I want a wood stove.

We had a Harmon top-loading wood stove in Bailey for years. Very efficient...would typically burn for 8 - 12 hours. The top-load feature was fantastic. Not only did it make loading easy but it included a grill for cooking over your fire. Of course, the top was also flat so you could cook with a skillet on top, too. Great stove.

Pellet stoves are OK. But you won't have heat if the power goes out. You will with a wood burning stove. I didn't mind the cutting, hauling, blocking and splitting of the wood. I just hated stacking it for some reason.

We replaced an old pot-bellied stove like the one pictured above with the Harmon. It was gorgeous...but terribly inefficient. It would burn 3 or 4 logs to pure ash in a matter of minutes. The proceeds from selling it paid for a good chunk of the Harmon.

We had an energy efficient house built in 1980 using the first round of energy credits - they were substantial then.
It was a 3 BR 3 BA raised ranch with 1600 sq ft on the main floor and a double garage and about 900 sq ft on the lower level.
It had a small wood burning stove that was great for heating the great room - brick floor acting as a heat sink.
We could load about 3 18" x 6" logs and it would keep the great room warm all night and it had enough flat surface on the top to keep a kettle of water and cook using one pan at a time.
We had hot water base board heat that was solar heated during the day.
Our gas bill for the winter months ran about $30 per month.
Looking at the images on line, it looked a lot like the Harman stoves, but without the glass front.
The secret to the energy efficiency was lots of insulation and no windows to the north, a double entry way to prevent cold getting in with the doors open, passive solar windows to the south, and the brick floor as a heat sink.

I for sure want nothing to do with pellets. Like ginsue said, if I can cut wood I have fuel.

I?ve never liked forced air heat. I?d rather the house be cold and then put something on. Electric blanket, another coat etc. it?s not so much as dry as it?s just weird to me. I?m crazy so that may be why.

I ended settleding on a Blaze king today. So I?ll know more in 3-5 weeks when they can get out to install it.

Insurance premiums shouldn?t go up much. My Co said it was an add on as long as a licensed installer put it in.

Attachment 87853

You know what to do…….

Sorry, I’m not Licensed on that anymore.

FYI don’t light those hot.

Also wasn’t licensed then either…

My folks had one a their cottage in Hansville, WA that was amazing. Had a glass door and the draft kept it clean. I liked being able to watch the fire through the door. It produced a ton of heat and was efficient. If I ever find out what that was, I'm getting at least 1.