So I'm heavily considering a wood pellet stove to help heat my 1800's log cabin home. The Mini split is a heat pump rated for 16000 BTUs and as long as it's above 40 it can do the job perfectly, however during winter I feel like we are always sub 40 and want to be more comfortable with my heat in my home. I'm open to other suggestions but there's an old stone hearth and I would love to revitalize it and be able to have a fire (pellet) and be cozy by it. I considered wood stove but I travel a lot for work and it would be easier for me to manage it with people checking on the cabin while I'm away in case of pipes freezing. I divert the air more towards the living room from the mini split currently but can still feel a potent draft while walking up the stairs. Should I oversize and get something that could heat 2000 sqft or try to dial in on a device that can heat the 1500 square feet? I'll be doing all my own work installing the stove and liners/pipes
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Optimal heating in 1800s log cabin and determining appropriate size stove
- Thread starter Thewajd
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Easyer to have a small fire in a big stove than to max out a lil one 👍
Just one thing to remember a pellet stove is a space heater. some people
have good luck heating their homes with them while others don't
The thing to remember buy a bigger BTU stove than you think you will need.
It is easier to get more heat from a big stove than a maxed-out small one
Dam Sskyo beat me to it LOL
have good luck heating their homes with them while others don't
The thing to remember buy a bigger BTU stove than you think you will need.
It is easier to get more heat from a big stove than a maxed-out small one
Dam Sskyo beat me to it LOL
bogieb
Minister of Fire
I would oversize the stove.
Where is the hearth at? If it is on the wall opposite of the mini split, that would be optimal positioning of a pellet stove for heating. The air flow would be aimed at the outer room entrances plus the stairs (although the bedrooms would most likely still be cool). That will make the heat distribution so much easier.
Even if the hearth is on the wall that the stairs are at, would be pretty good for heating the main floor. I would expect less heat to go up the stairs anyway (although you never know, some house have really good natural air circulation, while others are like mine and don't
)
Where is the hearth at? If it is on the wall opposite of the mini split, that would be optimal positioning of a pellet stove for heating. The air flow would be aimed at the outer room entrances plus the stairs (although the bedrooms would most likely still be cool). That will make the heat distribution so much easier.
Even if the hearth is on the wall that the stairs are at, would be pretty good for heating the main floor. I would expect less heat to go up the stairs anyway (although you never know, some house have really good natural air circulation, while others are like mine and don't
)The hearth would be where the red box is in my diagram, the mini split could operate in fan mode to push the air up to my 2nd floor. It’s a drafty cabin that I’ve been slowly patching up as I’ve been living there 😮💨I would oversize the stove.
Where is the hearth at? If it is on the wall opposite of the mini split, that would be optimal positioning of a pellet stove for heating. The air flow would be aimed at the outer room entrances plus the stairs (although the bedrooms would most likely still be cool). That will make the heat distribution so much easier.
Even if the hearth is on the wall that the stairs are at, would be pretty good for heating the main floor. I would expect less heat to go up the stairs anyway (although you never know, some house have really good natural air circulation, while others are like mine and don't
Bogie has a good point having the stove on the opposite side to help move a lil more warm air upstares. Or maybe a small stove upstairs 🥸
I would like too but that side has a window. Where I have it in the diagram there’s already a stone hearth that I’m revitalizing. I’m sure heat would naturally spread upstairs and have actually considered an ancillary stove upstairs.
How about an insert? This is what I’m trying to revitalize and use to really make it cozy here
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I appreciate everyone’s input and help with this, I even considered a free standing with putting an insert cover around everything going into and up the chimney but don’t mind spending the money on something that’s quality
Ssyko,
I know I’m hijacking this thread just a bit but I’m wrestling with choosing my first stove. Is bigger really better?
If I buy a big stove, I might find myself building small fires. I’m afraid that the flue gases won’t get hot enough for the catalyst. And if I do heat the thing up to use the catalyst, would I be opening the windows?
In my case, it’s between Vermont castings Intrepid (small stove) and the Encore (my bride of almost 50 years likes the warming shelves). We like the size of the Encore but are worried that it would turn the house into a sauna if we run it the way it wants. Also, the Intrepid wants 14” logs which you can’t find around here. I would have to shorten standard logs.
Roger, you are talking about a completely different type of stove.
This part of the forum is about Pellet stoves that use wood pellets or other pelletized material.
Where you are talking about a wood stove a completely different beast
This part of the forum is about Pellet stoves that use wood pellets or other pelletized material.
Where you are talking about a wood stove a completely different beast
I just want to let everyone know i went with the Harman p-61. Once i got past the sticker shock i ~love~ it! it's been keeping my entire cabin with drafts and all at an easy 70 degrees, which i could get it up to 90 with minimal effort LOL
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