Can you post a basic sketch of the floor plan, indicating where the stove would go and the size of the doorways or openings between the rooms? That will help us finetune a recommendation.
Not a DIY homeowner - should I forego getting a wood stove?
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The old chimney was for something that was once in the basement…had it inspected in 2020 and was told to never use that chimney…..so am starting from scratch with new wood burner new pipe, chimney etc thru ceiling/roof. In the living room. Don’t really have an affinity toward a gas appliance so will just get a wood burner….. Store is open tomorrow so will get to see a new retailers take on things - wood guy came today and he’s putting a cord aside of Ash for me….says that’s all he has is Ash wood….dries quicker and he’ll make a rack for me in my yard…..so I think I will go through with this project…..Hope I can make stove decision tomorrow! Thank you so much!
Where is that chimney located? Is it in a convenient location or not so much so. It may be reusable if it gets an insulated liner.
That is fine. I'm not pushing, I was just noting you used a dollar argument, and your wishes would be met also by the gas stove.
Except for the affinity. And I understand that - I have a wood stove too
One cord (8'*4'*4' stacked) of ash may not be enough for one winter, depending on how many days per week you burn. I'd ask to have three of those racks and fill them. That way you'll be ahead and certain of dry wood.
True….I told him mostly wanna be sure to have a weeks worth of wood for 24/7 emergency burning if a weather issue should take the grid down - and enough to play with too as it’s been years since living w/ stove for heat and I need practice ….. then if hooked on it he said he can get more….just keep him informed. He said ash dries fast compared to other wood - I will start here I guess…wanna see what the cord looks like in my yard……so tomorrow stove shopping again!That is fine. I'm not pushing, I was just noting you used a dollar argument, and your wishes would be met also by the gas stove.
Except for the affinity. And I understand that - I have a wood stove too
One cord (8'*4'*4' stacked) of ash may not be enough for one winter, depending on how many days per week you burn. I'd ask to have three of those racks and fill them. That way you'll be ahead and certain of dry wood.
Tomorrow maybe I can just take a couple pics to show the homes layout….it’s small. Don’t want stove in basement where chimney ends___too much a geezer for those stairs lol! This next stove store tomorrow said they will send someone out after I visit the showroom - I can ask questions then….. theres no room for much here that’s for sure…..downsized Drastically and am still having difficulty adjusting but it is what it is….. less to heat is great!! ….my elec furnace bill can approach $400 a month here in zone 5…..
If you can find a few good chimney people in the area that have been in business for awhile, chances are you would be ok long term even if those shops get sold off as people retire. Otherwise, consider you may be on your own.
So First Year wood burner here so hopefully I can add some perspective. I put in an Insert into my existing masonry fireplace in October. While I am relatively handy, had this professionally installed. All I do is build fires, clean out ash, Cut, split, Stack and haul wood. To Date: I have used 300 less gallons of Oil. My Feb delivery was so low that they have not come out for the normal March one. (last year March was 155 gallons). Running the stove is not daunting. You will do more work with your wood management than dealing with the actual Stove. As far as your room goes, it looks to me that you will be putting in a free standing stove, so calculate the distance from combustibles before you decide. You might want to place a cardboard box the approx size of the stove where you want it located and measure out those distances to get an idea of where you can put furnishings etc. before you pull the trigger. You can find installation manuals online to get those distances.
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Great idea! When I saw the Alderlea T5 at the store today…..it would be huge in my room here! Yet wanting N/S loading…..seems N/S stoves will be deep into this room….not wide but deep…add ?18 inches of hearth pad beyond the door it’s a chunk of room gouging lol! So then there’s the E/W loaders like Enerzone Solution 1.7 and Osburn 1700____wider but less deep and medium size___I am definitely getting stove shopping fatigue. Thanks for your perspective! Hoping for that Goldilocks or Unicorn N/S stove….might just get a small stove no matter what rather than medium__my space is not huge and this is mostly for emergent use backup heat!
If you are looking at the T4 look at the PE Vista it’s less money. E/W loader. More than enough for your house. PE rates it for up to 1,500 sq ft which is too conservative since it can heat much larger. Great review online of a guy heating his 2,400 sq ft house in Alberta (check it out). My house in MA which is not as cold as in Alberta easily heats our 1,800 sq ft heat cape. Also nice large glass door for awesome ambiance! Heck I should sell their stoves 😂
e/w is not the end of the world just a bit more thought on log placement .do it a few times and you won't have any problem
Agree but for some houses less is more. For my situation can’t see a reason spending more money on a larger stove when the smaller Vista gets the job done. I used about a cord to cut my NG gas bill basicity in half and lowered my electric bill. There’s a reason PE makes 3 sizes.
I will probably post pics soon as that’s easier - small place here! That T5 looked really huge in the store today. Big for my space anyway….still figuring it out….. Might just get a puny stove lol!
There used to be side-loading stoves (my previous stove was one, but it was ancient - 1982). Meaning less depth (room space), and still being able to put wood in while facing the cut ends, so that carefully building a stack of wood in the (hot) stove is not an issue.
If you want a small-depth stove, look for side loading stoves. Others (as in @begreen) will be able to give you a few suggestions if they still exist.
The point is that it is way, WAY easier to load while facing the cut end of splits rather than facing the split sides of splits.
If you want a small-depth stove, look for side loading stoves. Others (as in @begreen) will be able to give you a few suggestions if they still exist.
The point is that it is way, WAY easier to load while facing the cut end of splits rather than facing the split sides of splits.
Agree but thats why you have different shapes and sizes of splits. Not a problem. I guess playing with legos as a kid paid off.
sure. But if you have a choice between 10" long splits to load N/S (incredibly hard to stack in a stable way) or 20" long splits (loading E/W if no side loading door), it's very easy to choose.
I know. My old stove had both front and side loading capability. It's not worth messing with a shallow firebox. If you want a shallow depth stove, get an E/W stove with side loading.
I probably had more lego's (in the '80s...) than most of us here... Close to Denmark and all...
I know. My old stove had both front and side loading capability. It's not worth messing with a shallow firebox. If you want a shallow depth stove, get an E/W stove with side loading.
I probably had more lego's (in the '80s...) than most of us here... Close to Denmark and all...
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If a liner was put in, the point would be to tap into it on the main floor, not the basement. A basic sketch of the floorplan and location of doorways will help. It doesn't need to be a work of art. A cellphone picture of the sketch will suffice.
There's a lot to consider, looking at stoves will help understand some of the options. I am thinking a Drolet Spark II or Deco might suffice is space is tight.
EbS-P
Minister of Fire
If you cut your own wood any stove can be a N/S loader. Well maybe not any stove.
If I were planning on living in a home as I got older than 70 it would have a natural gas backup generator. My in-laws just got a propane one and it has made their children worry less. The oxygen concentration has minimum 3 days worth of power and more if they conserve. They have had a woodstove for nearly 20 years but have not used it in the last 2-3. I think if heat were life or death they could move one split at a time and keep the stove going but they’re several steps between the garage woodpile and the stove. Generators and transfer switches are expensive but there really is no substitute if you need to power medical equipment.
That’s why I bought an eco flow power station. Much cheaper than a generator and I can charge with solar panels, AC if available and DC from my truck. True off grid is that. I want heat and basic electric if the electricity or my NG is not flowing. My folks are in their 90’s so my dad’s stove days are over so I get it.
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