Jotul F400 or F500 for 1500 sq ft 3-room, adobe

[karimjuni]

I live in an adobe, three-room – two bedrooms plus a combined kitchen and living room – home of 1,500 square feet with 10 feet ceilings. The wood stove will be placed in the kitchen/living room where it will be 12 feet from the door to the master bedroom and navigate (approximately 20 feet and) a 90 degree angle to a foyer, short hallway and doorway to get into the second bedroom.

My question is: do you suggest that I buy the F500 Oslo model (suitable for 1500 sq feet according to Jotul) or the F400 Castine model (suitable for 1800 sq feet, according to Jotul)?

 

[Grisu]

Welcome to the forum!

Don't pay attention to the sqft ratings. There is no standard and the numbers can differ so wildly depending on a person's specific situation that they are at best a rough guideline. I would suggest the F500 just because its larger firebox will allow you to have overnight burns. With the Castine you probably won't go through a full night without the need for a reload.

How cold does it usually get in your place and how well is the house insulated? Potentially a catalytic stove may be even better as it has a more even heat output and can be turned down more to extend burn times.

Do you have several cords of dry wood with an internal moisture content of less than 20% to burn in that stove?

 

[ailanthus]

The F400 may be big enough, but if there's any doubt, go bigger.

 

[begreen]

I think the specs are backward. The F500 Oslo is the larger stove. That is what I would opt for if there is sufficient flue and draft. What is your altitude and how tall will the chimney be for the stove?

 

[karimjuni]

I think the specs are backward. The F500 Oslo is the larger stove. That is what I would opt for if there is sufficient flue and draft. What is your altitude and how tall will the chimney be for the stove?

Yes, the specs are inverted. Thanks for catching that.
Elevation is 6,900 feet.

Another question: Will the Jotul stoves get too hot to sit within 3 or 4 feet when they are generating maximum heat?

 

[karimjuni]

Welcome to the forum!

Don't pay attention to the sqft ratings. There is no standard and the numbers can differ so wildly depending on a person's specific situation that they are at best a rough guideline. I would suggest the F500 just because its larger firebox will allow you to have overnight burns. With the Castine you probably won't go through a full night without the need for a reload.

How cold does it usually get in your place and how well is the house insulated? Potentially a catalytic stove may be even better as it has a more even heat output and can be turned down more to extend burn times.

Do you have several cords of dry wood with an internal moisture content of less than 20% to burn in that stove?

Will the F500 burn too hot to sit within 4 feet of it, for example, for 15-20 minutes while eating breakfast?

 

[Michael Golden]

If you are burning at 500 deg, then yes! It puts out a lot of heat, especially the front.

 

[jeepnerd]

Go big. You can always crack a window.

 

[begreen]

At 6900 ft altitude one needs to watch flue height. It may be advisable to look at an easier breathing stove if the chimney is short. It also sounds like you may prefer a convective stove that is not so hot to sit near. How tall will the chimney be and how will the stove connect to it?