What we got here is a dilemma

My concern with the PH is for two reasons:
1. For the same reason why I abandoned the idea of going with a Princess; If I am going to upgrade all three stoves, it might as well provide me with the greatest possible convenience. What type of burn times would I get out of the PH during the coldest portions of the winter? Not sure since my situation is unique. But, I had the same concerns with the Princess. I didn't want to go through all of the trouble of replaces the stoves only to still be left wishing I had more control, heat, or burn times during certain portions of the burning season.

2. It would be really nice if all three stoves operated the same way, or at the very least two of the stoves being identical. This is important as it makes things easier for my wife. When she loads two or more stoves, she has a hard time remembering the controls of each stove. If I had at least two of the stoves that were identical, it would make things easier. When the progress was first in development, I had the idea of running the PH stoves. But, this fell through for a variety of reasons. But, a King, a PH, and a 30 all have different controls. And this round of stove buying is to eliminate inconveniences. Right now, each stove being different is a little frustrating for my wife when she has to run the stoves.

I am toying with the idea of searching out a used King and buying a second 30 since the 30 has such a low price on it. It wouldn't be the perfect setup, but I think it would work pretty well until I find another used King while keeping the costs low.

At least that is what my plan looks like at this point.

 

All good points.

I just think you might be surprised at the heat a PH can give you. Too bad you can't try burning one, instead of having two stoves. You might load it more frequently when really cold out, but you might very well get away with one stove other than the one in your kitchen.

I'm sure two Kings will work just fine for you.

Good luck. I look forward to continuing to enjoy your ongoing always entertaining posts.

Sorry to see you not have a chance to experience the Woodstock stoves.

 

I have forgotten the exact issues of BB house other then its big and drafty and its cold where he lives but are you saying you think the PH puts out enough heat for his entire house?

 

My heating issues have three problems; Heat loss, L-shaped floor plan, and a floor plan that is not open at all.

If I tighten the hell out of this home and throw 40-80 grand into it with new windows, doors, more insulation (where possible), and redoing the foundation of the home I might be able to get away with two stoves during the coldest portion of the winter. But, even if I was running two 4+ cu ft stoves, full blast, during really cold temps, I would still have a problem getting the heat to all the areas of the house. Two of the rooms would be 90+ degrees, meanwhile the master bedroom would still be at about 60 when things get cold.

Realistically, I should have going with a wood add-on boiler for my home, but I didn't since I didn't know enough about them, space was limited in the boiler room, and the initial cost was a lot more than the cost of one stove + installation (which is what I thought I needed when I first started this project).

 

Add on Boiler or an OWB might be the easiest and best way to go to get that heat evened out.

 

No. I thought it might well put out enough heat along with the 30 he is planning to install in his kitchen, obviating the need for three stoves. I have seen his floorplan, and believe you could circulate the heat well. There is a loop in the home - two sets of stairs - if I recall correctly.

 

I am interested in seeing what the 30 will do in the kitchen. There is no guarantee I will find a King by next winter so I might be running a Defiant/30/30 next winter.

This summer we will be doing a little more tightening in the boiler room and attic + a new front door. We also plan on pulling up some flooring in the dining room and the kitchen to see what can be done about the draft coming up from the floor.

At the very least adding a 30 will add to the convenience during the colder parts of the winter.

 

Can not do pellets yet. I do not have an area to store them at this point.

 

How about revisiting the boiler concept? If you sized it small, you would always be able to directly put the heat into the building eliminating the cost, complexity and space required for storage. Fuel for the small boiler could probably be the same as your existing stoves.

FWIW, I think two Kings on offset burn cycles is going to give you a lot of flexibility and maintain fairly stable indoor temps. I am considering the same setup but with an Apex furnace in the walkout basement serving both floors and the King on the main floor (upside down house) in support.

 

In the future, I will definitely go in the direction of an add-on boiler. Probably pellet. But, right now, that isn't happening. Buying another 30 until I find two used kinds will only be a few hundred dollars, which I can sell later.

Two used Kings will probably cost me $1500-2500 depending upon location and selling price. Minus what I can get for the two VC stove ($500-700)

This is a lot cheaper than buying an add-on boiler right now.

 

Heard that and you already have the distribution setup which I would have to add. I was convinced a boiler was in my future but I think I am $20K ahead with the Apex/simple duct system concept. It also still keeps most of the mess for most of the heating season out of the main living space. I've also become a big fan of the simplicity/flexibility of the big steel box with a cat on top. Pellets...bah

 

SAY NO TO BLOWERS!!!!!!!!!

The blower will burn more wood, not less.

 

Sometimes that is the goal. If you need more output from your stove, why is this a bad thing?

 

I don't know much about them, but the boiler sure seems like the solution in the long run. Only one "stove" to mess with, and the ability to get the heat where you need it more easily. Probably not as much fun as running stoves, though.

That's why the IS seems like a better answer to me than the 30, the added cost and having to fab the blower notwithstanding. Less wood consumption is worth time and money, too....

 

I use and need a blower to heat my house as it is a large open area.

 

Even if I had a free-stander at my MIL's house, I'd still need a blower (or floor fan system) to aid the natural convection since the stove is at one end of the house and the layout is cut up. At my place ('open area') I don't need a blower as the heat moves well and I can feel the radiation from the stove, which increases the comfort level above what the actual room temp is.

 

I can feel the heat from my stove also but I still need the blower, I have ceiling fans but it still moves the heat away from the stove better.

 

If we stay in this house, it will be a pellet boiler with the three stoves staying in place.

If it came with a blower, I would already have my deposit in. I can not go into this under the notion that I can fabricate a blower onto the stove. We haven't seen the heat shield. We don't know how it attaches.

The 30 has a blower and it works. The setup will be King/King/30 as oppose to King/King/Steel.

 

And how did you come up with that?

The blower extends the life of the burn cycle. It does not shorten it.