought a unit and uncrated it and found some broken bricks or something , you could call our tech support and we would fex ex you the replacement bricks where with a dealer support setup you would call the dealer and he would get the bricks for you and probably bring them out to you.
as for the "big box" nothing wrong with them in my opinion other than the difference in the way service is offered for things such as warranty issues (relatively rare with woodstoves but they pop up occasionally) full disclosure, I run the customer service department at England's stove works we sell predominantly through the Big box stores so I am biased
big box products are warrantied through the factory rather than through the dealer as the dealer is essentially a department store with no technicians. in our case for example , say you bought a unit and uncrated it and found some broken bricks or something , you could call our tech support and we would fex ex you the replacement bricks where with a dealer support setup you would call the dealer and he would get the bricks for you and probably bring them out to you.
Thanks for your replies. We are clear on the size of stove we need (1.8-2.2 cubic foot firebox). We're mostly just comparing similar models from different manufacturers. We will be using a local independent installer, so ordering a stove from an online dealer or a box store is an option.
Our budget is up to 1500 for the stove itself. My main question is whether there is a significant difference in quality between, say, Pacific Energy or Lopi (the high end of that price range) and Timberwolf or Englander (the low end). Specific models we are considering include the Timberwolf EPA 2200, Lopi 1750, Enviro Kodiak 1200, Pacific Energy Super 27, Englander 13-NCH. I know there are plenty more models in this price range; these are just the ones we've seen at dealerships. The Englander has only a 5-yr warranty on the firebox, while the other companies offer lifetime on the firebox-- is that a red flag against the Englander?
Thanks again for your advice, and feel free to suggest other models.
Our budget is up to 1500 for the stove itself. My main question is whether there is a significant difference in quality between, say, Pacific Energy or Lopi (the high end of that price range) and Timberwolf or Englander (the low end). Specific models we are considering include the Timberwolf EPA 2200, Lopi 1750, Enviro Kodiak 1200, Pacific Energy Super 27, Englander 13-NCH. I know there are plenty more models in this price range; these are just the ones we've seen at dealerships. The Englander has only a 5-yr warranty on the firebox, while the other companies offer lifetime on the firebox-- is that a red flag against the Englander?
Thanks again for your advice, and feel free to suggest other models.
No red flag. The 13-NC is a good stove. For fairness sake you should be comparing like to like. In the economy models the Lopi 1750 is comparable to the PE True North TN19 and the Timberwolf 2200. There is quite a difference in price though, the TN19 is about $800.
The PE Super 27 has several features which distinguish it separate from the mentioned stoves. Most notable are the stainless steel baffle and secondary box and the linked secondary air control. These contribute to lower maintenance and a longer burn time.
Also pay attention to clearances and hearth insulation requirements. Sometimes this can make or break a deal. The 13NC on one hand has high hearth and clearance requirements, the Super 27 has low requirements.
The PE Super 27 has several features which distinguish it separate from the mentioned stoves. Most notable are the stainless steel baffle and secondary box and the linked secondary air control. These contribute to lower maintenance and a longer burn time.
Also pay attention to clearances and hearth insulation requirements. Sometimes this can make or break a deal. The 13NC on one hand has high hearth and clearance requirements, the Super 27 has low requirements.
Yeah the Super 27 is a proven hoss. A few bucks more than $1,500 but a good wood stove is a long term investment and the ability to load it North/South is a plus.
Begreen-- Thanks for pointing out the PE True North TN19. At first I didn't see this model on PE's website-- it's not listed with the other wood stoves; it has its own category (value line)!
I know the Super 27 is highly regarded. Spread over 20+ years, the extra cost is surely money well spent. Do you think the Super 27 is tops for the price?
I know the Super 27 is highly regarded. Spread over 20+ years, the extra cost is surely money well spent. Do you think the Super 27 is tops for the price?
Being that your in washington what is the BK 2.0 line there cost wise?(Sirocco/chinook) Might be a bit over your budget but you may want to look anyways.
Every new stove you can buy these days is EPA approved which means it's very efficient and clean burning. I would recommend buying a stove from an experienced hearth store over a box store more for the knowledge and service available from them rather than the product itself. A knowledgeable and experienced salesperson can help find the best fit for you in terms of size, features and price.
jillybeansisme
Member
Well, since you are in Washington, check with Chimneysweeponline.com . He has good prices and is incredibly knowledgeable. Even though I am having a wood stove installed in my new home in Oregon, I am using his recommendation of a Pacific Energy Super 27. I am new to wood burning and wood stoves and he told me that the PES27 is easy to use, reasonably priced ($1700), and is well-sized for my house. Originally I was going to go with a smaller soap stone wood stove and got talked out of it because it would be too small.
Make sure you size the stove for the area you want to heat. And if you don't yet have wood -- get some immediately because if you burn wood that is wet, you will get creosote in your chimney (VERY BAD) and have to get it cleaned more often. Wood starts to season only after it is split and a moisture meter will tell you if it is dry enough. You can get a product called "log stackers" from Walmart. You put two 2x4s in them horizontally and cut two 2x4s in half to put in them vertically -- then you can stack your splits easily and off the ground. I think they were $17 (plus the 2x4s).
Make sure you size the stove for the area you want to heat. And if you don't yet have wood -- get some immediately because if you burn wood that is wet, you will get creosote in your chimney (VERY BAD) and have to get it cleaned more often. Wood starts to season only after it is split and a moisture meter will tell you if it is dry enough. You can get a product called "log stackers" from Walmart. You put two 2x4s in them horizontally and cut two 2x4s in half to put in them vertically -- then you can stack your splits easily and off the ground. I think they were $17 (plus the 2x4s).
jillybeansisme-
Like you, we are new to wood burning. However, we live in a community where lots of people burn, so we have acquired an extensive knowledge over the past year. I've split 5 cords of wood (by hand!) beginning in March, and it's stacked and seasoning.
Last year Pacific Energy had a rebate program on their stoves beginning on August 1st. Keep your eyes peeled!
Like you, we are new to wood burning. However, we live in a community where lots of people burn, so we have acquired an extensive knowledge over the past year. I've split 5 cords of wood (by hand!) beginning in March, and it's stacked and seasoning.
Last year Pacific Energy had a rebate program on their stoves beginning on August 1st. Keep your eyes peeled!
jillybeansisme
Member
I have the insert version of the Super and have not been disappointed so far. It pushes out a great amount of heat, drafts well, gets really long burn times, taking out the baffle to clean the chimney is easy. Thinking about it, my biggest complaint would be its manual that still is below average. If you are not the guy who second-guesses their purchases because they could have found something cheaper but rather someone who is happy to have bought a product that works as advertised then the Super would be a great choice for you.
When thinking brands, rather than quality (which is generally high across the board) think about the reputation for customer service, fixing problems and honoring warranties. Woodstock is the best, in a league of its own. Lopi/Travis, as far as I know, still has a great track record, while Harman... not so much. I don't know about VC these days, but at one point during a change of ownership they were the worst.
If buying from a dealer, make sure they have a good rep. There is no advantage buying from a dealer over a box store if the dealer is a crappy, unresponsive and unhelpful one... and some are. As for buying from a box store, if you are getting something made by Englander (under the brand Summers Heat, or others?), the reliability and quality-to-price ratio has been attested to in these forums for years. Many would say you can't go wrong there if looking for bang for the buck.
Hi Gwise- Lots of great stoves out there from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Buy the best and what you can afford- all of them will heat for you if you provide good dry seasoned wood. Whether its big box stores or dealer networks, buy from someone you feel comfortable with. No particular MFR to avoid, I myself don't care for down drafting stoves for the sec burn. Cast and soapstone are more aesthetically pleasing to most, steel stoves are great looking to others too. Steel stoves are the easiest to afford, usually easy to operate and maintain. I like your selection listed, the PAC NW has some great stove MFRs, I use an Enviro myself now. In the past, I've had Quad, HS and Jotuls, all great stoves too. The Enviro is a great value, easy to use, offers a fantastic view of the fire and secondary burn, its one of my favs. But Lopi and Englander (almost on the opposite ends of the steel stove spectrum cost-wise) both offer superb burning models as well. Have fun looking and stay warm, get your wood ready.
Have I ever mentioned that I love big honkin steel stoves?
i'd say looking at your list it would be hard to argue against any one of them though im not as familiar with the timberwolf , its gotten good reviews, so don't hold my ignorance against it. the rest of you're potential choices is a veritable "who's who" of fantastic products. I wouldn't try to talk you out of any of the stoves you listed. naturally i'd like you to chose mine , but like I said "im biased" that said, whichever way you go , if you picked any one of the units you listed above you will be a happy camper with it. they are all great units built by great companies. as well as others out there that are just as solid.
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