What size of stove for a large 2-story great room?

[begreen]

I think I've narrowed it down to either the Regency F3500 or the Pacific Energy Summit. I was leaning towards the Jotul F55 but the wife vetoed it because it clashes with the "look" of the house. I saw the Regency in person today it seems like a pretty solid stove.... and I hear nothing but great things about Pacific Energy on the forum. If anyone has any opinions on either of them I'd love to hear them!

Both will get the job done. It's mainly a choice between non-cat and a bit more complex hybrid.

 

[havermeyer]

I starting looking at the Woodstock Ideal Steel as well... would you put that stove in the same category of the F3500 for heat output? They both have roughly the same size firebox. I like how I can add soap stone to the side panels of the Ideal Steel to move it more towards radiant heating.

 

[begreen]

I starting looking at the Woodstock Ideal Steel as well... would you put that stove in the same category of the F3500 for heat output? They both have roughly the same size firebox. I like how I can add soap stone to the side panels of the Ideal Steel to move it more towards radiant heating.

The Ideal Steel has slightly larger capacity than the F3500. Both are strong heaters. The soapstone side panels will not make it more radiant. They will actually block and absorb some of the radiated heat. The added mass of the stone will then slowly release the heat over time as the fire dies down. This helps even out room temperature swing through burn cycles.

If the maximum heat output is desired then the 4.42 cu ft Regency F5200 (8" flue) is the beast. Close to this, with a 6" flue requirement is the 3.5 cu ft Osburn 3500.