Placed here in lieu of a firewood subfourm:
Thought ya'll may be interested in my fireplace to woodstove upgrade I did. It might answer some questions or raise more, and I hope it generates discussion.
Researching to pick THE woodstove was a very difficult and time consuming issue. Manufacturers brochures all made extravagant claims and the EPA ratings are skewed by a non real world testing that is only rated by particulates and not actual heat output with a properly/fully loaded stove. I'd suggest lowering the manufacturing sites to a third tier search and place actual long term reviews by actual owners as well as technical reviews by actual installers above them.
After much internet research and gnashing of teeth, I decided that the Osburn 2400 woodstove would suit my needs for the price I could pay better than most others out there. It may not be the best for your exact setup, and I suggest you determine your needs based on your specific setup. The 2400 has a very good mass, good sized firebox and excellent warranty, even on the glass door.
Our all electric 1800sqft house is 13 years old. I consider the construction "light", as it's not particularly heavy or well built. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath on the opposite end of the house from the woodstove and a LARGE (approx 1/3 of the house) 25' vaulted front room where the woodstove is. I'd consider the house low-medium on insulation levels.
The house originally had an open faced fireplace without doors of any type and only a damper in the top of the box that I could never get used to adjusting properly without smoking the house, or giving up and leaving it wide open, thereby leaving an 8" hole to the outside when the fire would completely die during the middle of the night. Not very efficient as our electric bills would range from $275-500 during the winter months and we'd burn 2.5-3 chords of wood as well.
I reviewed the stove manual describing the clearances required and appear to have enough room for using non combustible interior. This was THE determining factor in weather my woodstove would have to sit in the front room, or if I could inset it into the fireplace surround as I wanted to.
Original fireplace:
Mantle removal:
Fireplace removal:
Thought ya'll may be interested in my fireplace to woodstove upgrade I did. It might answer some questions or raise more, and I hope it generates discussion.
Researching to pick THE woodstove was a very difficult and time consuming issue. Manufacturers brochures all made extravagant claims and the EPA ratings are skewed by a non real world testing that is only rated by particulates and not actual heat output with a properly/fully loaded stove. I'd suggest lowering the manufacturing sites to a third tier search and place actual long term reviews by actual owners as well as technical reviews by actual installers above them.
After much internet research and gnashing of teeth, I decided that the Osburn 2400 woodstove would suit my needs for the price I could pay better than most others out there. It may not be the best for your exact setup, and I suggest you determine your needs based on your specific setup. The 2400 has a very good mass, good sized firebox and excellent warranty, even on the glass door.
Our all electric 1800sqft house is 13 years old. I consider the construction "light", as it's not particularly heavy or well built. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath on the opposite end of the house from the woodstove and a LARGE (approx 1/3 of the house) 25' vaulted front room where the woodstove is. I'd consider the house low-medium on insulation levels.
The house originally had an open faced fireplace without doors of any type and only a damper in the top of the box that I could never get used to adjusting properly without smoking the house, or giving up and leaving it wide open, thereby leaving an 8" hole to the outside when the fire would completely die during the middle of the night. Not very efficient as our electric bills would range from $275-500 during the winter months and we'd burn 2.5-3 chords of wood as well.
I reviewed the stove manual describing the clearances required and appear to have enough room for using non combustible interior. This was THE determining factor in weather my woodstove would have to sit in the front room, or if I could inset it into the fireplace surround as I wanted to.
Original fireplace:
Mantle removal:
Fireplace removal:
