New guy, replacing old stove.

[Sockiopath]

My current stove, VC Defiant Encore is my first stove, ~ 35 years old, and now defunct. I have been using it as my primary heat source for the last 7 seasons. ~5 cord per season. It had an issue this last year, and the catalyst blew apart, and a couple other near parts were damaged. Most of which had been replaced 2-3 years ago. I probably have $2k into the stove over 7 seasons. It was here when we moved in.

It has been a great stove, as far as providing heat. But now I am in need of a new stove. I have a few in mind, but many of them seem like they might be difficult to run as 24/7 stoves. The VC has features other companies seem to lack.

The swing out ash pan is the easiest I have seen. Top load makes way more sense to me. Most of the side loaders, your fire would need to be close to out to safely place a log in there.

What are people using for 24/7 heaters, 5-6 months out of the year, that also have pleasant aesthetics?

Thanks in advance.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I think VC is the only top loader I’ve seen.

Aesthetics are a personal choice, but I find the PE Alderlea series nice, along with the BK Ashford and the Jotuls. VC is also strong in the looks department.

 

[begreen]

35 yrs on the old Defiant is excellent. The stove has been run right. How often has it received major servicing? These are more complex stoves, but you know the drill. Might as well get a new VC Defiant 1975-C. It will be familiar with some updates. It is still the best looking early American style wood stove IMO.

 

[EbS-P]

What is your budget?

 

[Sockiopath]

35 yrs on the old Defiant is excellent. The stove has been run right. How often has it received major servicing? These are more complex stoves, but you know the drill. Might as well get a new VC Defiant 1975-C. It will be familiar with some updates. It is still the best looking early American style wood stove IMO.

The stove is 35 years old. I don’t know how it was treated before we moved in. The enamel was beat up a bit. But I don’t think folks burned in it very much. Original owner of the house lived here for 25 years. Second owner, less than 2. They’re the ones that pummeled this place.

I replaced the refractory and catalyst 2-3 years ago. The old catalyst was intact, but burned out. The refractory was beat as well. I had to replace the damper, because one of the nubs was broken off. I replaced the griddle, and most of the gaskets twice. It was a great stove.

Everyone loved it.

The wood I use is kiln dried. Though, the past couple years it’s been questionable. I’ve had pieces measure 28% with my cheapo $50 meter. The guy doesn’t believe me. Oh well.

So I have complained to him the past 2 years. He doesn’t want admit he isn’t drying it long enough.

I use co-mate every night. But, this past year the stove started bogging down. The wood didn’t want to burn. I waited for a weekend, opened it up, and the catalyst was blown apart. Metal casing, barely existent. Honeycomb in pieces.

So, I need a new stove. I run it 24/7 from November until the house can maintain 60 degrees without it. I typically run it at 600-650 at the griddle, per the manual.

What stoves are people running that hard?

 

[Sockiopath]

What is your budget?

I’m looking at around $6k right now.

 

[Turbo89]

I’d personally be looking at blaze kings if it were for primary heat, but I get that the VCs look great (since I own / run one). I’d budget was tight I’d be looking on the second hand market or consider a lopi.

However if you’re happy with the existing stove, maybe buying the same stove is a good option. I’m not as close to how newer EPA regulations have impacted VC’s, but I’d certainly read about that (probably here, so maybe someone will chime in) before jumping in.

Best of luck and happy burning!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

How big is your home? Is that an 8” flue?

 

[moresnow]

5 cord through a freestander is a relatively large amount.

Got to ask.

How are you physically measuring moisture content?

1. Sticking the probes in the end grain?

2. Sticking the probes in the side?

3. Bringing a handful of splits from your stack indoors overnight to get them to room temp. Resplitting each split and immediately measuring/probing with the grain on the freshly exposed inside surface?
This is the only way to get an accurate M/C reading. The first 2 options will give you a reading that means nothing.

If some of your fuel supply is measuring 28% using the first 2 measuring routines, you could have a moisture issue that may be causing Catalyst degradation.
Dunno! Welcome to Hearth.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

How big is your home? Is that an 8” flue?

Reason I ask is there aren’t many who make an 8” stove now. It could severely limit your options. But if you have a 6” that just looks bigger due to being ovalized, you have lots of potions

 

[Sockiopath]

How big is your home? Is that an 8” flue?

3,600 sqft. I keep my thermostats at 60 degrees. The stove has done a great job of keeping the far reaches at ~62, while the near spaces are obviously much warmer. The boiler only kicks in late night/early morning on this really cold days.

Yes, it is an 8” flue.

 

[Sockiopath]

Reason I ask is there aren’t many who make an 8” stove now. It could severely limit your options. But if you have a 6” that just looks bigger due to being ovalized, you have lots of potions

I can use an adapter at the thimble.

 

[Sockiopath]

5 cord through a freestander is a relatively large amount.

Got to ask.

How are you physically measuring moisture content?

1. Sticking the probes in the end grain?

2. Sticking the probes in the side?

3. Bringing a handful of splits from your stack indoors overnight to get them to room temp. Resplitting each split and immediately measuring/probing with the grain on the freshly exposed inside surface?
This is the only way to get an accurate M/C reading. The first 2 options will give you a reading that means nothing.

If some of your fuel supply is measuring 28% using the first 2 measuring routines, you could have a moisture issue that may be causing Catalyst degradation.
Dunno! Welcome to Hearth.

I’ve done all 3 of those methods. Once you realize the wood you’ve been paying $500/ is wet, you tend to obsess over it. Lol. The first few years I purchased from this supplier, the wood was amazing. I think he is just having a hard time keeping up with growing demand.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Ok, so I think the first thing I’d do is have the Class A checked to make sure it’s in good shape. You haven’t mentioned its age. It may be 35 years old.

If it’s in good shape, there aren’t many stove manufacturers with an 8” flue now.

I think the BK King and VC are the only ones that currently offer an 8” option. The used market has more options. You’ve got a really big house that you’re trying to heat. You’re asking a lot of any stove. Personally, I wouldn’t push anything but a steel stove that hard. That leaves you with the King. It’s not the looker the VC is though. I fear the VC won’t last very long the way you’re looking to push it.

 

[Sockiopath]

Ok, so I think the first thing I’d do is have the Class A checked to make sure it’s in good shape. You haven’t mentioned its age. It may be 35 years old.

If it’s in good shape, there aren’t many stove manufacturers with an 8” flue now.

I think the BK King and VC are the only ones that currently offer an 8” option. The used market has more options. You’ve got a really big house that you’re trying to heat. You’re asking a lot of any stove. Personally, I wouldn’t push anything but a steel stove that hard. That leaves you with the King. It’s not the looker the VC is though. I fear the VC won’t last very long the way you’re looking to push it.

I can use a 6” pipe to an 8” adapter at the thimble. I’ve already established this with the stove shops, and code enforcement.


The square footage is irrelevant. What stoves are people running 24/7 for 5-6 months? And how are they holding up?

 

[Todd]

Take a ride out to Woodstock Soapstone and check out their Ideal Steel or Progress Hybrid.

 

[Sockiopath]

Take a ride out to Woodstock Soapstone and check out their Ideal Steel or Progress Hybrid.

I’ve looked at their stoves and honestly think they are not very nice looking. A little over the top. A steam punk wood stove?!? Really?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Any of the stoves can run 24/7 for 6 months of the year.

How hot you need to run them will decide its life span.

If you choose a stove that is too small for the space you want to heat, you need to run it hotter and it will have a shorter life.

Square footage is an important consideration.

You will want a 3-4 cubic foot stove. The bigger the better. You may even want to look at a wood powered boiler.

 

[Dieselhead]

That leaves you with the King. It’s not the looker the VC is though.

Beauty is in the eye of the B(tu)holder 😉

 

[Sockiopath]

Ok. So what I am gathering is, nobody that has responded has a wood stove they run 24/7 for 5-6 months out of the year. Lol.


I guess I add a slight rephrase?


What stoves are people running, med/high output, 24/7, 4-6 months out of the year? And…how have they held up? I’m looking for a medium to large stove to cut the edge off.

Those are the questions I am asking. I’m not looking for diagnosis of my last stoves failings. I definitely am not interested in an outdoor boiler, or wood boiler.

Just looking to see what stoves are being used as main heat source, what type of results, and how much maintenance. Personal experiences with full time wood stove heaters.

Thanks again.

 

[stoveliker]

There are many who do.what you do.
I know of folks in Canada and Alaska running BK Ashford full bore for months.

In your situation I would either get a PE a BK.
PE simple solid, noncat. But not in 8" flue.
BK King not the aesthetic you are looking for if you liked the VC. Ashford is a 3 cu ft box 6". Cat stove.

Using adapters is not ideal because you'll be slowing down the gas flow when transitioning to the 8", cooling it and possibly leading to creosote accumulation.

 

[Sockiopath]

Using adapters is not ideal because you'll be slowing down the gas flow when transitioning to the 8", cooling it and possibly leading to creosote accumulation.

It’s to a thimble leading to a chimney. I may not have a choice. I do add co-mate everyday. I also sweep in the fall, and again in January, if necessary.

I appreciate the responses, guys. Really. But I’m not looking for stove recommendations. I know what stoves are out there. I didn’t start my search here. I ended up here hoping to hear of personal experiences with stoves.

 

[kborndale]

It’s to a thimble leading to a chimney. I may not have a choice. I do add co-mate everyday. I also sweep in the fall, and again in January, if necessary.

I appreciate the responses, guys. Really. But I’m not looking for stove recommendations. I know what stoves are out there. I didn’t start my search here. I ended up here hoping to hear of personal experiences with stoves.

You do have a choice, you can put a 6" liner in the chimney which is the correct way to do it. Most modern stoves run on a 6" liner. And they will not be happy running on wood that is 28% moisture content.

 

[EbS-P]

It’s to a thimble leading to a chimney. I may not have a choice. I do add co-mate everyday. I also sweep in the fall, and again in January, if necessary.

I appreciate the responses, guys. Really. But I’m not looking for stove recommendations. I know what stoves are out there. I didn’t start my search here. I ended up here hoping to hear of personal experiences with stoves.

What is the square footage and about insulation? It’s hard to make a recommendation without more specifics. 5 cords is a LOT. You need a 3+ cu ft stove.

Do you want a cat or a non cat.

Top of the line 8” would be a Blaze King King 40. (Buck 91 too)
One step down in price would be the BK 30 series stoves. Or a Pacific energy T6 or super LE.

Budget stoves I would look at the Extra large offerings from Drolet.

 

[el-rey]

Ive been running an Avalon Rainier for 15+ years as my only heat, 2.5 cords/yr. Replaced door gasket once, that's it.