Hi All.
I am new to this forum, and my username refers to where I live, not the type of stove that I have....just wanted to clarify that!
We installed a new Jotul C550 Rockland insert, and I'm not sure whether it's working properly or if I just have unrealistic expectations. We have a 2700sf raised ranch and the insert is downstairs in the family room that has a regular-sized doorway leading to the upstairs staircase. We explained to the company we bought it from that we wanted to keep the oil furnace at around 50 and get the main heat in the house from the insert. They told us that this unit would heat the whole house. Long story short, in addition to burning oil, we are also burning wood and the electricity to power the blower, so I'm not sure we're ahead.
Everyone on the previous thread has complained about the snapstat on the blower and I'm no different. Last night I loaded the stove, the temp was up around 550 and the blower didn't go on, set to auto. It did turn on later, though. The room gets to be about 80 degrees maximum, but I don't understand why the box temp would be so high, and that the room temp would be so modestly warm. I don't think an 80-degree basement would send the heat upstairs enough to make much of a difference. Earlier this week we had a 40-degree day. The oil thermostat was set at 60 and with a mature, raging fire we could only get the upstairs temp to about 67, so I am not confident about performance on a 10-degree day. I am sure that I am going to have to cut registers into my hardwood floors or open up the staircase wall to allow heat to pass upstairs, but before I radically change the house I need to know if I will be more successful in heating the upstairs.
Despite having some really hot fires and the blower almost at full blast, we can't get that family room really hot.
I have a friend with an old wood stove that gets incredibly hot on only 1 or 2 logs, and I'm burning up to 20 splits or more each day. He said that the other night his house was so hot they had to sleep without blankets. For full disclosure, he has a single-level house, but still....
I've had this insert now for about 2 months and don't know if I should return it for a wood stove. The dealer has already replaced the snapstat but that didn't help and he is calling Jotul tech support tomorrow. My theory is that the radiating heat from a free-standing stove will be greater than the heat from an insert with blower and that the heat will rise through the house more rapidly and hotter as well.
Thoughts and comments gratefully appreciated.
I am new to this forum, and my username refers to where I live, not the type of stove that I have....just wanted to clarify that!
We installed a new Jotul C550 Rockland insert, and I'm not sure whether it's working properly or if I just have unrealistic expectations. We have a 2700sf raised ranch and the insert is downstairs in the family room that has a regular-sized doorway leading to the upstairs staircase. We explained to the company we bought it from that we wanted to keep the oil furnace at around 50 and get the main heat in the house from the insert. They told us that this unit would heat the whole house. Long story short, in addition to burning oil, we are also burning wood and the electricity to power the blower, so I'm not sure we're ahead.
Everyone on the previous thread has complained about the snapstat on the blower and I'm no different. Last night I loaded the stove, the temp was up around 550 and the blower didn't go on, set to auto. It did turn on later, though. The room gets to be about 80 degrees maximum, but I don't understand why the box temp would be so high, and that the room temp would be so modestly warm. I don't think an 80-degree basement would send the heat upstairs enough to make much of a difference. Earlier this week we had a 40-degree day. The oil thermostat was set at 60 and with a mature, raging fire we could only get the upstairs temp to about 67, so I am not confident about performance on a 10-degree day. I am sure that I am going to have to cut registers into my hardwood floors or open up the staircase wall to allow heat to pass upstairs, but before I radically change the house I need to know if I will be more successful in heating the upstairs.
Despite having some really hot fires and the blower almost at full blast, we can't get that family room really hot.
I have a friend with an old wood stove that gets incredibly hot on only 1 or 2 logs, and I'm burning up to 20 splits or more each day. He said that the other night his house was so hot they had to sleep without blankets. For full disclosure, he has a single-level house, but still....
I've had this insert now for about 2 months and don't know if I should return it for a wood stove. The dealer has already replaced the snapstat but that didn't help and he is calling Jotul tech support tomorrow. My theory is that the radiating heat from a free-standing stove will be greater than the heat from an insert with blower and that the heat will rise through the house more rapidly and hotter as well.
Thoughts and comments gratefully appreciated.