Need help picking new stove- Maine

[JamFlowMan]

Way overdue for an upgrade! Can’t pick one, and on a budget so don’t want to spend 4K on a stove if possible and don’t want a POS.

We have a 900ish square foot log cabin, with no insulation other than the logs, and we live in western Maine with long cold winters. We use our current stove for 98% of our heating needs, but it doesn’t burn all night long, and has basically zero air flow, and is old as hell.
Would like something that is kind of “plug and play” and not going to break the bank, but also make my life easier. Interested in the Vermont casting dauntless, and the hearth stone green mountain and cast iron models due to the soap stone but here negatives about all of those so feeling lost.

Thank you in advance!!

 

[Todd]

If you’re on a budget take a look at Drolet. Probably the best bang for your buck wood stove out there.

 

[EbS-P]

Look at a pacific energy T5. I like my Drolet. It’s not fancy but get the job done. Air control could move better.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The Super 27 is the T5 without the cast iron cladding. Same firebox, less cost.

How tall is your chimney? What diameter is it?

Have you considered catalytic stoves? In the shoulder seasons you could stretch the burn out much longer than with a non cat stove.

 

[JamFlowMan]

The Super 27 is the T5 without the cast iron cladding. Same firebox, less cost.

How tall is your chimney? What diameter is it?

Have you considered catalytic stoves? In the shoulder seasons you could stretch the burn out much longer than with a non cat stove.

Chimney is very tall, ceilings are 18’ tall and the chimney peaks out a few feet so at least 22’ I would imagine. The chimney is still all tiles and does not have a stove pipe in it.

I have considered catalytic stoves just get worried about more things failing? We’ve been heating with wood for 4 years but I am an amateur in the sense I have never boughten a stove, just a house with a stove in it!

 

[Murray01]

Used market?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

You might have trouble with any new stove with a terracotta lined chimney. Newer stoves let a lot less heat up the flue, so there’s less heat to move the combustion biproducts out of the chimney and keep the tiles warm enough to stop condensation . This can lead to poor draft, and creosote formation. If it’s an 8x8 flue, you may be ok, but if it’s an 8x12, you’re probably going to have issues. Be prepared for the possibility that you will need an insulated liner.

 

[JamFlowMan]

You might have trouble with any new stove with a terracotta lined chimney. Newer stoves let a lot less heat up the flue, so there’s less heat to move the combustion biproducts out of the chimney and keep the tiles warm enough to stop condensation . This can lead to poor draft, and creosote formation. If it’s an 8x8 flue, you may be ok, but if it’s an 8x12, you’re probably going to have issues. Be prepared for the possibility that you will need an insulated liner.

It is for sure 8x12. We have done extensive chimney work and get it cleaned and inspected every year, fortunately very little creosote build up as we burn hot fires with good wood. Got a really nice cap, and extended the tiles out of the chimney by a foot or so and did a couple other things to increase draft.

Should I look mainly in the used market? Are there any newer brands that maybe burn like the old ones? Our inspector says our current stove is just basically just a metal box

 

[stoveliker]

The fact that it worked with an old "metal box" doesn't imply it'll work with a modern stove.
Rather than be disappointed with the stove (which has nothing to do with it), put an insulated liner in now. It's the chimney that runs the stove. With a chimney ("engine") that doesn't match what the stove needs, you'll run into trouble.

 

[kborndale]

Put an insulated liner in the chimney. Besides giving you much better performance from your stove and safety for your house it also is required by code in most cases.

 

[MRD1985]

Welcome! We have property over in brownfield, not too far from you. But it is not usually used in the winter time. A summer get away.

I would absolutely put an insulated liner in. You’ll be glad you did with a newer stove as others have mentioned for various reasons.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

None of the new stoves will burn like the older ones. Well, I guess it depends on how old we’re talking about here. A stove from 2000 will be much closer in burning characteristics than one from the 80s.

As regulations on stove emissions have gotten stricter, manufacturers have had to figure out how to harvest more and more heat out of every piece of wood. This comes from more complete combustion, and also working on better heat transfer out into the room. Not letting the heat up the flue is what will give you the issues. A masonry chimney stays cool and condensation on it grabs unburnt particles from any smoke floating by. This forms creosote.

 

[JamFlowMan]

None of the new stoves will burn like the older ones. Well, I guess it depends on how old we’re talking about here. A stove from 2000 will be much closer in burning characteristics than one from the 80s.

As regulations on stove emissions have gotten stricter, manufacturers have had to figure out how to harvest more and more heat out of every piece of wood. This comes from more complete combustion, and also working on better heat transfer out into the room. Not letting the heat up the flue is what will give you the issues. A masonry chimney stays cool and condensation on it grabs unburnt particles from any smoke floating by. This forms creosote.

Thank you for the great explanation 😁😁

 

[bigealta]

Is your chimney interior or exterior?