Yes. For me, the only way a wood stove works in a very large space, is to have one that can run predictable 12 or 24-hour batch burns. Load it once or twice per day, and just keep pumping BTU's into that envelope, while the boiler and heat pumps pick up the difference.
So, folks will tell you the BK's real strength is its super-long burn capability, but they've only got that half right. BKs other main strength, for folks like us, is that you can very predictably and repeatably nail just about any burn time you want. The thermostat automatically compensates for variation in draft due to outdoor temperature, and other factors.
I run two BK's, and have one set to run repeatable 12-hour reloads, while the other is running 24-hour cycles, all winter long. In temperatures above freezing, this actually makes up my entire first floor heating requirements, and much of my second floor. In colder weather the boiler runs more, to pick up the balance, no issue. When we get into warmer weather, as we've been on and off the last few weeks, I can dial them down for 36 hour burns.
I have time to load a stove only a few times per day, as I'm out of the house a lot. These stoves allow me to fit burning into my schedule, rather than shaping my schedule around the feeding needs of a stove.
I may add a smaller stove on the other side of the house in the future...but really looking forward to the fall when I can fire up the King for the first time. I will be pulling the trigger in a couple of weeks when my local hearth shop is having their spring blowout.
Make sure the 8" flue isn't going to be a problem first.
As far as burn times not mattering since the wife is home all day, well, does the wife want to spend her time loading a woodstove? My wife loves the 24 hour burn cycle since that means she can do something else all day.
So y'all just flip open that bypass damper and let your soot eaters fly? I don't clean them like that for fear of contaminating the cat with soot. But maybe I should?
No one here will convince me it's as easy and simple to service a bk cat as it is to service a PE stove.
So y'all just flip open that bypass damper and let your soot eaters fly? I don't clean them like that for fear of contaminating the cat with soot. But maybe I should?
You claim the same number of gaskets but there isn't. PE's got the door, window, and baffle gasket(which can easily be replaced with no tools, must be about $3US). And the BK has got the door, glass, damper, and cat.
Number of gaskets is inconsequential really. Reality is a PE is much easier and simpler to work on.
Yah it doesn't burn as long and it's not as efficient. But to try to say that the PE is not a simpler or more easily serviceable stove? Cmon now.
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