Wood Stoves

[Sky]

Cranked mine up yesterday for the first time this year. Nice to get that aroma back in the house.

I hate this stove though...an Atlantic ? I checked the web, no site. Came with the house 20+ years ago.

Can't seem to keep a decently hot fire in it! Had the chimney re-poineted, swept...can't help but think it's a poor design.

Bougth a new stove about a week ago...Vermont Castings. They can't install it (and take the old one away) till early Dec though. Not sure what this current one weighs, but the new one is 400 lb. Not doing that on my own!

 

[roark]

I've got a Jotul F3 going in the next week. Can't wait. 3 cords stacked and ready to go in the backyard. Nothing like a cranking stove on a cold night!

 

[SkiMangoJazz]

I have two Vermont Castings, they are fantastic. The one in the basement has been going non-stop for 3-4 days now. I can keep it going for at least 8 hours, so I can fill it before going to bed and get it going again in the morning from the hot coals without a re-light.

 

[Marc]

Sky, those old woodstoves (pre the EPA emmission regulations) are generally poor performers. Leaky and innefficient. You'll be happy with the VC. 400lbs, I'm guessing you got the Encore? Same stove my parents have. You'll notice a marked reduction in the wood consumed as well. Just remember, light it with the damper open, when the stove top gets to 500F close the damper, and the stove forces the smoke through the catalytic converter. And then make sure you open the damper before you open the top to put would in again otherwise you'll get a face full of stinky smoke.

I just got a Hearthstone Heritage myself. Chimney has been lined and I just need to get myself a hearth pad and some stovepipe. Hope to light it up for the first time this weekend.

 

[Glenn]

What's a wood stove going for these days? We have a fire place in our lower living room (raised ranch) and I know you can get inserts for those. Pellet stoves are "teh new hotness"...but I've always enjoyed a good wood stove.

 

[Grassi21]

I've got a Jotul F3 going in the next week. Can't wait. 3 cords stacked and ready to go in the backyard. Nothing like a cranking stove on a cold night!

Nice. We are having a Jotul 450 fireplace insert being installed on Nov. 4. Can't wait!

 

[Marc]

What's a wood stove going for these days? We have a fire place in our lower living room (raised ranch) and I know you can get inserts for those. Pellet stoves are "teh new hotness"...but I've always enjoyed a good wood stove.

Depends a lot on the size, but plan on around $2,000 for an average sized, quality, new stove or insert. Plus installation.

 

[Glenn]

I'll have to see how the ol' oil burner does this year. It's only about 4 years old, so it's fairly efficient.

 

[Marc]

I'll have to see how the ol' oil burner does this year. It's only about 4 years old, so it's fairly efficient.

Yeah, most of the efficiency of an oil boiler comes from it's controls, and it's insulation. The actual combustion efficiency is dependent on the burner nozzle which can be changed out no matter how old the boiler is.

 

[Glenn]

I've been winterizing the house as well. Re insulated the skylight (someone put the stuff on backwards...WTF!) and used some expandable foam. This weekend, I have to insulate the bay windows. So hopefully, that will help things too. Every little bit helps.

 

[Marc]

I've been winterizing the house as well. Re insulated the skylight (someone put the stuff on backwards...WTF!) and used some expandable foam. This weekend, I have to insulate the bay windows. So hopefully, that will help things too. Every little bit helps.

Indeed. I think people still underestimate the effects of insulation. Buttoning up small leaks and uninsulated parts make a minor difference individually, but if you do a whole lot of small areas, they add up to make a huge difference.

 

[bvibert]

Indeed. I think people still underestimate the effects of insulation. Buttoning up small leaks and uninsulated parts make a minor difference individually, but if you do a whole lot of small areas, they add up to make a huge difference.

My kids like to uninsulate my house. We have old windows which I had been putting those plastic sheets that you heat up with a hair dryer over. They made a huge difference in the draftiness of the house. Unfortunately, while the plastic is fairly tough it can only withstand so many attacks by little fingers and their toys. :roll: We also have a large AC unit that's pretty much permanently mounted in a living room window. I made a pretty good cover out of some closed cell insulation for the outside, but I also had a few strips of foam insulation for some spots on the inside. They get ripped out and used as swords... :roll:

 

[Marc]

My kids like to uninsulate my house. We have old windows which I had been putting those plastic sheets that you heat up with a hair dryer over. They made a huge difference in the draftiness of the house. Unfortunately, while the plastic is fairly tough it can only withstand so many attacks by little fingers and their toys. :roll: We also have a large AC unit that's pretty much permanently mounted in a living room window. I made a pretty good cover out of some closed cell insulation for the outside, but I also had a few strips of foam insulation for some spots on the inside. They get ripped out and used as swords... :roll:

Every time they rip out some insulation, make em take a cold shower...

Or subtracting the cost in oil lost from their college funds.

 

[bvibert]

Every time they rip out some insulation, make em take a cold shower...

Or subtracting the cost in oil lost from their college funds.

Good ideas, but they're both a little young to understand the consequences... Besides, we heat with natural gas...

 

[Glenn]

To make a long story short, some hack framed out the skylight in our kitchen. There were so many air gaps, it was unreal. All corrected now though.

We do have single pane windows with storms. I may try some of that plastic stuff to cut down on drafts.

 

[Johnskiismore]

Love my wood burning stove, a Vermont Casting Stove. Lit it yesterday early evening walked to the Woodstock Inn to watch the game, sulked and sighed back, but the house was sooo nice and toasty!

 

[RootDKJ]

Before I hit snow, I want to add insulation in my attic. I'm planning to just lay it on top of what is already up there (which is only an inch thick).

 

[Sky]

Sky, those old woodstoves (pre the EPA emmission regulations) are generally poor performers. Leaky and innefficient. You'll be happy with the VC. 400lbs, You'll notice a marked reduction in the wood consumed as well. And then make sure you open the damper before you open the top to put would in again otherwise you'll get a face full of stinky smoke.

Yep...innefficient as hell...rips through wood. I'm down there every 30 - 45 minutes poking at it. What a pain in the arse!

I forget exactly which one it is...it will be down in the finished basement, but certainly doesn't need to be a show piece. SOme of the stoves in the store were beautiful...porcelin finishes, probably look great in a living room.

This is just to keep the chill out (and the oil bill down). Also, for those emergeny power outages. That's why I opted out of a pellet stove. Great idea, as long as you have power.

Around $2k installed (and the old stove hauled away).

 

[MichaelJ]

Someday when we 4-season the 3-season porch we'll put a wood stove out there. Until then, we're just focusing on insulating the rest of the house, which has gas-fired baseboard hot water.

Here's a good one - the insulation on the underside of the first floor (there's no basement ceiling, just joists) was put in paper-down, which the home inspector said would end up trapping vapor between it and the floorboards, and that we should flip all of the insulation. Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?

 

[Mildcat]

Here's a good one - the insulation on the underside of the first floor (there's no basement ceiling, just joists) was put in paper-down, which the home inspector said would end up trapping vapor between it and the floorboards, and that we should flip all of the insulation. Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?

My basement was like that. The vapor barrier is suppose to be on the heated side. A lot of people don't know that and put the paper facing down because it's easier. Whoever put the insulation in my basement used a million staples so I just ripped it all down. Never got around to putting some up but don't really think it makes that big of a difference.