Free Standing Gas Stoves?

[CatTwentyTwo]

We are looking into swapping out our Vermont Castings wood stove for a propane fueled stove. Some of the brands we are considering are Lopi, Jotul and Vermont Castings. Does anyone have any experience with these stoves in there gas fired models and are there other brands that we should be looking at?

 

[LetsGoBoating]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I can't really recommend a brand, however I do use epinions.com to check comsumer "written" reviews on anything I'm going to buy. Great source of information for anything!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

Are you just tired of the wood?....... have you considered a pellet stove???

I am going to be looking for a VT casting stove this summer..... I want one with the secondary cat combustion chamber for the efficiency.

As per whis gas stove is best I would suggest that you ask your neighbors what they use. On a big ticket item I will tell you to buy local and what works in your area. While you may find one on line cheaper it does not help the local economy.

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

We have been really happy with our wood stove but the new air quality regulations are driving this. Our local air board posts a burn/no burn notice every morning and if it is a no burn day, it is illegal to put a log on the fire or wood pellets in the stove. They are gaining compliance by posting a toll free number for people to report their neighbors. We have a small electric heater that we use on no burn days, but it is marginal at best. My wife and I have pretty much decided that the convenience of gas and a thermostat out weighs the hassle of wood, the government, and the extra cost of LPG. Bob and LGB, thanks for the replies, we will definitely be purchasing the stove and having it installed by a local dealer. LGB, I tried epinions but could not find anything other than kitchen stoves, but that is normal for me and computers and the internet. Are there key words to look for?

Thanks
Randy

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I wonder if you can convert it?? Should not be to difficult.

But what is the world coming to if you can't have a fire to stay warm in your own home.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

Wow that is a touch over the top and not in your control.... I understand. The VT Castings (depending on how new/old) usually has the catalytic chamber to reduce emissions and I would venture to gues that the smoke being spewed from a good wood stove is safer than a 25 year old oil furnace!

Are they offering any tax advantages with this?

Wood is a renewable engergy source!

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I did ask a local dealer about converting our stove from wood to gas but they would not do it or recommend it. The local air board was offering $200.00 rebates last November but they ran out of money right a way and have no idea of when they might get more funding. We are just looking for a unit that will give us reliable, trouble free service for many years to come.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I've had a Heat-N-Glo Tiara II gas stove for a few years now and couldn't be happier. Warms up my basement quickly and conveniently.
I can't comment on the brands you mentioned, but I would compare the specs, like BTUs and efficiency ratings too. Good luck.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I have heated with gas for over 30 years in the same home, we have a free standing gas heater in our main living area and it's hard to heat the whole house because you lose half the heat out the chimney, if I had to do it over I would use those little un-vented wall mounted gas heaters with the bricks that glow in every room that needed it or a gas furnace ducted to the rooms. I put one of the wall mounted gas heaters in a room that stays cold and it's great and much more efficient as it's un-vented and they are safer also because they come with a carbon-monoxide detector that prevents them from lighting in the case of a gas leak.

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

Thanks jasper, I was not familiar with Heat-N-Glo. One of our local dealers carries that brand and we will definitely check it out.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I just bought a Kozy Heat (Lakefield model) about 2 months ago. I really like it. I am on propane.

Way more realistic looking fire than most freestanding units I looked at.

The price was excellent and it sure can pump out the heat.

I have an oil furnace, but I've barely used the furnace since putting this stove in. It will heat my whole 1700 sq ft bungalow - even when it was below zero.
I put it on a regular millivolt thermostat. Getting rid of my woodstove was the best thing for my lifestyle. I can come home, pop it on and enjoy it.
Shut it off and go to bed and it doesn't keep the whole house too hot to sleep all night like the wood would do.

Plus, if there is a power failure while I'm out of town.... my pipes won't freeze. (my main reason for this unit)
Being in the basement with a chimney way up above the roof, I always had a hard time with my woodstove drafting and backing up.

This unit just vents a couple feet above ground level outside.

My insurance company just refunded my woodstove premium too!!! not often I get a check from them....

here it is

 

[rwise]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

I have used an empire free standing gas stove in the past and was pleased with it.
Today I use a freestanding wood stove.
Damn communists! It is time to tell the government who pays there wages!!!

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

Do they make like wireless stoves? Like the type that the gas bottle is wireless or pipeless? So you dont need the gas flexline. You can move the stove on wheels and not have to connect it to the gas line. Its just wireless instead of connecting it.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

not have to connect it to the gas line.

they make what you describe for camping...

many people die every year bringing them indoors.

 

[CatTwentyTwo]

Re: Free Standing Gas Stoves?

Howard, thanks for the information, Kozy Heat is a brand that is carried by a local dealer and we will look at it also. I guess at least one of the advantages of living in CA is that there are several local dealers and brands to choose from. Whatever brand and model we decide on, it will be a direct vent unit. I don't believe that the unvented type heaters are legal in this area.