We had a little cold snap, teens and 20s, this last week so we’ve been burning full loads of softwood in this 2012 model princess. This princess continues to impress me year after year with the long, low burns. You need to load it full with dry fuel but 24 hour cycles with softwoods are no problem. Paint is getting a little faded, some melted parts, needed new bricks, but still performs like new.
Somehow, maybe it’s magic or related to the thermostat or maybe stronger draft due to the cold, but the burn rate seems to automatically increase when it gets colder at least enough to compensate. I use the same settings but throw a few splits in in the morning and then a full load at night when it’s really cold. The princess is usually a bit too big for my home.
Awesome to hear about the longevity you’re having with the princess. I often wonder if that’s what I should have.
The IS would probably be my non BK choice if I wanted to keep a cat stove and needed a new brand. Trouble is the IS has this weird hearth insulation requirement. The BK only requires ember protection.
