As the title states I trying to decide on a wood stove for my 1500sf home and I think I've narrowed it down to a F400 or F500. My house is a 15 y/o Cape Cod style two story home located in coastal Rhode Island. My current heat is provided by forced hot water baseboard fired by natural gas. The home is insulated and has decent windows. My first floor has a nice open floor plan that wraps around a center staircase. I intend to put the stove in the eating area of the large kitchen. Due too the lack of a fireplace or masonry chimney I will be going through the wall and up the side of my house with the double wall chimney pipe. My local dealer showed me both of the stoves mentioned and I'm unsure of what I need. I do not intend to solely heat with wood unless forced to do so during a crisis. I will mostly heat with wood as a secondary heat source. I like the F500 Oslo because of it's larger firebox and side load door but wonder if it's overkill for my application. I like the F400 Castine for it's smaller overall footprint and it's obviously cheaper.
BTW I've been learning much by reading hear, both good (for me) and bad (for her). My wife can't understand why I have cut and split over a cord and a half of wood considering I have no stove. I did expalin the whole seasoning process to her and how a cord and a half is not a lot of wood. She looked concerned. Then she was a little shaky with the new Huskee 22ton splitter that I purchased. Heck, considering I divided the cost for the splitter with another family member who burns wood I thought the $500 dollar investment was money well spent on my part. She wasn't impressed. I really think the new saw may have put her over the top though. My old Husky 45 has been a steadfast saw for my needs. (did commercial landscaping as a side job and used the saw for jobs when needed) but between reading hear and on AS I felt a new 346XP would really up my firewood game some. Now I have a new 16" bar on the old 45 and an 18" on the 346XP. Did I mention I back up both saws with my dad's old 1976 vintage Homelite Super XL if needed. Wife thinks I'm totally freakin nuts. Wait till she finds out I ordered a Cant hook and chaps last night. I really think hearth.com should have a divorce section so we can gather to discuss our lost marriages to a good women because of a wood stove.
Cheers and thanks for any replies in advance.
BTW I've been learning much by reading hear, both good (for me) and bad (for her). My wife can't understand why I have cut and split over a cord and a half of wood considering I have no stove. I did expalin the whole seasoning process to her and how a cord and a half is not a lot of wood. She looked concerned. Then she was a little shaky with the new Huskee 22ton splitter that I purchased. Heck, considering I divided the cost for the splitter with another family member who burns wood I thought the $500 dollar investment was money well spent on my part. She wasn't impressed. I really think the new saw may have put her over the top though. My old Husky 45 has been a steadfast saw for my needs. (did commercial landscaping as a side job and used the saw for jobs when needed) but between reading hear and on AS I felt a new 346XP would really up my firewood game some. Now I have a new 16" bar on the old 45 and an 18" on the 346XP. Did I mention I back up both saws with my dad's old 1976 vintage Homelite Super XL if needed. Wife thinks I'm totally freakin nuts. Wait till she finds out I ordered a Cant hook and chaps last night. I really think hearth.com should have a divorce section so we can gather to discuss our lost marriages to a good women because of a wood stove.
Cheers and thanks for any replies in advance.