[68vette]

Originally Posted by Logs and Dogs

Glass covered in soot is primarily due to not burning the stove at a hot enough temperature.

The only time our glass gets cloudy with soot is a result of low and slow overnight burns with the stove temps dropping from prime burning temps of 400-550 degrees to the 200-300 degree range. Once I get the stove back up to 400+ degrees that glass clears right up in about 30mins or less. The only time I clean it off is when I clean the stove for the season, other than that we have perfectly clear fire watching all day.

I am amazed at how many people run stoves in strange ways, I'm blown away by how much smoke some people cerate in the mornings etc. Looks like a house fire on the mountain sides some mornings.

Isn't that the truth. I think some of those stoves don't have cats, so it all goes up the chimney. You couldn't pay me to use a cheap stove or one without a cat. I did that one winter and I went through so much more wood than when we went with a cat stove. The only time we get alot of smoke is when we first load the stove in the morning or after work.

[pauldorell]

We have a Jotul F3, which is one of their smaller models. It came with the house and is our first wood stove experience. Overall I'm amazed at how well it works. The house is about 2600 sq. feet, and we burn 4 cords per winter. Last winter, that plus 189 gallons of heating oil took care of all our heating. I think the stove is exceptionally well made and well designed. The only problem we've had is with the baffle. We used the stove for 2 years and the previous owner for 3, and the baffle was shot. I replaced it myself, though, and it wasn't particularly difficult.

[arctichomesteader]

A non-cat stove can be just as good as a cat stove, but it needs to be used properly. Personally I prefer not to deal with converters.

[joe moving]

I'm looking for a wood stove for a fairly well insulated home, heat loss is around 24K BTU @ -17 F and that is being generous. Any thoughts? F3CB seems to come up often. I saw it priced at local shop for $1600. I'm slightly hesitant for a stove even that big because of how well sealed and well insulated the home will be. I've heard people say that you can hardly get a real fire going if that is the case because you will heat yourself out.

One other question. I see a lot of raised hearths. Is there any reason not to just inlay a stone hearth flush with the wood floor surrounding it? I can get the long leg kit if needed to raise the stove up a little. It looks like the F100 and F3cb come with a bottom heat shield, so it can sit right on non-combustible materials.

[tkln]

Our house came with a Hearthstone stove (that we haven't used yet, long story) and it's set on what I think is a large slab of slate in the middle of the wood floor. We have a heat shield on the back, as it backs up the stair railing. I'm assuming the previous owners used it with no issues, and hope to get some good use out of it this winter. I can send you a pic if you'd like.

[joe moving]

Sure, send it over!

[wantastiquet]

Have had Vermont Castings, Hearthwood (soapstone) and Jotul. Jotul seemed to be the best one.