VC Dauntless vs Lopi Answer

[ronny9r]

Hi all. Brand new to the wood stove world, but with cracks in our wood fireplace's flue tiles, we're taking this opportunity to upgrade to a more efficient system. I have questions that sales people just cannot seem to answer, so to the forum I go! Here's a little info to help paint the picture.

I am only interested in a stove as opposed to an insert. It's more because of logistics without peculiarly shaped hearth.

I am looking into the Vermont Casting Encore and Lopi Answer. I know these arent quite apples to apples with the size difference between them, but those are the options from both companies that fit within my space. I am also planning to look at Jotul in a store tomorrow, as I've read good reports from them.

I am using this as supplemental heat. I'm not expecting it to heat up our entire 2000 sq ft house, but if it means I'm ordering less heating oil this winter I'll be thrilled.

My main questions are:
Cast iron vs stainless steel-
I know stainless steel heats up (and thus cools off) quicker than cast iron. But what else makes one better than the other?

VC quality. I've read very concerning reports about VC's quality, but a lot of those comments are 10+ years old, so I take them with a large grain of salt.

Lopi quality. Is it really one of the best out there?

Thanks to the community in advance for the help!

 

[begreen]

They are completely different stoves. The Encore is cast iron radiant stove. The Answer is a welded steel (not stainless) stove. Of the two the Answer is definitely simpler and lower maintenance. Lopi make good quality stoves. The Lopi Endeavor would be a better comparison for heating.

 

[ronny9r]

They are completely different stoves. The Encore is cast iron radiant stove. The Answer is a welded steel (not stainless) stove. Of the two the Answer is definitely simpler and lower maintenance. Lopi make good quality stoves. The Lopi Endeavor would be a better comparison for heating.

Thank you for the info. I am brand new to living/home-owning in the north, previously I was in Georgia and definitely didn't need this intel!
Can you elaborate on how they are completely different stoves? I know one is steel and the other is cast iron, and I understand the basic differences between the two, but not the nuanced differences of living with one over the other.
The Endeavor (or Evergreen) would be great, but it wont fit in my fireplace with my current fireplace...Answer is the only, ahem, answer, that includes Lopi.

 

[begreen]

Elaborate, please. The Encore would not be fun to operate in a fireplace unless it was quite large. Has an insert been considered in lieu of a freestanding stove? Pictures of the fireplace are welcome.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces Thread 'WOOD STOVE SHORT INTRODUCTION'

Oct 18, 2015

Wood stoves are wood-burning appliances that sit on the floor of the room, usually away from the wall. Some of the newer models may now be placed as close as 8 inches from the wall. Because they must be certified by the EPA, most newer wood stoves are clean burning and have relatively high heating efficiencies that range from 63 to 80 percent.

Wood stoves are available in a variety of styles that vary from contemporary to traditional-looking models. They are usually cast iron, plate steel, sheet metal, soapstone/tile or a combination of these materials. Some manufacturers...

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[ronny9r]

Elaborate. The Encore would not be fun to operate in a fireplace unless it was quite large. Has an insert been considered in lieu of a freestanding stove?

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces Thread 'WOOD STOVE SHORT INTRODUCTION'

Oct 18, 2015

Wood stoves are wood-burning appliances that sit on the floor of the room, usually away from the wall. Some of the newer models may now be placed as close as 8 inches from the wall. Because they must be certified by the EPA, most newer wood stoves are clean burning and have relatively high heating efficiencies that range from 63 to 80 percent.

Wood stoves are available in a variety of styles that vary from contemporary to traditional-looking models. They are usually cast iron, plate steel, sheet metal, soapstone/tile or a combination of these materials. Some manufacturers...

• webfish
• woodstove
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Articles

• 

An insert wouldn't easily work with our fireplace. It would require us to get a custom made one, and that's definitely out of the budget. There is enough space in the fireplace to still utilize the top loader. Is there anything else i'd need to access on the top that would make it a further pain?

 

[begreen]

The bypass control is on the side and the thermostat is on the rear.

Pictures and fireplace dimensions would help here.

 

[ronny9r]

The bypass control is on the side and the thermostat is on the rear.

Pictures and fireplace dimensions would help here.

That's quite helpful, as I'll need to ensure I have enough clearance to stick my arm around to the back of the sides. Do you know that all of Lopi's handles I'll need accessing are towards the front?
Apologies for no pics/dimensions, we've passed that point.

 

[begreen]

All of the Lopi's controls are on the front. Hard to help further with minimal information.

 

[ronny9r]

All of the Lopi's controls are on the front. Hard to help further with minimal information.

I hear you, and I do appreciate the help. I have shown reps at various stores the measurements, and they pretty much all agree it's a stove or something custom if I want to go with an insert.
The width of the opening is 35". the height is 33.5" at the center, but, it's domed and not rectangular. There's 4" of depth before the inside walls angle in. Those angled side walls are 18.5" and the back wall of the fireplace is also 18.5". It's the depth at center and the dimension of the arch (starts curving in at 15" from the bottom) that's limiting me in terms of options.

After much research and talking with reps, friends, and neighbors, I believe I have honed in on either the VC, Lopi, or Jotul. Now we're discovering which options are available to us of those three options. For VC, the Encore would be good, but the Dauntless could work as well. For the Lopi, it's mainly the Answer, although I've already hit the rep up asking why we didn't look at Rockport. The others just won't fit in the space. As for Jotul, I hope to find that out tomorrow when I visit that particular store. I'm definitely concerned with everything I've read about VC.

What's it like to live with cast iron vs steel? i know one retains heat more and the other is quicker to heat up. Anything else I cant think of?
The controls being in the back vs the front is a huge difference, and one I didn't realize!

 

[begreen]

I don't think either VC will work well in there. They are radiant heaters. The thermostat will be thrown off by the intense heat in the fireplace cavity. It's meant to sit out in the room with good air circulation. The Jotul F35 or 45 might fit. They have a short leg kit option which can help. It's controls are on the front.