Our Store Favorite for a Stove With a 10-Hour Burn Time: Drolet HT-3000 (DB07300)
Price: $First things first: getting a ten-hour burn time is going to take managing your stove perfectly. The good news is, it is possible. The Drolet HT-3000 was manufacturer tested and can burn that long.
In order to get that long of a burn time you'll need to pack your firebox as efficiently as possible with well seasoned wood (15-20% moisture content), and keep the damper closer to closed to limit airflow (more air = faster burning).
- 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 110,000 BTU. The realistic max heat output is 51,616 BTU/h
Bad news first... what do people dislike about the HT-3000?
- On a pedestal, not legs. This is a pretty minor quibble, but some people prefer to have a stove on legs rather than a pedestal.
- Only burns wood. Some stoves can handle coal and or pellets as well. This furnace is only rated to burn wood.
- Not made in the US.
Here's what people do like:
- Built-in step top convection. It's a smart setup that Drolet put in to help you get pleasant, hot air out of the top when you're using the blower.
- Large window. It's got a lovely window so you can watch the fire. (I'm not sure why fire is so mesmerizing...)
- Good quality for the price. It's nearly the same model as the Osburn line (both made by SBI), but cheaper!
- High efficiency. Wayyy more efficient than old wood furnaces, and easier to get a fire started as well.
- Knowledgeable support. I've talked to Alain, Jonathan, Kenneth and lots of other folks on the team and they're always a huge help. Easy to get ahold of and knowledgeable.
Option 2 - Whole House Heating for 10 Hours: Drolet Heat Commander (DF02003)
Price: $Ahhh, the Heat Commander. This is the most popular wood furnace we sell. That said, it's not perfect. Here's a quick rundown of the main specs and then I'll tell you what I like and don't like about this unit.
- Where is it Made? Quebec, Canada (yay, North America)
- 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)
- How much area can it heat? Anywhere between 1,000 sq ft (if you get temps below 0℉) to 2,500 sq ft if you live in a climate that's a bit more mild
- Total heat output? The nominal (i.e. theoretical) heat output is 75,000 BTU. The realistic max heat output is 47,052 BTU/h
Bad news first... what do people dislike about the Heat Commander?
- Doesn't run when the power is out. The Heat Commander has electronic combustion control (basically a valve that controls the airflow. More air = more burn, less air = less burn). Safety Note: the furnace keeps from having a runaway burn if your power goes out by automatically closing the air flow control after ten minutes of no power. It has a backup capacitor just for this purpose.
- Made in Canada and not the United States. If you're looking for American made, this isn't the product.
- Only burns wood. Some stoves can handle coal and or pellets as well. This furnace is only rated to burn wood.
- Have to rake ash to the ash grate. Some older units automatically cycle the ash to the ash drawer so the only thing you have to do is add wood. With this unit, you have to rake the coals over the grate so the ashes fall through to the ash drawer (most people don't mind too much though).
Here's what people do like:
- Attaches to your HVAC system so you can pipe heat anywhere in your house. This is nice because you can stick the thermostat in whichever room you prefer.
- Handles low temperatures well. One customer used it in -22 °F (counting windchill) and it kept their house at 72 °F.
- High efficiency. Wayyy more efficient than old wood furnaces, and easier to get a fire started as well.
- Knowledgeable support. I've talked to Alain, Jonathan, Kenneth and lots of other folks on the team and they're always a huge help. Easy to get ahold of and knowledgeable.
How Did I Pick This Stove?
Honestly, there are limited rear venting wood stove options. That narrowed things down considerably for me.
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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