Thinking of replacing insert with longer burning Woodstock, BK, ?

[weatherguy]

Sounds like you had a Princess insert? If that is correct, how would you compare that to the PH if you've had both?

I get much more heat from the PH than the Princess, burn times are roughly the same except when its really cold I run the PH a little hotter it cuts down on the burn time a bit.

 

[HotCoals]

I wonder how a soapstone stove like the Progress Hybrid would do for that. If it would release the most heat after the fire goes out.
Just a thought. I have no experience with it.

I would not count to much on that thought.

 

[Tenn Dave]

I would not count to much on that thought.

It only makes a difference in a well insulated home.

 

[Rearscreen]

Remember I did say I was crazy...Our opening is 26 inches high and I have 1/2 inch clearance with short legs. It would be nip and tuck. One argument for my suggested method would be it might be easier to load the stove with it a little higher up. Actually, if I ever get the opportunity to build another timberframe for myself, I definitely would design the hearth higher than usually found in typical installations. BTW, the 3 temperature areas on the cooking surface on the PH actually works quite well, there are differences between the 3.

 

[OhioBurner©]

I'd move to a smaller house. That's a lot of space to heat for one guy and one child.

Yeah, I could get by with probably only half the size house. Its almost perfectly designed to be two halves that I can shut one side down for the winter. But not quite. The newer side only has one bedroom, and the older side doesn't have a kitchen. Personally I hate the huge great room. Sure it looks pretty but all I see is wasted space and all my heat going 20' up in the air. I wouldn't own another, or perhaps one that instead of being fully open is only partly open with a loft. If I could do it easily I'd put a bedroom over the great room to have 2 on that side and then I'd be able to shut the other side down. But I don't think that's going to be easy or inexpensive.

I get much more heat from the PH than the Princess, burn times are roughly the same except when its really cold I run the PH a little hotter it cuts down on the burn time a bit.

Thanks for a real life comparison. If the difference in heat is noticeable, and burn times similar, then I'd rather go with the freestanding unit, especially if it looks nicer. So still leaning toward PH or IS then. Woodstock seemed to think the IS would give slightly more heat due to the larger firebox. And it has the bang for buck factor. However no doubt a PH would look the best, but at a much higher cost. One other factor... is stone more sensitive to overfiring? I of course try to be responsible, especially with a new nice stove, but seems like every year I have a few reloads that I forget to set a timer or otherwise forget. The heavy steel Jotul takes the heat just fine so far but I wonder if I should avoid a stone stove just in case.