Happy Heat! Wood Stove Help

[EMB5530]

Hello Everybody,

The wife and I are looking at (finally) putting in a wood stove. The first stoves we looked at were Vermont Castings which are very beautiful stoves, but the headaches that it seems they can give their owners seems a bit more than I want to deal w/ especally for the price. I also looked at napolean as many owners seem to like them but, most of their stoves seem to have a smaller fire box though, still nice stoves. Also, Lopi which seem good but not anything that seems to draw me towards them besides the solid reviews.There are several others that seem to be nice stoves but after finding this certain stove I may have my mind set. It is a Jotul F50TL Rangeley this stove seems to be built like a tank! Very heavy, but relatively simple. Not a lot of fancy about it, except the top load, which I could do without, but I like the idea of throwing food up top and cooking when we lose power or when I don't feel like going out in the cold.

I guess I am wondering if anyone here has any experience w/ Jotul and more specificly the F50TL. If so tell me all about it. I would sure appreciate it.
Also, if anyone knows any other good info pertaining to wood stoves I am all ears. I grew up in a house w/ wood heat but there is always something a person doesn't know. Any info on flue setup is always good. Such as installing a flue damper or not.

Thanks all.


Here is some Technical spec
Emission:2.84 gram/hr
Heating capacity:Up to 2,500 SQFT
Approx weight:569 lbs
Log size:Up to 20 in
Flue Outlet:6 in
Efficiency:Over 84%
Flue exit options:Top and Rear
Effect Max output:83,000 btuAccessories
Ash solution:Yes

 

[MossRoad]

I'd check on the true dimensions of the inside of the firebox. Our Napoleon stated it would handle larger logs than is practical, because they measured diagonally. You can't load the stove efficiently diagonally. It didn't make a difference to me, because I try to cut 16", but it was misleading, nevertheless.

Also, when they say it will heat up to 2500 sq. ft. ( a lot of companies list stats like this ), its pretty much un-provable. It all depends on how the house is built, air flow, walls, doors, insulation, drafts.... so don't go by that number too much. I will say, that if you get a stove that is too large, and you start overheating your house, you'll have a tendency to build smaller or cooler fires which can cause problems with creosote in the chimney, small fires that don't last long, etc... its a tough balance to achieve perfectly. And if your stove is too small, you'll be working harder to keep it burning at higher temps, wasting a lot of wood and time, and might even be cold.

So take your time in your decision.

We're on our 5th or 6th year with our wood stove. I'm pretty happy. Its a nice warm heat. :thumbsup:

 

[charlz]

No experience with one but an interesting stove with front and side loading... saw a video where they were cooking kabobs in the top.... not sure if that is a gimmick or useful.

 

[bironacad]

Hello Everybody,

The wife and I are looking at (finally) putting in a wood stove. The first stoves we looked at were Vermont Castings which are very beautiful stoves, but the headaches that it seems they can give their owners seems a bit more than I want to deal w/ especally for the price. I also looked at napolean as many owners seem to like them but, most of their stoves seem to have a smaller fire box though, still nice stoves. Also, Lopi which seem good but not anything that seems to draw me towards them besides the solid reviews.There are several others that seem to be nice stoves but after finding this certain stove I may have my mind set. It is a Jotul F50TL Rangeley this stove seems to be built like a tank! Very heavy, but relatively simple. Not a lot of fancy about it, except the top load, which I could do without, but I like the idea of throwing food up top and cooking when we lose power or when I don't feel like going out in the cold.

I guess I am wondering if anyone here has any experience w/ Jotul and more specificly the F50TL. If so tell me all about it. I would sure appreciate it.
Also, if anyone knows any other good info pertaining to wood stoves I am all ears. I grew up in a house w/ wood heat but there is always something a person doesn't know. Any info on flue setup is always good. Such as installing a flue damper or not.

Thanks all.


Here is some Technical spec
Emission:2.84 gram/hr
Heating capacity:Up to 2,500 SQFT
Approx weight:569 lbs
Log size:Up to 20 in
Flue Outlet:6 in
Efficiency:Over 84%
Flue exit options:Top and Rear
Effect Max output:83,000 btuAccessories
Ash solution:Yes
View attachment 359451

Wow that's a big price. I purchased a modern air tight on sale for less the $800 and it has done a great job for last 5-8 years.

 

[Scooby074]

The Rangely has an excellent reputation. As do all the Jotul stoves.

When I was choosing a new stove in December, it was between the Jotul F600 (a pure cast iron stove)and the Pacific Energy Alderlea T6 (a hybrid steel and cast iron stove, like the Rangley).

In the end I choose the Alderlea. So far its been a great stove. My choice was mostly due to reduced side clearances, larger firebox, higher max BTU output and the fact that the Alderlea came with a free blower. You can technically cook on the top of the Alderlea, but in practice, im not sure I will, unless there is a power outage or something


Any of the stoves, Alderlea, F600 or Rangely are great units and it comes down to personal choice. Have a look over on Hearth.com for reviews and opinions on these models.

Have you seen the Jotul F55 Carabassett?

 

[peterc38]

I have the Jotul Firelight F600. Awesome stove, hard to go wrong with a Jotul. Them Norwegians know a few things about how to stay warm

I upgraded for an older waterford stove and am very happy with that decision.

 

[EMB5530]

The 55 looks great (basically the 50 without the top load) but I do like the top load feature.

Moss you are right about the log sizes that actually fit in the stoves as I went and looked at one in person yesterday and when you take a tape measure to it a 20" log would be a squeeze to get through the door. Though, like you say I usually cut 16" as that is what fits in my parents stove and the wood I cut normaly is for them.

Thanks to all!

Also, does anyone here use a damper on your flue verses just controlling your fire w/ the stove adjustment? Any difference/benefit between having a damper on your flue and not? Such as wood use, ash/coals left in stove and so forth.

 

[Scooby074]

The top load is a nice feature (one I thought Id have to have) however reading on hearth, it seems that many stop using the top load on the Rangeley and go to side load exclusively. The 55 is basically a Rangeley without the top load mechanism, which if you ever see one in person you'll see that it takes up a lot of firebox space, and is a bit of an added complication. Most people who burn for whole house heat would gladly trade top load for a larger firebox and a longer burn.

Most modern stoves dont require a pipe damper. Matter of fact it can cause issues.

If your getting lots of large coals its likely how your running the stove or more likely unseasoned wood (eek.. Im starting to sound like the guys on Hearth, if youve ever been there youll know that wet wood is one of their regular excuses for poor performance).

Wood length? 18" or better for me. I can get upto 20" into the Alderlea. I cut my last wood 16" for my old stove, and it is too short for my new and bigger box on the alderlea, so Im not getting as long of a burn time as is possible..

 

[wngsprd]

I burned a Vermont Castings Resolute stove from 1981 through last winter...extremely pleased. It developed a backplate crack a few years ago that I patched up each year and it worked fine. However, it would only take a 16" log, and got to where it didn't have much heat left in the morning. I decided to replace it this past autumn for a bit bigger and more efficient stove.

Bought the black cast iron Jotul F500 and have been loving it. It seems very solid. Takes up to a 24" log, although I usually cut at about 20". It was the right size for the area I wanted to heat, and it fit the hearth just right, using the short legs. It burns much more thoroughly so I clean out the ashes from the ash drawer, and there are no coal chunks left in the stove like the older Resolute always had. There are hot large coals or whole logs remaining each morning.

I load it from the side, rarely the front. It doesn't have a top loading door, which I must admit I miss a lot from my Resolute. This is the only negative as my knees complain sometimes when bending down to load it.

Thanks for bringing this up - you saved me $300! I had almost finished doing my 2013 tax return, and totally forgot the $300 tax credit for biomass.

Enjoy yours!

 

[MotorSeven]

EMB, as suggested I would post your question up over at Hearth.com. There are some very knowledgeable folks there that will give you a ton of info.

Before you buy a stove, you need to consider the size and layout of your house and match a stove to your needs. A damper should not be needed unless your flue has excessive draft, and even then with modern stoves they are generally not needed. Start collecting firewood and remember modern EPA stoves really require wood that has been cut split & stacked for two years to get full efficiency out of the stove. Cat stoves(I don't think this Jotul has a cat) simply will not run worth a hoot on marginally seasoned firewood. A stove with secondary burn tubes can handle more marginal firewood then a cat.

Your flue will cost as much a the stove, double wall black pipe inside the house, then double wall insulated SS pipe outside. My 24' of flue cost me about $1800 and part of that was used off Craigslist. I heat only with wood & my bill for Jan was $75...my neighbors was $270. I cut, split & stack my own firewood off my own place.