The Fisher is not the best example of old stove efficiency. Nashua, VC, Cawley LeMay, Kent, Lange, Morso, etc. all did much better than an unbaffled box.
Enlighten me - Why, really, shouldn't I start with an old airtight?
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There is nothing wrong with saving cash, but consider that if you plan to upgrade eventually, you are simply deferring the extra cost, not really saving it. So yes, in the short term you benefit, but then you end up paying more in total in the long term. So what is termed "saving" up front actually ends up being an extra cost, sort of like people with teaser ARMS that ultimately end up paying much more in interest over the life of the loan.
Let's suppose you could get 15 years out of a $1k stove or 20 years out of a $2k stove, and add on a generous $30/year for gaskets, bricks, etc.. So each year you can put off buying a new stove you are actually only "saving" at most $130 per year. Even assuming you can resell your smoke dragon for the $600 you paid, and so run it at no net cost, the extra wood likely WILL be an extra cost that exceeds that $130.
In addition to considering Englander, you might look for a used EPA stove (preferably only a year or two young). I bought my two-year old (then) stove for $1k, which when new is a $2k+ stove. The other company based in your neck of the woods (NC) to consider is Buck, who makes fine cat and non-cat stoves. Pricier than Englander, but probably some decent used ones turn up periodically in VA. If this one, for example, was newer and in good shape it would be a steal:
(broken link removed to http://roanoke.craigslist.org/for/4685219667.html)
osagebow
Minister of Fire
1300 sq ft in southern Virginia it's not going to matter much. Spend some money on attic insulation and buy any stove you like.
Random thoughts . . .
Woodstoves are heavy. I am lazy. I don't like to move heavy things any more than I need to . . . move one heavy stove one time instead of two heavy stoves two times.
I am lazy. Mentioned that already. Newer woodstoves burn less wood. Less wood = less time to move wood, stack wood, process wood. Less wood = more play time.
I am visually motivated. I like pretty things. Pretty women. Pretty cars. Pretty fires. With a modern woodstove you get to look at pretty flames . . . and may find yourself not looking at the TV as often.
I am frugal. I don't like wasting money. I don't like wasting heat up my chimney. I don't like wasting wood. A secondary burner or cat burner costs a bit more up front, but the gain in more heat and less wasted heat to me conforms with my frugal Yankee sensibilities.
I have been burned (figuratively) by buying used products in the past that I did not know much about . . . items that I thought were in good condition and proved otherwise. If I did not know what to look for in an old stove I know I would hate to buy a "deal" only to find out it would cost me more money down the road in another few years, months or days due to a problem.
My wife is all about space . . . she is always telling me to go away, to stop hanging around, etc. This may be why she sleeps upstairs and I sleep downstairs . . . or it could be due to my incredibly loud snoring. Since she likes space we have an EPA stove to allow closer clearances so there is more "living" space and less "unused" space due to clearance requirements.
Not sure if this helps out or not . . . got to go now . . . I mentioned I am lazy . . . I am now getting tired of typing.
Woodstoves are heavy. I am lazy. I don't like to move heavy things any more than I need to . . . move one heavy stove one time instead of two heavy stoves two times.
I am lazy. Mentioned that already. Newer woodstoves burn less wood. Less wood = less time to move wood, stack wood, process wood. Less wood = more play time.
I am visually motivated. I like pretty things. Pretty women. Pretty cars. Pretty fires. With a modern woodstove you get to look at pretty flames . . . and may find yourself not looking at the TV as often.
I am frugal. I don't like wasting money. I don't like wasting heat up my chimney. I don't like wasting wood. A secondary burner or cat burner costs a bit more up front, but the gain in more heat and less wasted heat to me conforms with my frugal Yankee sensibilities.
I have been burned (figuratively) by buying used products in the past that I did not know much about . . . items that I thought were in good condition and proved otherwise. If I did not know what to look for in an old stove I know I would hate to buy a "deal" only to find out it would cost me more money down the road in another few years, months or days due to a problem.
My wife is all about space . . . she is always telling me to go away, to stop hanging around, etc. This may be why she sleeps upstairs and I sleep downstairs . . . or it could be due to my incredibly loud snoring. Since she likes space we have an EPA stove to allow closer clearances so there is more "living" space and less "unused" space due to clearance requirements.
Not sure if this helps out or not . . . got to go now . . . I mentioned I am lazy . . . I am now getting tired of typing.
I have a Avalon Pendleton and it is small but burns clean built in the early 80's and no crazy clearances needed at all. At only 1.3 cubic feet it does not hold much wood so maybe a 4 to 5 hour burn max and when cold less. I am willing to bet a larger model similar would get longer burn times and mine does burn very clean to be honest, only has 11 feet total from stove to chimney caps and drafts well other than some bizarre wind shifts the happen once in a blue moon. Paid 350 for it changed a few fire bricks and spent an afternoon cleaning it up and a coat of stove paint. The biggest thing is to get a stove that has the manual or can be downloaded as the clearances there are generally way less than 3 feet. Last year a new door gasket for around 10 bucks just no big deal. I burned 2 1/2 cords of oak and maple some pallets and maybe 1000 lbs. of bio / eco bricks When looking for used look on craigslist and looking in the suburbs you are more likely going to find a deal on a newer stove as either they are upgrading or tired of dealing with it. My take on it and free so value it accordingly. Oh as far a making soot the Pendleton makes little to none and no creosote of any real concern, last year all that could be swept down would not have filled a coffee mug.
We have an old Garrison II from 1980. Paid $75 and another $60 for 12' of flex liner. Maybe $20 on a "T" w/cleanout. Install was 4 yrs ago and we have never looked back. We use ~3 cords per yr but I scrounge so the cost involved is more fun than anything else. Haven't bought a gallon of oil since then either and the house has never been warmer.
I would love to upgrade but the new stoves, although beautiful, are pricey.
So for me, the only thing missing are glass doors.
I would love to upgrade but the new stoves, although beautiful, are pricey.
So for me, the only thing missing are glass doors.
That's my experience, too... but I really LOVE having those glass doors. It's my favorite window in the house come winter. Over the life of the stove, I'd say the view is worth the $50-100 per year. (Holy crap, I pay more than that for cable every MONTH, and the shows on TV are rarely better than the show in the stove.)
Lacking the big bang theory and 2 1/2 men I would go as crazy as Nancy Pelosi.. LOL
Never watched them but if I wanted to I suspect they are on Hulu, Netflix or some other internet venue.
Even up here in the sticks we can watch those shows without cable or satellite . . . over the air antenna.
Parallax
Minister of Fire
Like you, I'm new to wood burning. Thought at one point of buying an older stove which I could have picked up for nothing and then later upgrading. The regulars here talked me out of it. I'm so glad they did. I've learned so much by asking questions here and the collective knowledge of the people here allowed me to make good solid choices and avoid a bunch of expensive mistakes.
Jake's been around for a long while. And he burns a non-cat, happily. Different strokes for different folks. Most are good.
They all have the new version when they got rid of Sheen( 2 1/2 men) he is a big part of what makes it so funny. I rather watch a rerun that is funny than a new one that is not.
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