Northern Michigan. Exposed to winds off of Lake Michigan even though it's a few miles away. Attic insulated at R60. 6" walls with, presumably, batt insulation. Windows... Casement that aren't terribly tight, but aren't bad enough to upgrade. 1800 sq ft. Frequent single digits and I've seen 35 below. The stove keeps up and does the job. Mornings in the most extreme weather makes for a cool house before the stove gets going again, but
Thanks. This is the kind of info I need. We see 20 below here. Usually last for a few days. I need a stove with a bigger firebox and longer Burn time. I want to keep the house around 70 during the entire winter.
On a bed of coals... It hardly takes any time at all. With a cold start... I've never timed it, but I'd guess 10-30 minutes and maybe 40 minutes until I can fully close down the damper. It seems to take longer with a smaller load or, god forbid, if there is some wet wood! My morning routine involves about an hour of reading and coffee. The stove has always been fully up and running well before I need to begin my work of the day.
Thanks, this is great info. Very much appreciated. We won't be going with Blaze King because neither me or my wife really like how they look. Especially my wife. I just wanted to know about the fireview because the whole family sits in the family room every night and enjoys the stove and the heat from the stove. Woodburning to us is more than just heating the house. It's quality time. I enjoy the work..cutting wood, splitting stacking, my wife enjoys keeping warm 5 or 6 months out of the year.
Sounds like fun. I wish I was closer. 2200 miles away. Seems like a nice area to visit in September. Do you get people from all over attending?
The cat only functions if the temperature is high enough to start the reaction (smoke burn) with the catalyst. I believe the exhaust needs to be above 500 which woodstock says is attained when the stove top is something like 250-300 degrees. If the cat is run below this, soot etc can accumulate/block/degrade the cat. Also, the cat will restrict airflow, making it more difficult to get a good fire going quickly. Getting to temp quick is helpful in minimizing soot/creosote accumulation in the chimney.
This year single digits have been the lowest but it's not unusual to go below zero, last year we had a low of -18. It needs help once we get that cold but I'm heating 2800 sf. The first level is really warm even when it's zero it's just the upper level gets low 60s when it's that cold, doesn't cut it for my wife. If it was just me I'd never turn the furnace on.
I have actually heard of people coming from the midwest. And yes it is a nice place to visit, right over the Vt border. Places to visit. Montshire museum. A science museum where the exhibits are mainly made by local craftspeople. VINS a rapture rehabilitation center. Quechee Gorge. And the fall colors.
The Progress has 2 panes of glass like a double pane window. Always clean, never have I had any black. At 300 stove top temp I engage cat and set it just a touch above closed. Goes to 400 to 450. Flames throughout for hours. If I close all the way, temp stays but flames go out.
I don't know if it's the same with the PH but with the Keystone, I can run my flue temp (taken on a surface meter that's lying on the tee snout about 6" back) to about 500 or so, hold it there for ten minutes, then I can get a reliable light-off even though the stove top may be well below the recommended 250....maybe only 150-170. The bigger mass of the PH must be offset by having secondary burning to heat up the stove faster, because my light-off times are about the same as @bfitz3 is seeing.
Always have flame, or I should say 95% of the time, I can turn it down early for cat only burn with no flame but in a half hour or so I get the secondaries rolling. How much square feet you heating?
I am heating about 2200 sq ft. I don't need to heat every room. Just the areas my wife uses.
It'll do that no problem. I put a thermo in the family room where the stove is yesterday, room is big, 600sf, temp was 89 and that was near the end of the burn. I wouldn't have guesses that cause it didn't feel that hot.felt nice actually.
Joyboy when it's all said and done for your square footage you'll need two stoves at -20.The other folks with the PH are heating far less space.With one PH you'll need the furnace to help it along when it gets real cold.So be mentally prepared for this set up.
I agree. I am getting a quote from a blaze king dealer on the new ashford insert. We do have another fireplace that we could put one in. The dealer didn't even have a price for it yet. She was checking on availability and price.
