Got my new woodstove put in today

[Happy Gilmore]

Will you get the same heat amount from an insert compaired to a stand alone stove?

I'm guessing a free standing stove would provide more heat with all radiant surfaces of the stove exposed.

 

[s219]

Yeah, freestanding stoves are hard to beat, though I have been around some inserts that come pretty close. The ones that stick out into the room 2-3 feet are pretty much like stoves to me, just with a back end that pokes into the fireplace. They can really belt out the heat.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm guessing a free standing stove would provide more heat with all radiant surfaces of the stove exposed.

I can put my bare hands on both sides and back of my freestanding stove. Can't touch the top or front. There is an air jacket around it. I'm guessing an insert has an air jacket, too, and if you put a blower on it, its probably going to get most of the heat into the room... but again, I'm just guessing.

 

[IXLR8]

I have a Vermont Castings Defiant Encore I bought new in 1986. I have been heating my present house with it for the last 10 years. Love the stove, but you can't touch any panel on it when it is running at temp. I go thru just over a cord of wood during the heating season.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Got a QuadraFire 4300 steptop installed last spring, and started using it in October to heat the house. First wood stove ever for me, and so far it's really working out well. The back and sides have shields and I can touch them even when the fire is roaring, so I think you're right about the shields, Moss. But it has a blower on a thermostat, and will heat the great room it sits in to well over 80F if I don't take care to throttle it back. A big ceiling fan there and small floor fans in the office and master bedroom door frames help move the heat into the rest of the house. I haven't used any propane for heating at all so far, and am just at the end of the first cord of oak. I've been warmer this winter than any previous, and that doesn't even count any of the cutting, bucking, splitting, and stacking My only regret is that I waited so long to install it!

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, a ceiling fan in a central room on low, pulling air UP, seems to really help circulate the heat to other rooms pretty good.

 

[s219]

Yeah, a ceiling fan in a central room on low, pulling air UP, seems to really help circulate the heat to other rooms pretty good.

When I researched this, I found direction is not so important other than comfort purposes. The fan will setup a recirculation, so when pushing air down, there will be other (slower) air moving up all around the periphery. And when pulling air up, there will be downward (slower) flow around the periphery.

Generally, the notion is to use downward flow in summer for a cooling effect, as people will feel the higher speed flow moving down over them and perceive a cooling effect. And in winter, use upward flow so as to not create a cooling effect. Other than those considerations, you can run in any direction you want and the fan will recirculate and mix the room air.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

When I researched this, I found direction is not so important other than comfort purposes. The fan will setup a recirculation, so when pushing air down, there will be other (slower) air moving up all around the periphery. And when pulling air up, there will be downward (slower) flow around the periphery.

Generally, the notion is to use downward flow in summer for a cooling effect, as people will feel the higher speed flow moving down over them and perceive a cooling effect. And in winter, use upward flow so as to not create a cooling effect. Other than those considerations, you can run in any direction you want and the fan will recirculate and mix the room air.

Best explanation I've seen, s219:thumbsup:. You'd be surprised how many describe proper fan operation by citing a particular blade rotation direction with no mention of blade tilt:shocked:. Much simpler to describe air motion so folks can just pick the fan setting to get the desired result as you describe.

For this place, down in the summer feels best, but down in the winter feels too cool even though the air up high should be warm from the stove. I've also noticed that the fan will freewheel when the stove is running, a pretty clear indicator that the air is moving on its own even if it's not moving as widely.

Now if I could just get the fan controller to stop switching on/off, speed, and direction all by itself...:confused2:

 

[s219]

I've also noticed that the fan will freewheel when the stove is running, a pretty clear indicator that the air is moving on its own even if it's not moving as widely.

Yeah, we see the same thing if we forget to turn the fan on, kind of neat to see.

 

[Country Geek]

For this place, down in the summer feels best, but down in the winter feels too cool even though the air up high should be warm from the stove.

Same complaint people have with electric heat pumps. The air that's being blown down may be warm, but if it's near or below your body temperature, it feels cool when it's blowing on you.