cat and non-cat questions

[Ashful]

One final note. You may want to consider if you really need a house that size. The smaller the house, the easier to heat. You don't have to go super tiny, but something in the 2000sf -2500sf range is plenty of house.

I think there are advantages to having a larger space, or put otherwise, larger than the stove can heat 100%. In this situation, you can just keep the stove going at whatever rate you want to load it (I do 3x per day on one, and 2x per day on the other), and it's just adding BTU's to the large capacitor I call my house. The boiler kicks on and off as needed, to keep our desired setpoint, but it's really only handling a small part of the overall load. When the programmable T-stat calls for 70F a half hour before we arrive home, it's only bringing the house up from 68F instead of 62F, and the heat doesn't run all day while we're away, with the stove going. Same situation overnight, with the T-stat calling for heat in the AM.

 

[Ashful]

Is it weird that I want popcorn now?

Watching Cheers always gives me a craving for Boston Lager.

 

[Quentin2]

If you want to solely heat with wood you might have to concede the budget on either the extra cost of 8 inch chimney and stove or two 6" stoves. As far as overkill we have had to get used to an 80-85 degree stove room downstairs in order to keep upstairs 68-74.

 

[bobdog2o02]

Is it weird that I want popcorn now?

I've been hungry for popcorn since BB's first post.

 

[Quentin2]

I only recall one thread on the 5100 where someone had it installed, I think it was a large 3 story house. I personally would want to see more reviews on this important of a purchase. Stove does look bad ass though, when I bought my king there was a 5100 right next to it on sale with blowers included $3100 I think. Takes bigger splits too, just wasn't enough actual results/reviews.

 

[Osagebndr]

Lots to consider. Insulation of the home and open floor plan is a huge factor. One 8" flue on a large stove would be much cheaper than two stoves with 6" flues . One stove and all the advice given here taken should make for a toasty home

 

[Dieselhead]

I do 2900 with a nice open floor plan keeping it at 70 degrees when it's 0 degrees no problem. Not even pushing the stove hard, light rolling flames. Fan is required. I do have a lot of glass in my house which is 2010 construction. Do realize 12-14 hrs is about what your going to get for burn time (keeping house at 70 without dropping off) before you have to reload.

 

[Quentin2]

I do 2900 with a nice open floor plan keeping it at 70 degrees when it's 0 degrees no problem. Not even pushing the stove hard, light rolling flames. Fan is required. I do have a lot of glass in my house which is 2010 construction. Do realize 12-14 hrs is about what your going to get for burn time (keeping house at 70 without dropping off) before you have to reload.

A large portion of winter I was reloading at 20+ hours keeping my house up to temp. A blanket statement of when he will have to reload can't be determined. His and everybody else's results are not necessarily going to be your results.

 

[Dieselhead]

I suppose that's true. So I rephrase my statement to read "your going to have to reload somewhere between the 12 and 40 hour mark"

 

[Grisu]

The more I think about it the 2 stove method might be better.

What will be your backup heat? You will need one anyway for the insurance. I know I am kind of an outcast here with this but I don't have the iron conviction that my stove needs to fulfill my heating needs to 100%. I am happy to let it do the bulk of the work and then when it gets really cold I let the furnace help out a bit. I find that much easier and considering the cost and work to keep a second stove running it does not bother me the least. I would think hard about whether the stove(s) really need(s) to be able to do everything even down the negative degrees. Plus, a really tight and well insulated house should be ok with just one large stove.

 

[Grisu]

You asked about the 5100 we have installed 2 and both customers are very happy and yes they are huge.

That's good to know. After many members here had problems with its smaller brother 2600, I was concerned the 5100 would not be much better. Glad that is not true. Any idea what kind of burn times they are getting?

 

[BKVP]

Watching Cheers always gives me a craving for Boston Lager.

I have discovered that New Zealander's know how to brew some mighty fine beers!

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Grisu-
Depending on where I build it will either be NG or propane. Not too worried about having to kick the furnace on once in awhile. Just want the stove to be able to do 90-95% of the duty in temps above the single digits. I think if its in the budget I wi'll stick with the motto of "you can build a smaller fire in a big stove, but you can't build a big fire in a small stove"

 

[Ashful]

. I think if its in the budget I wi'll stick with the motto of "you can build a smaller fire in a big stove, but you can't build a big fire in a small stove"

Or you can just buy a big cat stove and cruise it low 24 hours at a time. No need to mess with small fires.

 

[velvetfoot]

Or you can just buy a big cat stove and cruise it low 24 hours at a time.

How long do those cats last when consistently run like that?

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Lower level:




Upper level:



I will be around 1600 sq ft on each level.

 

[jeff_t]

Wait. You're talking 3200 sq ft, plus basement?

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Wait. You're talking 3200 sq ft, plus basement?

Lower level is the basement. Finished sq ft will be right around 3000.

 

[brad wilton]

go with two decent size stoves one cat for downstairs for longer burn times,regular burner for upstairs so you can have heat and fire to look at important in my mind to see flames jumping while enjoying life .also saves halving to lug wood up and down into basement.my thoughts.

 

[jeff_t]

Lower level is the basement. Finished sq ft will be right around 3000.

Shew. So, it's a basement, but not really a basement? Is there easy outside access to bring wood in?

I think you could use just about any larger stove you want. A BKK wouldn't ever be too much, but I understand the aesthetics aspect. Of course, once you use one it becomes beautiful. That said, I may or may not ever buy another. I'm kinda bored with it.

I wouldn't be concerned about using 8" pipe. You should have enough height that you could likely put a 6" stove on it without issue. In fact, if I was undecided on a stove, I would probably run 8" anyway. You shouldn't have trouble running a smaller stove on a tallish 8" stack, but probably would going the other way around.

 

[tarzan]

Jeff T, I think you may have inadvertently nailed it, for me anyway, with stating you have become bored with the BK.

After quite a few years heating with wood I find there's a lot to be said for a stove you can use in the same sentence as boring.

 

[bholler]

You shouldn't have trouble running a smaller stove on a tallish 8" stack, but probably would going the other way around.

sorry not true at all you might get away with it but you will absolutely have more buildup and reduced draft. It would be a very bad idea to just run 8" before deciding on the stove

 

[brad wilton]

for me part of burning with wood is seeing the flames dancing in the box .cats are kind of like driving toyotas dependable but boring

 

[brad wilton]

the new hybrids might be worth a look best of both worlds

 

[velvetfoot]

sorry not true at all you might get away with it but you will absolutely have more buildup and reduced draft. It would be a very bad idea to just run 8" before deciding on the stove

Kind of reminds me of my situation. I originally thought I was going to go with a wood boiler that needed an 8" chimney, and i had one installed. When I changed my mind and went with the pellet boiler, I had a 6" liner installed. I guess you could do that in case you changed your mind later like I did, but it's a total waste of money.