jj3500

Been shopping for stoves for a few months now. What brands do you all use...what works best...? Do I need to spend $2500 to get a decent brand?

I'm guessing I have to spend about $2K plus the venting.



Thanks

jj3500

I'm guessing there are at least of few members that use a woodstove. Where are you guys?

RAM2940

Arre you talking about a outdoor boiler, fireplace insert, or a stand alone indoor woodstove. I had a Fisher brand stove that was very nice, heavy and came lined with fire bricks.

darkvader

you talking a cookstove or insert/free standing. i have a pioneer maid wood cook stove that is great, big fire box, hot water tubes,large oven and excel. temp control. insert is country comfort, large fire box, excel. fire control. both have benn troble free for 12 years(cc) amd 20 years(pioneer). did change fire bricks in pm about 10 years ago. both were high dollar but worth it. get the biggist fire box you can and remember quality costs.
Clark

jj3500

Sorry...was looking at a woodstove for supplemental heat only. Not to aid with hot water or cooking. Strictly for heat in winter.

Thanks

RamNu2

I have a Hardy brand outdoor wood burning stove. Have had about 5 years and still have about 65% in my LP tank. It will also provide unlimited gallons of hot water.

shortround

Chattanooga (?) Stove Works puts out some very good lower price range circulators. They will provide good heat for up to around 1200 square feet. Last one I bought was around $400 at tractor supply. Typically they will last about 10 years. Get one that is rated for coal. They have heavier grates and firebrick.

catnfool

I had a cheapo and bought a Quadrafire two years ago. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! I go thru less wood and actually get HEAT... I bought too small of a model, but it is nice. Pacific Energy makes a nice stove too. My buddy bought a "catalitic type" stove that claimed 12 hours run time per fill-up, but it was junk. It would creasote up the chimney with the dampners shut down enough to get the long runs. Chimney fires are not cool. my $.02.

edit- I paid $1200 for the stove and already had the pipe.

G1625S

Mom has a Vermont Castings 'Encore' woodstove. It was way more than I would spend (over 3k, I think), but it has kept the furnace from coming on in a 1700 sq/ft house down to 0*F on many occasions. I'm goign with an outdoor woodstove at my place. trying to buck up for a Central Boiler

Mike D

I have a Fisher, works real well. Will heat over 1400 sq ft.

P.J

If you currently have a forced warm air system I would suggest looking into the "add on" furnace in the post above. I have a Jotul brand wood stove (on the smaller side) and am looking to use an add on furnace this winter.
Woodstoves can save you a small fortune in heating costs, but by the time you add in all the time and energy cutting/collecting/hauling/stacking and moving the wood, you have better LIKE what you are doing.

My stove keeps about 80% of the house NICE and warm, two front rooms can be chilly. My stove is intended to heat 1800 sq. ft. and I am stoking just about all day (on the cold days) to try and heat 2700 Sq. feet.

Difference would be, since I have a basement, I could bring in a weeks worth at a time, it supposedly would only need to be loaded 2 times a day (vs. about 12-15 time a day with my stove on the main level).

P.J

Oh,..... and you can control that one with a thermostat, (forced vent blower) that will save you both in wood and complaints from cooking everyone out of the house.

jp8819

Yea i have a ashley in my basement that works well Older stove but still worked to cut my power bill over half. Def looking into one of the units myself to tie into heating system like posted above.

P.J

The woodstove in our family room is nice to look at and stand next to when you come in from the cold, but MAN the mess! I get yelled at weekly for all the dust and debris from the wood and ash..........