Our Recommendation: Drolet Escape 1200 (DB03182)
Price: $This stove will do a great job on an 800 sq ft space without overheating your room.
- Where is it Made? Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦
- Where does it ship from? Straight from Drolet. That means it'll either come from their warehouse in South Bend, IN or Madison Heights, VA.
- EPA Certified: you know it!
- Tax Credit Eligible: ✅ (get 30% of the appliance and installation cost off on your taxes, up to $2,000)
- Total heat output? The nominal (i.e. theoretical) heat output is 45,00 BTU. The realistic max heat output is 26,700 BTU/hr
A More Modern Looking Option: Drolet Deco Nano (DB03215)
Price: $This stove will be the perfect size for a smaller room but has a more modern look.
- Where is it Made? Quebec, Canada (yay, North America)
- Mobile Home Compatible? Yes! (Code requires you to add the fresh air intake as well)
- Where does it ship from? It generally ships direct from the manufacturer. That means it'll either come from their warehouse in South Bend, IN or Madison Heights, VA.
- EPA Certified: you know it!
- Tax Credit Eligible: ✅ (get 30% of the appliance and installation cost off on your taxes, up to $2,000)
- Total heat output? The nominal (i.e. theoretical) heat output is 45,000 BTU. The realistic max heat output is 26,700 BTU/h
Best No-Window Option: Drolet Fox (DB03186)
Price: $
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This little stove goes with the window-free look. Some people like that more for their cabin or mobile home.
- Where is it Made? Quebec, Canada
- Where does it ship from? It generally ships direct from the manufacturer. That means it'll either come from their warehouse in South Bend, IN or Madison Heights, VA.
- EPA Certified: you know it!
- Tax Credit Eligible: ✅ (get 30% of the appliance and installation cost off on your taxes, up to $2,000)
- Total heat output? The nominal (i.e. theoretical) heat output is 45,000 BTU. The realistic max heat output is 26,700 BTU/h
How Did I Pick These Stoves?
Since 800 square feet is a pretty small space, I worked to find options that wouldn't overwhelm the space. Wood stoves have to keep a minimum combustion level in order to keep burning, so I looked at the best options for stoves that could still function without overheating the space.
Why Do Manufacturers Give a Range of Square Footage a Stove Can Heat?
Great question. They take into account the different areas in the United States and the varying temperatures. If you live in the mountains of Montana you're going to heat less square footage than if you live in Florida next to the beach. They have projections for each zone. The minimum number is for the coldest areas like Northern Minnesota, Maine or Canada. The largest number is for the warmest areas like Texas or Florida.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though manufacturers give square footage ranges, it's better to think of it in terms of volume. It makes sense when you think about it: you're not just heating the floor, you're heating the whole room! They do their projections based on eight-foot ceilings. So, if you've got 20-foot, vaulted ceilings, you'll need a bigger stove. If you've got 7-foot ceilings you'll be able to heat a bigger square footage.
Why Should You Trust My Opinion on Wood Stoves?
Great question! Since starting work at Renovation Reserve, I've had to learn more about wood burning products than I ever thought I would. I've been lucky enough to talk directly to manufacturers and have them answer tons of random questions about wood burning products. While I don't know everything, I am studying for my NFI certification and have loved every moment of this wood burning journey.
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We decided to tackle another topic that you might have questions about: wood stoves vs fireplace inserts! Click here to read it.