Why We Switched Our Wood Stove And Why You Might Have To As Well!

[@ycplum7062]

Just a suggestion should you find yourself in another record winter storm. Camp around the stove and hang blankets in front of corridors and doorways to keep the heat in a smaller area. Ideally, you camping space stays warm, but the rest of the house stays above freezing to prevent pipe freezing. You will also burn less wood, requiring you to feed it less often.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Yep. We did that when I was a kid.

[@darisanshanger1616]

I love the feel of wood heat! It’s just so different and seems to provide a different type of warmth

[@CountryLivingExperience]

So do I.

[@mlb6d9]

It does - it's a penetrating heat! I can run my furnace all day and still never achieve the level of warmth my stove provides, especially with a big pot of water on it. Plus, my furnace won't put me to sleep on the couch like my stove will ;-)

[@tonyt.5316]

I live in a big city. Probably one of the only people that’s 100% wood heat and I never paid for firewood. Usually comes to me for free after people see my woodshed and need to cut a tree down. Saves them money from the tree guys and I get free bucked rounds. The 27T splitter does the rest.

[@surf6009]

Oh, a woodstove 5 minute video! Ok . I'll watch it. Stunned. I had no idea even the firewood was bigger in Texas!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Lol! Yep, everything is bigger in TX.

[@gibblespascack1418]

The fire wood appears to be made for fireplaces and camp fires. You should be able to specify the length when you order your firewood if you order it in May of the year. I preferred to season it over the summer to make sure that the processor did not leave it in a huge pile all summer thinking that it is properly seasoned. @@CountryLivingExperience

[@austinjohnson4890]

@@CountryLivingExperience That's what I was going to say lol! Why aren't you making wood you don't have a forest?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@austinjohnson4890 I don't have burnable species of trees. Only pine and sweetgum.....both garbage for burning.

[@tonyt.5316]

You’re right. I have a small Lopi downstairs that I just use a couple times a year, and a medium regency upstairs that’s on all winter. Huge difference in the amount of wood used. The medium stove is much more efficient and still has coals in the morning.

[@dizzysdoings]

I'm a 62 yo woman and I heat with wood. I'm fortunate enough to be able to get the majority of my wood for free. And yes, I cut and split my own wood. While I can fit an 18" piece of wood in the stove, I prefer 14". It's easier for me to handle and I can put it in the stove in any direction. The 18" only goes in in one direction, and it's hard for me to fill the stove using them. Right now, I need to replace the gasket, so it's burning quicker than it should. But the stove normally has enough coals in the morning to restart the fire.

[@denverbasshead]

Got a Lopi evergreen installed last year. Absolutely love it. Get about 8-10 hour burns at night. We didn't have much wood cut last year, just scraps from our neighbors who sell firewood. it was sort of a impulsive purchase, wanted to get one before prices went up more. Have close to two cords stacked for this year, going to try and heat full time this winter. South Central KY here

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Good luck with your first year burning wood.

[@denverbasshead]

@@CountryLivingExperience it's been going great! Haven't turned on the furnace once!

[@magnumtreefalling6400]

Dude, cut your own firewood. For me paying for firewood nullifies the savings

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Dude, I have no trees or public land to cut trees.

[@denverbasshead]

Have you been to Texas? There's very few trees there

[@judycharl1173]

Not everyone has access to trees to cut or may not e physically able to do so. It’s great for those that are able to cut their own, but not everyone is that fortunate.

[@bayside6207]

Not if you pay only $200 a cord like I do and that's Hardwood. You factor in the cost of maintaining your equipment, gas to go out there come back, all that time energy, at that point you're breaking even at least at the cost that I'm getting it at and no I won't tell you my source. I'm good paying the two.

[@brandocommando4459]

I literally just grabbed a cord and a half for 100$. If I wanted the janky pieces (doesn't stack properly)he offered it to me for 40$ a cord. Wood isn't that expensive in the country. Definitely better than using electric

[@brucecranford0824]

This is our first full year heating with wood. We purchased a Pacific Energy Alderlea T6 due to its size (largest we could find). We live in PA so not too crazy cold here usually. We’re still learning the process but are really enjoying it. We’re are seeing that the construction of the house has a huge impact on how you heat. Our house has 6” walls and 16” of insulation in the attic. At the start of the season, we only had to have 1 fire in the morning. 4 pieces of wood. It’d raise the temp in the house to about 72-74. Then the house would hold that all day/night and it’d be about 65-68 in the morning. It’s colder now but we’re only burning about 8 pieces of wood a day. Not sure if that is typical or not.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

An energy efficient house will certainly help with wood consumption. We have an older construction that is not tight at all. I don't think your experience is typical. Most homes are not well insulated and very drafty. You found a gem of a home.

[@royjohnson465]

@@CountryLivingExperience ~Check out “Blaze King” wood stoves. EFFICIENT CLEAN BURNING “CATALYTIC TECHNOLOGY” and also Super Efficient & Eco-Friendly, consumes 30% less wood while utilizing a built in thermostat to control your heat output for up to 40 hours on a single load of wood.

[@BvictoryforChrist]

I live in pa as well and this is our fifth winter using wood stove as primary heat in a trailer that has been remodeled inside but the belly is open in quite a few areas and we burn about 10-15 PCs a day as shown in this video but that heats half our house with no duct work, just a chimney through the roof and for now we use a space heater in the other half until we can afford to do the second wood burner we plan on putting in this spring. We plan to only have 1 small electric heater in the back of our house to keep our furthest room from the heat warm plus the hallway to it. I will never go back to gas or electric only heat. I get the majority of my wood for free, and what I do buy is seasoned and cheap. It sounds like you definitely have a very air tight house. Drastically helps with heating and cooling.

[@platonkavvadias8541]

What is your square footage?

[@brucecranford0824]

@@platonkavvadias8541 We are 4100 sf not including the basement.

[@attitudeadjusted9027]

Put a damper in your flue and you'll burn way less wood. Keeps heat from going up the chimney. Also look at your flame because new stoves have ports that draw air from the bottom up to the pipes in the top of stove and if it's really flaming with all the dampers shut then your drawing to much air and it will burn your wood up fast. I tucked Steele wool in the ports at the bottom and cked flame. I kept putting it in till I got the desired flame and now our wood last all night easily. Just saying.🙏

[@chasidywinkler7732]

Thanks for that info, I have a brand new stove with secondary burn. I will Deff be doing that, if my stove has the intakes under it

[@joesinakandid528]

Just also sayin' - steel wool burns easily with just a small spark or a small flame. Try it - holding it in pliers, of course and touching the bottom of the ball with a Bic's flame.

[@attitudeadjusted9027]

@@joesinakandid528 yes it does. I carry it and a nine volt battery in my truck for fire starter. Where I put it in my stove is no where near any flame.

[@johncritch6812]

New epa certified stoves do not require a damper they completely shut down. Read t he manual

[@davefarley4318]

Yep. Reinvent the wheel. Works much better as a triangle. Just as the fed wants to ban gas stoves.

[@sandrahoffman1958]

We purchased a Quadrafire SP? Wood stove fourteen years ago for our three thousand sq. Ft. Brick home and are so pleased we did. It handles up to twenty four inch logs that burn sooooo long. Have mostly oak and hickory on our forty acres.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice! I would love some burnable wood on my property. I have a few oaks but I can’t really bring the down. The rest is loblolly pine and sweet gum, both terrible for burning.

[@burrowsal]

I did the same thing. I live off grid in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and heat with wood. I sold my smaller stove and went with the bigger stove. Love your hat! Go Green!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Very cool! Go White!

[@MikeS-7]

You are in serious as snow country. Enjoy.

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

My wood stove is being installed today, I’m so excited to get home and see it. It was delayed months.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome!!

[@jp1419]

What kind did you go with and are you happy so far?

[@jaygee2187]

I have a drolet as well, quite happy with it. It’s common here in Canada to heat with wood, and seeing the situation unfold as it did last spring I put in the wood stove to have options should the price of propane rise (and it has). I used about 6-7 face cords last year, mix of mostly ash with some maple and cherry. Loading up the stove at 10 pm kept the house warm all night, and the furnace usually wouldn’t kick in until about 4-5 am (thermostat @ 68* F) even when outside temps were regularly below 0* F. Burn ash during the day, save the maple for overnight. Placement of stove matters - place where prevailing winds come from, push the heat through the house.

[@joesinakandid528]

A "Face Cord" is a stack 4 x 8 feet x 16 inches . A Real Cord is 4 x 8 x 48 inches --- Three times as much. Firewood sellers often choose to confuse buyers so that they can swear that they '...sold the customer "A" cord of firewood".

[@markbsb7176]

@@joesinakandid528 Yup I learned that the hard way.

[@Lefishn]

My Drolet Legend 3 will burn wood for good 10-12 hours and have coals that will reignite logs around 14-16 hours later. Surprised you say yours only burns wood till barely morning after filling so late at night

[@Lefishn]

My Drolet Legend 3 will burn wood for good 10-12 hours and have coals that will reignite logs around 14-16 hours later. Surprised you say yours only burns wood till barely morning after filling so late at night

[@crispychicken2743]

This why I got a side loader . I can put in 22 inch logs. The stove was built in 1973 it was my fathers stove I got when he past away. It's the best stove i have ever had. All steel and glows red . Keeps my whole house heated at around 75 . Has automatic fans and self adjusted air intake . Get an older stove from the glory days of real stoves

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That’s awesome. The old stoves are better for sure.

[@ronsmith6233]

Amen, Been using 1970 model Buck for 40 years. can't beat it for heat output.

[@crispychicken2743]

@@ronsmith6233 will never go new . To much safety crap .

[@jeremydunlap2511]

I live in Illinios. Kind of funny to hear people in Texas giving fireplace advice lol! All great points!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks. I used to live in Michigan. It was -2° for several days here in TX two years ago. Most winters are in the 20's.

[@MDR-hn2yz]

I’m in upstate New York. We burn wood 5-6 months a year. I process 6-7 cord a year and I an currently 2 years ahead. It’s basically like having money in the bank for people here. Investing in a quality stove is huge. Buying a cheap stove from your local farm supply store is not the way to go. I would also say that not using properly seasoned wood is another big mistake. I like mine to be at least a year old, and 2 is better. My neighbor for example cuts his wood in the summer and then wonders why it won’t burn in November. I would also tell people considering wood heat that it’s not cheaper or free heat. Some people have this misconception. It can be. But it also might not be. For example I have access to forest that I can cut on, I have a tractor, splitter several chain saws and I know what I am doing with everything. Wood heat is very cheap for me. That said, if I were starting out fresh and had none of those things, and i have to pay for firewood delivery because maybe I don’t have a pickup truck, wood can become expensive quickly. I see this with people moving out into the country a lot.

[@danielleterry2331]

When that storm hit 2 years ago I never lost power, my family in Houston not so lucky , but all the reason I bought a 2020 epa mobile home certified stove just in case plus the power bill just keeps going up so any savings and personal safety I am in for , prices for someone to install? Astronomical so saving myself 1300.00 by doing it myself I live in Somerville TX our winters usually are other states early fall or early spring but when it drops down to 2f we don’t have snow removers or salt trucks and no one has a clue how to drive in those conditions or even have chains on their tires ( I do because I was a trucker for 16 years) thanks for vid now I need to read instructions on what size logs it takes and when I order ask them to cut to the size I need. At 60 I am not going to be cutting or splitting instead order enough to fill my woodshed and down here I should have enough for any emergency

[@hermancm]

I have the same stove and it’s my second Drolet and the pronunciation is drole-ay, the t is silent and they are made in French speaking Quebec Canada. I live in NW Wisconsin where it gets cold (5 above tonight on Black Friday evening) and good firewood can be scrounged for free here so it’s what I do, I cut it and split it myself. I only burn a cord of wood and a lot of smaller scrap wood to heat try small home each winter that I find here and there (like mower crates and broken pallet wood I.e.) that I collect and put into bins for the winter. Wood heat is wonderful 😊

[@NewLightEnergy]

We do a 500degree hot burn once per week on our Andrelea T5. We do a sweep every spring and our pipes have a super low level of build up on the pipe walls. On the Andrelea we make sure we clear the tray that sits at the top of the box inside as it can build up an ash layer that will highly restrict your air current of the box. Nothing like wood stove. Plus we burn poplar tree from our own property just from yearly tree maintenance.

[@ironleatherwood1357]

Great video! Thanks for not saying the government regulations made me do it. God bless

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks

[@MrJagbolet]

you can buy inertia stoves that keep the heat for a long time. its slower to get hot, but once its hot its stays hot! some can produce heat for 12hrs! allowing you to sleep without reloading wood. you also habe kits to capture heat from the fumes of a standard stove. its worth checking out if you i plan to use a stove for heating.

[@mrpad0]

As you spoke it became more of a relief as to why you changed your stove. I have to add that most people realize they need a stove that is appropriate for the space size they need to heat from the get go, and don't need to buy a new stove for a mistake they didn't make! I am assuming that this new stove of yours is a double burner (at least) or uses a catalytic converter for a more efficient slow burn?

[@frodrickfronkensteen9241]

Just found your channel. I'm west of you (S.E. of Sherman). You bought my stove, man! Ha! And yes, our Drolet saved our behinds last February. We DID lose power... 3+ days. But the Drolet kept 2700 sq.ft. at a comfortable 60 degrees (no frozen pipes). No power, no circulation... just HOT radiant heat. Excellent channel. Wish I had funds for a high tunnel... and a thousand other things. Looks like we're getting down to it...

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. We surely are getting down to it. Love the new stove for sure. It is awesome. That little stove did save our butts during that winter storm but it was exhausting feeding it.

[@smokey4343]

I have an old TSC wonderwood stove that will work with 27" sticks of wood... It works fine in my 1400 sq ft of heated house.. And it keeps a fire overnight easy with good firewood... And it has a spring loaded dampener that closes if the heat gets too high..

[@kvandy1340]

You hit right on the reason I wish I would have gotten a bigger stove - getting up at 5am to feed it. I wish I would have bought a bigger one that held more wood that I could damper down for a 10 hour burn.

[@kvandy1340]

Please do a follow up video! I want to know after one Winters use if you were able to sleep all night without getting up to feed the stove and if you are glad you switched to a larger stove!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

We were able to get through the night. It was a bit chilly in the morning but still about 63°.

[@Aceman597]

Just upgraded to a larger new wood stove for barn garage. I went to a 3200 sqft stove. So nice to fill a few times a day . Burns more efficient. Same with my house my stove. lasts the night but nothing like the new garage stove. Going to upgrade the house stove as well. So basically aways oversize the stove. You can always put less in .

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice! Yep, over sizing is best.

[@martinschulz9381]

There always seems to be different schools of thought...large pieces vs small pieces. I don't even know where the argument is. My stove has a big burn box and I also like burning large pieces. Less splitting and without question much longer burn times. Fill the stove up with small pieces and they will burn like cardboard. I wait until the large pieces are down to hot coals, stir and break them up well and then throw another large piece on.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Only issue I had was the small stove was way too tiny to burn nice normal large logs.

[@joannac9244]

Up in canada, I switched out the newer stoves for old cast ones, found they work way better than the new ones with no chimney dampers.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The old stoves work better but are less efficient in their wood consumption. That said, I would still rather have an older one.

[@joannac9244]

I found once reseal the old cast I use less wood then the new main reason got rid of new they burn the wood faster. Kept the one soapstone stove but compared to a 100 year old trash burner that has 4 dampers on it, it wins hands down uses almost half of the wood than the soap stone which only has one damper for for cold air intake to either have fast or slow burn. But ya got to know how to use em right, I fill it around 8pm and by 8am still nice bed of hot coals, vs soap stone it won't last have to fill it again 2am. Don't have hardwood mostly soft woods in my area, you having oak that would be down right awsome. Most people are surprised when I tell them. But lots of people get rid if the oldies cause insurance won't tough ya if use old stoves, I never used a steel stove so not sure how they work for efficiency wise for how long the burn lasts

[@stevecooper8121]

Get some osage orange wood, move the air around the stove with a squirrel cage fan I can heat my whole 2100 square foot home with a 2000 country hearth stove in the basement, even down to temperatures of 10 degrees outside. I use cut offs from the lumber mill that are oak, hickory, maple, cherry. Cost me 25 a pick up load with a camper shell on the bed.Five loads usually last all winter.

[@70washington]

We have a 3.5 cubic foot firebox, it can fit pieces of wood up to 22" long going strait in, not side to side. I Love big pieces of wood, being I can only fit 2-3 maybe 4 in the fire-box at max, I like big pieces. The longest fire I have gotten out of mine with Doug Fir is 16 hrs with enough coals left to stoke it and get it back up to temp. Dry well seasoned wood is a must! I would really like to get some oak, walnut or other wood for the shoulder seasons. If you can dry the wood just right you can burn a lower temp fire for even longer...IF you do it right And if it is around 40-50 outside for over night temps, the shoulder season works best...40 years burning wood has never steared me wrong yet. Slow cooked foods, stews, chili, roast and soups ontop the stove is real nice. And you are correct at needing alarger wood stove then the square feet of you home.. we used a wood stove that was rated for 2500 square feet in a home that was 1500 square feet..Go larger every time or at the very minimum put in adequate insulation, then you may beable to down size the stove.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Absolutely! Thank you for sharing.

[@70washington]

@@CountryLivingExperience Hope you and the family enjoy the new stove!!! May it keep you warm for many many years to come. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@70washington Thank you. Merry Christmas

[@Maine307]

Great video, great learning points, and more people need to think like you do in this video! well made ! I heat with wood only, with my 1980s dutchwest airtight cat wood stove (I inherited from my older brother when i built my house ).. 4 cords a year.. airtight.. but we have a huge wood industry, and my local firewood guy, ensured he measured my stove for the right size.. no extra charge, i order every summer.. wood stoves are the greatest tool if you take care of it and learn the working of the stove.. my biggest curve was learning the " banking" technique. for overnight... 8 hrs.

[@Maine307]

PS the more you use it, make sure you schedule a 3 month mark to clean the walls... have a wipe down party..every 3 months..

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. I appreciate it. It is surely an amazing tool. It saved our butt last February when that storm hit Texas.

[@eatwhatukiii2532]

I’m also in Maine and heat primarily with a plain little ol’ boxwood style stove. Not the best design but it heats the entire downstairs 900 sq feet. I’d like to get one of these modern stoves but I also use mine for cooking during power outages, and most have these tiered style tops, leaving no room for more than a coffee pot, certainly not enough room for a cast iron skillet or lobster pot!

[@hubster4477]

My pipes are under the house, a heating source on the living floor wont save the pipes. The furnace ducts run beneath the floors and also help heat the water pipes. So if it gets real cold i need the furnace to save the pipes, but normally i run wood heat 80% and the furnace 20% .

[@victoryfirst2878]

I can tell you that a secondary burn stove will keep you for loading the stove every two hours. Buy an old stove to hundred dollars off season and install secondary air tubes and you will be able to sleep ten hours straight. The wood will first burn the smoke and gasses and then the coal that are left. Haw been working for me for years fella. Hope that helps you Sir. Peace

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@oimissed1292]

I agree secondary burn is the key to making it last longer I have found with wood stoves the more expensive ones do have better features

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@CountryLivingExperience Find secondary burn on KZbin and you will be pleasantly surprised as to the great idea this is for sure. Also, you will not be cleaning your chimney for years. Over eight years and chimney is creosote free. There is no blue smoke just some water vapor the exits the top of the chimney. Most of the time just heat vapor rises. The cats meow for sure.

[@bobcole3852]

The Drolet 1800 has secondary burn tubes installed. I have the same stove. Mostly burn 3-4" diameter wood, still have embers the next day.

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@bobcole3852 You also got way more heat output from the wood burned with this feature. Especially if you burn wood that is really seasoned with under five percent moisture content. The chimney pipe is literally creosote free.

[@timothywilliams1359]

I'm a native Oklahoman, now living in Ohio for the past 30 years. I replaced an older wood stove with an Osborne stove about 10 years ago. It prefers 16" logs, but can take longer ones if I angle them in. I am surprised you had to feed your older stove every couple of hours. I can load the stove, turn down the thermostat, and get a burn of at least 6 hours. I burn all kinds of wood: black cherry, oak, maple, locust, and even some very seasoned pine and spruce. Most of it I cut myself, but I do purchase a lot, as I burn 5 cords a year, at least. Even with all this, we still have to burn at least one 275-gallon tank of heating oil in the oil furnace. It is COLD here!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Certainly cold in OH. I grew up in Michigan. When burning in the small stove, i could not keep the temp up if I set the intake air control lower. It had to be set high to heat the space and keep it hot enough to prevent a large amount of creosote buildup. I was burning oak.

[@brandonrichardson5123]

After there’s a bed of coals I put in a dry stump or two standing upright that is the maximum size of the firebox. Let it ignite turn the damper way down and it’ll burn all night. Plus they’re the easiest firewood you’ll make it’s just one cut with the chainsaw.

[@denisestarr2314]

I have the same stove as the old one . I cut my wood in half . What ever ...

[@crispychicken2743]

P.s. My stove is a Nightingale stove that was manufactured in Massachusetts . Have all the paper work and stamps .

[@HealerLady267]

I am building a shipping container home. I’ve been reading the comments to find out what you had versus what you upgraded to. Please advise.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

We had a WoodPro (they are out of business now). We upgraded to a Drolet Escape 1800

[@sonsofliberty3081]

I cut mine to 12in so i can put them in the opposite way. The box is 21in long, but 14 deep. I find it burns long if I stack it full with the smaller ones. I also try to save locust for jan, feb. Sometimes December. Always try to get a stove that's raitied 2x larger than your house. If your home is 1200ft, get a 2k ft. If it’s 2k, yous probably be fine with a 3k ft.

[@WomenLivingTorah]

Congratulations on the larger stove & more sleep on cold nights! 😊 haha A little tool I can recommend from our experience is a thermometer made for wood stoves that is installed right on the chimney pipe. They’re only about $50, and most chimney sweeps should have the exact drill bit size to install the thermometer (so you don’t have a hole too big that lets out smoke). It’s really helpful because it helps you to know ‘how hot’ to keep your stove burning (so as to eliminate or reduce creosote)- while also helping you to know if your stove is getting ‘too hot.’ Our first two years, our chimney was clogging a lot. Turns out… user error. We weren’t burning the chimney hot enough. Haha Turns out, it should be so hot we’re opening windows up. Haha (We had a pretty big stove.) After we installed the thermometer, we didn’t have one clog for the next several years that we had it. Haha And the ‘red zone’ was super helpful, too! When you start expecting to build a really hot fire, sometimes it’s built a little *too well, haha. Or, one year, we had REALLY nicely seasoned wood that burned so hot. We learned we couldn’t do a whole stove full with that wood. And last, but not least, it’s so convenient for cooking! 😛 I always knew exactly how hot the stove was when I wanted to cook something on the top. Now that we’re moved back to Texas (from North Idaho), one of our first steps when renovating the home on our property is a wood stove! (That fun project begins after we finish reestablishing the garden/farm set up. Nearly done!) There’s absolutely nothing that compares to the warmth of wood heat!! Happy fire building!! 😃

[@joea104]

Could I bother you to provide a link where i could get this ? My wife and I built a barndominium house and we have central heating and ac but now I am wanting a backup plan incase we lose power/to save on our electric bill. It will be my first time purchasing a wood stove so im trying to learn about all the precautions and what to buy. Thank you in advance

[@joesinakandid528]

@@joea104 Any hardware store in the US that has "Wood Stove Stuff" section has them. Ace Hardware here in Northern Idaho often is a tenant in the larger supermarkets and they have them. Expect to walk away with a HIGH percentage of Raquel's $50 dollar one that she boasted about.

[@whatnotzone6866]

All good points you just made. I'm looking at installing a wood burning stove in our small 1000 square foot home. Having limited room for a larger wood stove I was looking at one like you removed in this video. The more I think about it all I'm leaning towards a outdoor wood burning system. Very expensive to get into place but I believe in the long run its a superior option. Any thoughts and comments about such a system would be welcome and appreciated.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I looked at those systems. I think they are very cool but were out of my price range. We also don't live in an area that would really warrant that type of system. If you are in the north, it may be a very good option. I think Drolet makes a wood furnace for a basement too.

[@jaygee2187]

I like having the wood stove in the house. It provides a nice light all night, so even if the hydro goes out you can still see, plus you can always heat water, food, even bake bread on it with a Dutch oven. You wouldn’t need a very big stove at all for 1,000 sq. ft. Admittedly I don’t know much about the outdoor systems, although they are common here. Do you need electricity to pump the heat into the house? If so, do you have a reliable/self-sufficient form of electricity?

[@whatnotzone6866]

@@jaygee2187 Living in middle America we typically get the weather whiplash temperatures. Warm to cold, cold to freezing, and cold to warm all winter. I would like the wood stove to be there for some ambiance for sure. Primarily to supplement propane heating. Then if needs be for primary heating. A small wood stove even in my small house might not cut it without Propane during those times of deeper prolonged cold. You make a great point about needing electricity to power the heat pump in those systems. Over the past winter we were warned about temporary brown outs due to high power demands from the very low temperatures. Fortunately in my area it didn't happen. Propane or gasoline powered generator would be needed as a backup to run the heat pump on a outdoorsystem. I don't know if solar could be used, I don't see why not. But solar and cloudy winter skies probably isn't good to rely on. There are pros and cons to all the systems. Cost is a big one when it comes to the outdoor wood burning stove. I appreciate your comments.

[@jaygee2187]

@@whatnotzone6866 we have the lake effect here, so temp. warms up when wind blows more from south, but when wind blows from North the cold gets really cold. If the lake (Huron) is more frozen the temp. gets more steadily cold. A little info. for you. I have a 1,600 sq. Ft. House with a crawl space. Last winter (not as cold as typical) I started the wood stove early December and used it ‘till spring. I burned wood all day and loaded up at night. The propane furnace would typically kick on at between 3-5 am and by 6:30 am I would be burning wood again. (I like it that way because plumbing and furnace duct work both run through crawl space, so it stays warm as well). I burned about 7 face cords last year in a small 800-1,600 sq. Ft. Drolet wood stove. Colder temps. and higher winds actually seemed to help the stove burn hotter. The warmer temps meant keeping the primary air open longer just to get the temp. up, but then we opened a window just to let the heat out again.

[@charleswidmore5458]

@@whatnotzone6866 just wait until millions of electric cars need to be charged on that same grid in addition to the normal running at capacity situation.

[@MrStiggy77]

Pulled up this video because I am stoked about getting my woodstove for my homestead in Arkansas. Left Texas for Arkansas to get a homestead, but, it is nice to see another Texan sporting sparty. Go Green!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Go White!

[@skyopening6212]

That’s Michigan, not Texas…

[@barrellcooper6490]

Had a Vermont castings parlor stove, could easily take a 24" log. It also had a wood loading door on the side. You can't buy that stove new unfortunately. It was a product from the energy crisis days in the 70s. It had an excellent air control system that let control the burn rate and not overheat the space. It would easily burn overnight with the damper set low. Damper open and closed based on temperature it sensed. Purely mechanical.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I would love to find one of those.

[@saddleridge4364]

I bought a Drolet 2000 3 years ago, I love it!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome. I am happy with it so far.

[@michaeld2662]

I burned wood for heat for years with Jotul fireplace insert installed in a converted open fireplace. That was the second best thing I did. The very best thing I ever did was change that out for a Jotul gas fireplace insert. No more wood sourcing, hauling, splitting, stacking, carrying in, cleaning out ashes. That all takes lots of time even if it is sometimes enjoyable. Now it's just a push button for instant fire and heat is heat regardless how it's generated. I just figured if anything happened to me, my wife would not be able to continue burning wood, she's not strong enough to do all the work required.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Gas is easier but can be expensive.

[@trevino37]

I have the extra large Drolet HT2000 in a 1100 sq ft bi level home. The first floor is 550sq ft and the stove does fine nor does it run me out the house due to excessive heat, as many would say.....

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome

[@wobdeehomestead]

Lots of great wood stoves out there. Drolet is a good bang for your buck stove. Good quality and priced right.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It has been perfect for us.

[@JR-3030]

Any issues with your home owners insurance covering this? I want to put one in my garage but have heard they wont cover if you have a loss do to fire.

[@timsimmons1934]

What is the stove you bought I know it was a droplet but they have different names for each one thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It is the Drolet Escape 1800

[@neilandrew1685]

Im an HVAC installer. I will NOT install heat pumps in any cold region if its the only heat source. Your situation is the exact reason why. They do not work in the cold.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

What about mini-splits? They are heat pumps. I actually replaced my 3-ton with mini splits and they worked down to -2°F.

[@spiritcomics5709]

In my area they will cut the wood to your size 12to14 14to16 or whatever. I originally had a drolet wood stove but smoke would pile out the door every time I opened the door so I found out it was recalled and they replaced it with a napoleon. I hope the fixed the issues with the drolet I actually really liked the look of the stove but I couldn't deal with the puff of smoke and rushing to add wood so I could close the door.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is nice you have someone who will custom cut wood for you. Around here they tell you to take a hike. My Drolet works perfectly. Zero smoke out the door.

[@billyyoung5308]

Well I guess those with smaller stove are stuck cutting it down like you were doing. I think you get more wood by getting shorter lengths as the longer wood causes more air space in the truck box my brother tells me and he has worked in that industry all his life. I can't go more than 16 inches so I get it cut 14 to 16 . But either way I agree and wish I got the bigger stove it's a napoleon 1100 overall I'm happy. Good to hear drolet fixed that issue they make some really nice wood stoves.

[@aurora04444]

Here in Maine, they ask us what size we want our wood. I use 16 inches and love a firebox that allows North South loading.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool. You have better suppliers up there than we do then.

[@aurora04444]

@CountryLivingExperience , we burn a lot of wood in wicked cold Maine Winters. And there are lots of people selling wood, so they need to be competitive. My guys even split the wood thinner for me, as I don't have a ton of hand strength. Thinner split wood is lighter and easier for me to pick up, load in my arms. I have 6 cord split thin in my driveway.

[@mpccenturion]

24/28 inch stove. I cut my own! and cut logs for a single log night. Well - 2 or 3 logs per night - and have coals in the AM.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice. Wish I could cut my own....nothing really here to cut.

[@i.r.wayright1457]

I started burning fire wood in the late 1970s. It is a Fire View, like a barrel stove only heavy, with a fold down door so you can watch the fire. It loads from the right end. I built it into a concrete block and mountain stone partition. It looks like a conventional fireplace from the front and there is a heat jacket built on the back with a small fan. The fan quit so I modified it by putting duct work up to an old furnace circulating fan mounted to the ceiling, which blows through the heat jacket, then alongside the flue pipe and into the existing heat ducting for the oil furnace. The fan is controlled by a thermostat. It also has a cold air return from the floor above (very important). So it does require loading every two hours or so but when burning during the day, all that masonry mass warms up too, and radiates heat after the fire goes out. To show you how effective this set up is, I once went 9 years without buying fuel oil. The heat is evenly distributed throughout both floors. I am sitting here at 71 degrees and it is 18 outside.

[@springhollerfarm8668]

I have a large Ashley type wood furnace in the basement with a 24 in box and it is my primary heat source all winter. One thing that your kind of stove does not have that I find to be a necessity is an ash drawer under the firebox grates. How do you remove the ashes without either letting the fire go out or losing your coals you need to restart a new fire? I have never had one of that type so I honestly don't know but it seems it's gotta be a hassle no matter how you do it. That said, mine is a wood eating monster and yours likely doesn't use much.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Mine has an ash drawer.

[@bluyetiinc7553]

Thanks for sharing. I may have missed it, but was is the make and model, and how is it working out?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. It is a Drolet Escape 1800

[@jimzeleny7213]

I load the wood at 90 degrees to the way you are showing here. Less likely to roll out onto the hearth when refueling.

[@jeffreyseiler7085]

shopping for stove, which model did you go with for the new and what was your old one? thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Old one was a WoodPro 1500. New one is a Drolet Escape 1800.

[@jusinburton5286]

I have that stove in a 1500sq/ft house in northern TX. Huge mistake, it cooks out the house like a sauna. How has it performed for you?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Ours is perfect. Heats incredibly well. We have not been cooked out at all.

[@ronsmith6233]

Don't you think you should fire-it-up before touting it's glory? That heater may work in Texas, but I live in northern Illinois and I haven't found any of the new EPA stoves that will do as good a job as an old Buck stove. Heats my 2600SF home with very little effort. Burns all night

[@CountryLivingExperience]

No. Lol. I am touting its glory because of my experience with the smaller one...in Texas.

[@MikeS-7]

I have a small wood stove. It's just me as a caveat. My cabin is about 880 sq ft not counting the basement. I am burning mostly soft wood right now because that's what available on my land right now and it's free. My maximum log size is 12" and the firebox is only .75 sq ft. My burn time is 3-4 hours. Definitely will not going to go to sleep at midnight and wakeup to a warm house. In this case, I generally wake up to a chilly house or let the heat pump do it's thing and just keep it from getting to cold. I cannot deny that it would be nice to have an overnight burn, but I knew that issue when I purchased my stove. What was more important to me was efficiency and my stove sips firewood while keeping my house toasty warm and provides a nice viewing window as it is a local point for the kitchen and family room. All those crazy ends you don't like handling don't bother me. Free heat! I don't care what she looks like as long as she is dry and burns. I fully understand why you chose your stove... Enjoy! I love winter and I love my wood stove.

[@kevinkozlowski1463]

whats the name on your bigger stove? and what was the cost?? looking at one 5:43 at tractor supply.. Curious on other options.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The bigger one is a Drolet Escape 1800. It is listed in the description below the video. I think it was $1100 back when I made this video. I don’t shop at tractor supply for many reasons. There are better places to buy wood stoves.

[@vm6418]

You should have purchased a storage heat stove which has multiple layers of heat storage bricks inside of the stove which keeps your house warmer alot longer .

[@jeffforbess6802]

Where in TX do you need a stove? It only gets below freezing like 3-4 times a year, right?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Texas is a large state with diverse climates spanning 6 usda planting zones. It consistently gets in the low 20’s in my area.

[@jesscolliflower5531]

In Montana we let the frost build up around the windows for insulation 😂

[@CountryLivingExperience]

lol

[@charleswidmore5458]

KEK!

[@tommak6516]

If you let the cows in the living room their body heat will also help.

[@stanley6093]

In Québec we are dealing with - 20 and -30 sometimes in Montréal. In average it is - 10 during january and february. Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Merry Christmas. That is surely cold.

[@stanley6093]

@@CountryLivingExperience Yes but this year i bought a Lopi evergreen stove and man it is a war machine . It is so efficient. It makes me happy just to use it everyday.

[@KreigsMarine2]

I just purchased a Drolet 2100. A bit bigger than what you have there. But here in South Dakota, we need it.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice. You absolutely need that in SD.

[@mesothelioma5024]

After having a wood stove for as long as k can remember I’m switching to a coal stove as it burns hotter and my grandfather is now on blood thinners and is always cold with the wood stove blasting

[@jamespolucha8790]

I need to feed my stove every 2 hours but that doesn’t bother me, it’s an old stove and a lot of leaks I need to fix like seals around the doors but it works, I might looking a new one after I learn more about them, thanks for the video

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome

[@What_Fred_Said]

Ok so maybe I missed something. What brand of stove did you get and what size?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The new stove is a Drolet Esacpe 1800

[@pamlovell9125]

So where did you buy your new stove and what did it cost??

[@CountryLivingExperience]

We got it at L&M Fleet supply for $1100. www.landmsupply.com/instantsearchplus/result/?q=drolet

[@RobertF-cs7fx]

hI Buddy, what size Drolet wood stove did you buy and what is your sq. ft? Do you now feel you got the right size stove or maybe should be slightly different size?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I have the Escape 1800 model. My house is 1700sf. It is a great size for this house.

[@RobertF-cs7fx]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thank you for the reply, did you see my little Thai girl and me splitting logs?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. I didn't see that video yet.

[@Gstonesheat]

Thanks for the video. What was the first stove you bought ? And what’s the new stove you bought called?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It was called a WoodPro

[@ca1492bob]

Thanks for the info! Looks like you guys are repeating that crazy cold weather! Nc gets to share this time .

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. It has been brutal here. Brace yourself.

[@franknunally8098]

Mister, I don't know how big house is nor do is that detail germane. Believe me, I have no wish for a repeat storm to hit, but I believe it is better to have a game plan in case it does. From my experience, it is easier to maintain the heat in a smaller space than a larger one. Likewise, that heater, can heat one room (or so) better than it can heat the whole house. If a similar storm were to knock out the electricity during the Winter month when it is cold, I would try to limit the area I had to heat and keep the family in that space to live and/or sleep for that period of time. I wish you well for your future; God Bless.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I understand. Thanks.

[@realrural7876]

Where did you purchase your new stove?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

We got it at Northern Tool online.

[@gibblespascack1418]

Well I was thinking that the rational for change out was going to be crazy. But, it wasn't. If you must buy wood, and you do not specify 16 inch from the supplier, you will get what you get. But both are EPA certified wood stoves which will perform well. So buying the stove with the larger east west dimension makes sense because you have the extra money to do it. Hopefully you got a good price for the used unit.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

There is nobody here that you can specify 16" to. It isn't the standard and they won't do it. I was able to get exactly what I paid for the original. The delta between the two was only $350.

[@gibblespascack1418]

Thank you....That was a great deal on the new stove then. I was afraid that you were in for $1200. How has it worked for the last 2 years? @@CountryLivingExperience

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It works great! I can load it extremely full for almost a full nights burn. About 8 hours.

[@1acroyear1]

Can you burn a pile of wood pellets in a stove like that? Or would that cause a problem?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You could but I am not sure how efficient that would be.

[@nicholasbaker2904]

Careful going with a bigger box. My uncle has had several chimney fires over the last 30 yrs bc the box is too big and keeping the house a manageable temp cause too much buildup.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Usually, burning improper wood (soft woods) that do not burn hot enough, lead to creosote buildup and in-turn chimney fires. Burning hard wood at a hot temp will prevent that. Additionally, burning properly seasoned wood (dry with moisture content below 12%) will prevent creosote build up. Proper and regular cleaning if burning poor wood is necessary.

[@nicholasbaker2904]

@@CountryLivingExperience hes had wood burning heat all his life. Chimney relined 2x. Cleans it 3x a season and only burns oak. He bought too big of a burner and regrets it. Even choaked off in PA january he has windows open bc were getting cooked in there.

[@miketorrez4388]

Hello country living I have a 1300sq. ft mobile home and I did not get a wood stove because I just can't figure out which size to get. I want a d r o l e t black home 2 or the 1800 escape which one should I get is the 1800 too big for my 1300 ft mobile home? I almost ordered the black comb drolet but I started thinking about the small box but I was wondering if the 1800 was too big for my trailer can you please give me advice so I can order one ? Thank you Michael

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Depends on how big your main space is and if you want to be able to fit a normal size log in it. The Blackcomb II is probably better for the size of your home. Ours is 1700sf with our main space being almost 1000sf and we put in the Escape 1800.

[@yescoal]

Is there any way some one could cook on the surface on top? I thought I heard one person say that it doesn't get that hot on the surface.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It all depends on the stove. The small stove gets to about 450F. I can boil water on it with no problem.

[@yescoal]

It would be the Drolet Escape 1800 Wood Stove on Legs Large 2020 EPA Certified Wood Stove - 75,000 BTU - 2,100 sq.ft, Model# DB03105 @@CountryLivingExperience

[@juliebarnett9812]

What kind of stove did you say it was? And where did you get it from?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It is a Drolet Escape 1800.

[@juliebarnett9812]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thanks!

[@Lefishn]

Should have went with a front to back DROLET like a Legend 3 thay way fits up to 20" pieces and front to back is safer and easier to load. Plus still can do east/west if you wanted with normal pieces

[@KH6DAN]

Thanks for this video. Man, you are so right. I live near San Antonio. I have had to spend several hours re-cutting firewood that I had purchased to shorten it to fit in my smaller model (the first one I bought). Logs at 18 are common (I think much of the wood is cut for BBQ and tends to be longer than will fit). Heat wise, the smaller stove has worked well with the climate here. That is until the rare times the temp goes down and stays there during the day. But, I suggest everyone to get a medium or large stove, instead o the "starter" size. It's worth the extra money. Not just for the crazy cold snap, but because we had lost power, off and on, for 4 days. We kept it the temp 65F in the house because of the stove. Other folks with no heat were seeing 40's. Everyone here has a different definition of what a cords is. So, you have to shop.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful.

[@one-eyedsam2186]

A cord of wood is 48"x48"x96". that's why a 16" log is standard size (48/3). Nobody in the northeast cuts firewood to 20" unless it's requested specifically by the customer (you can usually request anywhere from 12-24" cuts). Maybe we just have more experience with firewood processing up here.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Correct. That is what I said. I did a video on that here.....kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3XKaqeBi7mIhKc. I grew up in Michigan where a cord was 4x4x8 (correctly). I think "cord" has just changed over time in different places. Down here in TX, firewood is not burned often so loggers cut it differently.

[@one-eyedsam2186]

@@CountryLivingExperience Apparently everything really IS bigger in Texas.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@one-eyedsam2186 Lol. Yep.

[@kevinterry3545]

What is the brand and model of the new stove?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It’s a Drolet Escape 1800

[@RenneChampagne]

Do you have a fresh (cold) air intake?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Yes, there is air control for fresh air.

[@Zeguine1]

lol -2 it gets -40 up here the only wood I burn is maple lasts like 8h

[@tinagrier1]

I’m in NE Texas and we need to get a wood burning stove badly. So scared this winter will be worse than last. It’s good you got a bigger one. You won’t regret it!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I hope you get one soon. The supply chains are all messed up. Fortunately our was made in Canada so we didn’t have to wait for it to arrive on a ship.

[@busterhyman103]

Rocket stove. Less wood, no smoke, higher temps. My pizza is done ( in an additional metal oven) five minutes, 1000° F

[@deadly134]

NE texas what was the lowest it got last year haha

[@daleb5967]

Small stove is pretty accurate for Texas needs really..

[@HopeProphecy]

Good info! What model Drolet is this?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. It is the Drolet Escape 1800

[@scn102]

nice video ,, maybe i missed it- but you did say which model stove you had previous and which one you have now - thx in advance

[@scn102]

i wanted a blaze king princess /catalylitic , but its too much $ - darn my tiny house is 750 sf

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@scn102 The original was a WoodPro 1500 and the new larger one is a Drolet Escape 1800.

[@scn102]

@@CountryLivingExperience thank you very much .. So are u loving the new 1800 model stove .looks nice8. Looks like its around $1500 + options. N tax. The price i think is good ?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I like it a lot. Works perfectly. I paid $1100

[@scn102]

@@CountryLivingExperience wow thats awesome .. If u dont mind me asking were did u order for that price ..

[@permanator5417]

I may have missed it somewhere in the description or something I dunno. What stove did you switch from and switch to?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I switched to the Drolet.

[@carlosdanger1843]

When you cut your wood, just buck the rounds up smaller then! How much does a cord of oak cost there? Cut, split, seasoned and delivered? I couldn’t afford that!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I have to buy wood. They don't buck it any smaller. I don't have trees to burn. It is about $250 for 2 face cords here.

[@carlosdanger1843]

@@CountryLivingExperience I hear you. We don’t have any oak up here in Montana where I’m at, just pine and cottonwood, but oak, or any hard wood would be wonderful to have though!

[@krisyaz1545]

Nice info.. I have the exact same small stove, I agree the fire wood has to be at least 12in. Or smaller, and does burn quickly, but I soon to upgrade.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Yep, they made them just too small for normal use.

[@codetech5598]

It seems the main point of those kind of stoves is to display the flames. Even bigger stoves that have glass windows are designed with flame viewing as the most important thing: Logs are loaded parallel to the window, and the airflow is directed over the window to accommodate the view.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

True, thanks for sharing 😊

[@CountryLivingExperience]

My pleasure

[@astronutz6623]

do you get that metal burning smell when its been on on high heat for a while?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Only when it was new. It was more of a burning paint smell.

[@christinawendorff942]

We made sure that we have a wood stove we can cook on.

[@daffyduck5171]

I have an outside wood furnace (forced air) works very well but needs electricity for the blower. You cant beat wood heat

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Wood is the best for sure.

[@russhall4780]

Good choice! I put a large stove in my 1,500 sq ft home and my stove will heat up to 2,500 sq ft. The stove is almost always choked down so it burns less wood to heat the space. I heat exclusively with wood up here in NE WA state. We get some hard winters.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. I grew up in Michigan and we had some hard winters there too.

[@andyk8993]

Does your 2500 sq ft stove feel too hot For your 1500 sq ft space

[@russhall4780]

@@andyk8993 Nope, it keeps it in the low 70's and again, that's with it choked completely down almost all of the time.