Wood Burning Stove - is it worth having

[twinjayhawks]

I am looking to add a wood burning stove to my home for backup heat. I saw one today that was a Lopi brand Leyden model that was very nice but was a bit pricey. They wanted $2600 just for the stove and another $1300 for materials to build the venting.

The reason I looked at this brand is because it can vent straight out the back (out the wall). I don't want to penetrate my metal roof.

Can anyone give me advice on what to get and if the price for the venting is reasonable?

 

[Big Bri]

i don't know a lot about them, but am having one installed in my new house.
Was quoted $4700 in stalled with two extra zones. what it does i blows heat out the front but also has vents for two other areas in the house. I'm having one plumbed into the master bedroom and the other to the return air duct for the other side of the house.
my dad paid $2500 for an insert 13 years ago with a blower so i don't think that is to bad of a price.

 

[twinjayhawks]

Was quoted $4700 in stalled with two extra zones. what it does i blows heat out the front but also has vents for two other areas in the house.

Can you tell me what brand this is so I can look it up?

 

[txdon]

Yes it is worth having, and I use mine only 3 months out of the year and it's nice. I vent out the a metal roof and it can be installed without leaking, don't limit yourself to a back vent.

Do get a a stove that you can attach a fresh air vent to and run that in from the back. You do not want your stove sucking all the warm air out. The exterior stainless steel double wall vent pipes are expensive. The prices you mention seem to be in the general area.

I ran the one below 24-7 during a cold snap (don't laugh if your from up north) when the temp stayed in the 20's for a week and never turned on the heater.


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...88-texas-fall-winter-thread-firstfire2011.jpg

 

[mattridessleds]

We have what is known as a "Russian" or "Siberian" fireplace as well as a smaller hearthstone wood stove. The Russian fireplace will stay warm for at least 12 hours after the fire has gone out. Bought the house last year and we had somewhat of a cold winter last year here couple of nights were -25 below. Used nothing but wood all winter. The smaller wood stove is good for the fall nights. Fire them both up together and I'm usually in shorts and a t-shirt. I'd say it's definitely worth it. Attached some pics.

 

[magicheater]

We have what is known as a "Russian" or "Siberian" fireplace as well as a smaller hearthstone wood stove. The Russian fireplace will stay warm for at least 12 hours after the fire has gone out. Bought the house last year and we had somewhat of a cold winter last year here couple of nights were -25 below. Used nothing but wood all winter. The smaller wood stove is good for the fall nights. Fire them both up together and I'm usually in shorts and a t-shirt. I'd say it's definitely worth it. Attached some pics.

You have the best of both worlds! I would be interested in how the flue passageways are routed in your "Russian" stove

 

[Mickey_Fx]

I am looking to add a wood burning stove to my home for backup heat. I saw one today that was a Lopi brand Leyden model that was very nice but was a bit pricey. They wanted $2600 just for the stove and another $1300 for materials to build the venting.

The reason I looked at this brand is because it can vent straight out the back (out the wall). I don't want to penetrate my metal roof.

Can anyone give me advice on what to get and if the price for the venting is reasonable?

A couple comments. Do you have easy access to fire wood at a decent price or if lucky from your own property? Reason for asking is, I'd not rule out looking at a pellet stove if qlty pellets are available. They need less tending and can go for about a day on one load of pellets. Can also attach a t-stat to help control and maintain a relatively constant temp. Free standing pellets stove typ have their exhaust out the back. Air flow is a lot less than typ found on a stick burner and at lower temp. That could have a big impact on cost of the exhaust pipe set-up. Pellet stove need a power source to run the fans and auger. My pellets stove takes <100W and I can easily handle that with my small genset.

Have a fireplace, if so, pellet stove insert may be the answer. Can run a 3" sst flex pipe up the chimney for the exhaust. Flex pipe cost in the $100-$150 range.

We love our pellet stove (insert) and can run it using 1 40# bag for 1-2 days depending upon outside temp and amount is insulation in the house.

Just something to think about.

 

[KTurner]

I am looking to add a wood burning stove to my home for backup heat. I saw one today that was a Lopi brand Leyden model that was very nice but was a bit pricey. They wanted $2600 just for the stove and another $1300 for materials to build the venting.

The reason I looked at this brand is because it can vent straight out the back (out the wall). I don't want to penetrate my metal roof.

Can anyone give me advice on what to get and if the price for the venting is reasonable?

We needed to have a repair done. One place wanted to replace from the stove up, for a couple grand, and started to talk about replacing the stove too. The second guy I called swapped out the bad piece and gave the rest a good cleaning for a couple hundred bucks.

Worth having? We didn't use the heat pump at all last winter. Had about $300 of wood I bought, and a free tree. My wife's grandmother lives next door in a smaller house and spent about $2,500 on heating oil during the same period. Her's was more convenient, but we liked having the fire, so I think that part balances out.

Keith

 

[Elcid76]

I installed a Lopi insert 20 years ago. ZERO problems. I still have the original door gasket and catalytic converter in it and it works like a charm. I use it on weekends and when I get time off in the three month Kansas winters. Generally I burn hedge, which I understand that some stoves caution against. You will never regret installing a Lopi stove.

 

[D7E]

I only burn wood because i sell firewood and i burn odd bits/offcuts/junky stuff that i cant sell myself . If i had to buy 10 cords every year oil would cost about the same and more convenient .