Drolet vs Englander vs US Stove (Brand quality)

I live in higher elevation around Tucson, AZ and I'm looking to get a wood stove for heat. Our temps are generally 50-60 for highs and lows 28-34. I know, you're probably wondering why we need heat at all... Well let me tell you, we are wimps. Our house is 1400 sq ft, with the main living area about 800 sq ft.

We are trying to get by with a lower cost stove-- less than $1,000. Long burn times are not a major priority.

The three brands that stand out are Drolet, Englander/Summers Heat, and Vogelzang/US Stove. Is there a general consensus as to what the quality of these brands is? It seems to me like Vogelzang/US Stove are the bottom of the barrel, but I don't know if they are bad enough to be disqualified.

But if it's between Drolet and Englander, which is a better design-- the tubes in the top, or without the tubes? Are there other differences?

Specifically, we're looking at the following:
Englander 13-NC
Drolet Blackcomb
Drolet Deco
Drolet Optima

All of these have a firebox around the size of 1.6 to 1.8 cu ft.

 

A follow up question-- we have tile on top of a concrete slab. Is there any reason to use a hearth pad under the stove?

 

Both Drolet and Englander are good, USSC seems a lower quality to me. Very happy with my Drolet.

 

Do you know of any difference in the design between the Englander and Drolet? I'm curious if the tubes are an advantage or a disadvantage.

 

I think what you really need to know if the efficiency of both, to hell with tubes vs no tubes. Tubes can clog, I guess I would say if they both heat equally go for the tube free model.

There are a lot of guys on here that know a lot more about stoves than I do, perhaps one of them can give you more insight.

 

Thanks Grizzly!

I thought of another question I'll throw out for everyone. My heat pump has a house fan, whose intake will be somewhat close to the stove. Do you think I can run the house fan to blow the stove heat around the house without hurting the draft? One one hand, the fan is not venting to outside so it is a closed circuit... but on the other hand, I'm sure it affects the airflow around the stove.

 

I've got the larger 30NC Englander, but I think the handle latch on the Drolet is nicer. Grizz, or HDRock could comment more on that.
No need for a hearth pad for any stove if on slab. Tile on a normal subfloor could require a pad/hearth with varying r-values, depending on the brand/model.
The tubes on mine have not exactly "clogged", but do have a slight buildup of ash every year. I've taken out a couple and cleaned 'em exactly once.
As Grizzly Adam says, efficiency will vary, but burn times will be similar, I'd guess. The E-30 is one of, if not the, cleanest burning big tube stove out there.
If we start talking about cat stoves and hybrids, things change.

 

Some have had a little success moving air that way, but I'd think unless the ducting is insulated, you'll lose some of the heat to the ductwork.
My house is about 1200, and about 1000 that we use most, so similar to yours. Long narrow ranch, for the most part.
If your layout is fairly open (like ours), use of a blower on the stove will move the heat really well.
Alternately, you could put a small fan on the floor at the other end of the house blowing toward the stove. Lowest setting is fine.
Keep those questions coming, and since I forgot.....Welcome aboard the FHC.

 

Well the puzzle pieces are falling into place now. Thanks guys.

Is installing my own chimney system a bad idea? My house is as simple as it gets-- straight up, through a single story, flat roof house. I know about the Class-A, SS, double wall, total length of 16 ft (or whatever the manual says), etc.

 

Smooth as butter.

 

Odd that I should be talking to you right now, Grizzly Adam, and Dan Haggerty just passed away.

 

What kind of attic space do you have?
Don't forget an attic insulation shield.
Like Grizz said, the Drolets I've seen had latches that were real smooth. Like buttah.

 

Stay away from the USSC stoves, i had one, porly designed and built. Made in China.

 

It's a sad thing. Great guy.

 

I've got one in the garage-- its ok for out there but not something I want to struggle with on a daily basis.

 

I can't speak from any real place of experience due to this being my first winter burning, but I do own a vogelzang stove. We stay warm, the chimney has stayed reasonably clean and the stove hasn't really had anything go wrong. For the price of it I would say vogelzang stoves aren't worthless

 

There's a ~3' gap between the ceiling and roof with some insulation. And yes, I did not forget the shield.

 

Ok, gooder......so plenty of room.
My SisIL just got a used Englander 13NC. We haven't got it put in yet, but it's been inspected and repainted. She doesn't yet have the funds for the flue install (steel roof, and I'm not gettin' up there), but maybe this spring. We can very easily do the rest.
Looking forward to your install pics.

 

At the Menards (My Nards) stores in our area they have a nice pamphlet that shows you exactly what you need for almost every installation imaginable. I would assume you could find a similar reference at your local store as well (I assume My Nards aren't in your area).

 

I pronounce that Me-nerds.
They also have an online presence for anything you might need...... http://www.menards.com I'm a big fan of looking online for info. before taking a drive, but nothing is very close to us, so..............