Wood stove inserts

Water stove ftw
 
Water stove ftw
I've had both and fed both for several years. Been around a couple models of each. I'm hard pressed to think it has big advantages anymore. Bigger , more complicated, heating of an extra media to squeeze it back out of a coil. Insulation, piping, chemical, upkeep, pumps yadda yadda.
Something about direct heat. Air to air so to speak. With better draft control and burn times of newer tech it just seem pointless to heat the water to squeeze it back out.

Biggest advantage to them....ridiculous size and heat bank. Can be well away from any dirt, ash, and such.
Hands down any off them consume more wood per btu in the air duct. No matter what the design the water gets the energy first.
 
I've had both and fed both for several years. Been around a couple models of each. I'm hard pressed to think it has big advantages anymore. Bigger , more complicated, heating of an extra media to squeeze it back out of a coil. Insulation, piping, chemical, upkeep, pumps yadda yadda.
Something about direct heat. Air to air so to speak. With better draft control and burn times of newer tech it just seem pointless to heat the water to squeeze it back out.

Biggest advantage to them....ridiculous size and heat bank. Can be well away from any dirt, ash, and such.
Hands down any off them consume more wood per btu in the air duct. No matter what the design the water gets the energy first.
Good to know...been wanting one ever since I saw one for the first time but interesting that you don't think they're more cost effective w/ heating the whole house and water to boot. I've had a wood stove (not an insert...just a stand alone), and hands down, nothing better IMO than heating w/ the wood [insert as many play on words as you can think of...annnndd go].
 
Good to know...been wanting one ever since I saw one for the first time but interesting that you don't think they're more cost effective w/ heating the whole house and water to boot. I've had a wood stove (not an insert...just a stand alone), and hands down, nothing better IMO than heating w/ the wood [insert as many play on words as you can think of...annnndd go].
I could show you one in opperation. And a drive and another of different type. I can also show you the aftermath of 33 years of use and chemical neglect.
Price them out, hefty investment. Open draft vs. Thermostat controlled draft helps but then the system is more complex. All of them have become a good bit involved to use and maintain. Some companies require water samples annually to keep warranty. They are great provided you feed the beast. I would only consider them in a house with a floor grid and engineered from the get go for maintenance and end use.
In our region I've come to see wood as a great supplement over a one source. Modern heating systems are very efficient and adding a wood appliance seems more as a aid.

If your considering heating with wood exclusively check out a direct duct wood furnace. Again supply of fuel is a huge factor. Look up btu by fuel source. Gas, wood, electric, and fuel oil. Surprising, fuel oil is among the highest net gain per volume. The hitch is the cost of the supply and or system efficiency.
 
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My older water stove likes the wood , but the mess stays outside ...insurance companies don't mess with you as much with a water stove outside away from the house ...instead of inside like a conventional wood stove

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I could show you one in opperation. And a drive and another of different type. I can also show you the aftermath of 33 years of use and chemical neglect.
Price them out, hefty investment. Open draft vs. Thermostat controlled draft helps but then the system is more complex. All of them have become a good bit involved to use and maintain. Some companies require water samples annually to keep warranty. They are great provided you feed the beast. I would only consider them in a house with a floor grid and engineered from the get go for maintenance and end use.
In our region I've come to see wood as a great supplement over a one source. Modern heating systems are very efficient and adding a wood appliance seems more as a aid.

If your considering heating with wood exclusively check out a direct duct wood furnace. Again supply of fuel is a huge factor. Look up btu by fuel source. Gas, wood, electric, and fuel oil. Surprising, fuel oil is among the highest net gain per volume. The hitch is the cost of the supply and or system efficiency.
I agree ,a great supplement to a heat pump ....

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So I’m gonna update this. I turned the “credit” in and got the stove from northern tool. Installed it today with a new stove liner as well.

First impression is it’s a well built stove. All the welds looked good and without the fire bricks and front door it’s over 350lbs. The fire box is smaller on my old stove and my dads newer Appalachain but it was also 1500 cheaper so I can deal with a smaller fire box. Over all fit and finish was good. Haven’t built a fire in it yet but so far It looks like it will do a good job.
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That's cute, I've been heating with wood as long as I can remember. One of my best friends works at a high end wood stove shop, they sell the good stuff. The biggest cost I've seen can be the chimney, not Included with the stove! Kinda like spending money on a 700 horse engine and putting the stock manifolds back on. I used to heat with an old fisher mama bear (love that stove), it made good heat but was a wood eater. I purchased an enerzone free standing unit then coupled it with a class a chimney (double wall stainless insulated), just as easy to use (maybe simpler), about half the wood, more heat, longer burn times. The only down side is the coal layer that will build up, when it gets real cold and you want more it turns what's covered in ash to charcoal. Takes a little getting used to on how to burn it all the way down. Send me a PM and I can put you in contact with my friend, he's not cheap but he's certified and sells quality products that shouldn't need to be replaced for decades.
 
That's cute, I've been heating with wood as long as I can remember. One of my best friends works at a high end wood stove shop, they sell the good stuff. The biggest cost I've seen can be the chimney, not Included with the stove! Kinda like spending money on a 700 horse engine and putting the stock manifolds back on. I used to heat with an old fisher mama bear (love that stove), it made good heat but was a wood eater. I purchased an enerzone free standing unit then coupled it with a class a chimney (double wall stainless insulated), just as easy to use (maybe simpler), about half the wood, more heat, longer burn times. The only down side is the coal layer that will build up, when it gets real cold and you want more it turns what's covered in ash to charcoal. Takes a little getting used to on how to burn it all the way down. Send me a PM and I can put you in contact with my friend, he's not cheap but he's certified and sells quality products that shouldn't need to be replaced for decades.

This one has a double liner that runs threw the old chimney. I know it’s a cheap stove but I don’t plan on staying in this for more than 4-5 years. I didn’t want to go with the top of the line stove and then leave it when I move.
 
I understand where you're coming from, masonry flues had a place and time, I'm not a mason, they crack over time and heat areas they aren't supposed to! The rock or brick has almost no R value! It is great as a heat sink, but it can burn down the house, the liner makes a "more leak proof" chimney. Masonry does not like big temp changes, it cracks (moisture does not help). The liner is to help make sure you wake up in the morning. IMO you have done the safest option for your family, I hope it works well.
 
So I’m gonna update this. I turned the “credit” in and got the stove from northern tool. Installed it today with a new stove liner as well.

First impression is it’s a well built stove. All the welds looked good and without the fire bricks and front door it’s over 350lbs. The fire box is smaller on my old stove and my dads newer Appalachain but it was also 1500 cheaper so I can deal with a smaller fire box. Over all fit and finish was good. Haven’t built a fire in it yet but so far It looks like it will do a good job.
d59b7abbbf69bccd5d246ca862c576db.jpg



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Updates on this? How's she burning in this cold we've had lately?

Got a fireplace in my house and really been considering putting a wood stove insert in but dang they spensive!

All my heat goes straight up the chimney so would be nice to keep some of that heat in our house and save some $ on my Duke bill. Also love heating w/ wood...nothing like it imo.
 
Updates on this? How's she burning in this cold we've had lately?

Got a fireplace in my house and really been considering putting a wood stove insert in but dang they spensive!

All my heat goes straight up the chimney so would be nice to keep some of that heat in our house and save some $ on my Duke bill. Also love heating w/ wood...nothing like it imo.

It’s going 24/7 for about a week now, I’m able to go home at lunch and put more wood in.

Got the house to hot last Saturday hall said 75 so in living room area was 80+


Still would recommend a higher end stove like the Appalachain if you plan to be there a while. My dads just seems to operate better and heat better with a smaller fire.


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It’s going 24/7 for about a week now, I’m able to go home at lunch and put more wood in.

Got the house to hot last Saturday hall said 75 so in living room area was 80+


Still would recommend a higher end stove like the Appalachain if you plan to be there a while. My dads just seems to operate better and heat better with a smaller fire.


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Is Appalachian the only manufacturer in our neck of the woods? Any others anybody knows of to look at?
 
It’s going 24/7 for about a week now, I’m able to go home at lunch and put more wood in.

Got the house to hot last Saturday hall said 75 so in living room area was 80+


Still would recommend a higher end stove like the Appalachain if you plan to be there a while. My dads just seems to operate better and heat better with a smaller fire.


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I bought the same stove some years ago and burned a lot of wood through it. The only real reason I took it out is I got a quadrafire pellet stove insert for free. That little stove has been sitting in my shed for 4 years unused but I do miss the amount of heat it would produce. Pellets are just a lot less labor intensive.
 
I bought the same stove some years ago and burned a lot of wood through it. The only real reason I took it out is I got a quadrafire pellet stove insert for free. That little stove has been sitting in my shed for 4 years unused but I do miss the amount of heat it would produce. Pellets are just a lot less labor intensive.
One thing about Drolet is their customer service is (was) top notch. I cracked a fire brick being stupid. I emailed them to get info about a replacement the exact size and they sent me an entire set for free. I wasn't expecting that.
 
Is Appalachian the only manufacturer in our neck of the woods? Any others anybody knows of to look at?
im not sure. most of the higher end stoves wont sell direct, you have to go through a fireplace store. Ironically even though they are made in Asheville there is only one place in Asheville that carries them. i believe any of the stoves that come from a woodstove/ fireplace store are going to be a step or two above what i have. it just comes with the price tag as well.

there wasnt anything wrong with the old stove i took out, besides it not sealing good and not being able to control the air getting into it, so wood didnt last as long. and i wanted more glass to see the fire, but it put a ton of heat out. i wouldnt over look a used stove if it was tight and had good damping controls and a fan built in.

youll get better performance out of one with the convertors than one without and both will preform better with a liner kit.
 
I just bought a stove from Buck Stoves in Spruce Pine. Right off the factory floor. Very nice to deal with and saved 500 bucks or so.
 
I just bought a stove from Buck Stoves in Spruce Pine. Right off the factory floor. Very nice to deal with and saved 500 bucks or so.

The one in my house is an old BuckStove 26000. The thing heats like a champ and is built like a tank. If I ever move to another house without one this is either coming with me or I will drive up there and get a new one from them.
 
The one in my house is an old BuckStove 26000. The thing heats like a champ and is built like a tank. If I ever move to another house without one this is either coming with me or I will drive up there and get a new one from them.
I bought a buck model 74. Can’t wait to get it in place. I put a new pier directly under the damn floor where it’s going just in case. Probably overkill but was easy to do.
 
If you have an insert and a full masonry chimney, where do you get the flue parts from? Single, double, or triple wall?

I'm guessing you have to remove the chimney flue and open it up for the pipe to go through. I've got the tools to do that but it seems not very reversible.

If I was going to call in a professional who's good around Fuquay?
 
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