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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Wood Stove in a small cabin
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CntryGal
Member
# Posted: 29 Sep 2022 16:34
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Hey all,
I'm planning my first Bunkie/small cabin build (160 sq ft), and am curious what people's experience is with wood stoves, and if I can get any advice on sizing. I love the cubic minis for their small stature, however I am in Northern Ontario, and I don't want to have to be getting up multiple times throughout every night to restock the fire, just to keep heat, and it seems with something so small, it would burn out and cool the cabin down fairly quickly and I would wake up freezing. Also, the size of the wood it requires may be more of a pain than anything.
I'm assuming anything larger may be too big for such a small cabin, so I'd like to hear if this is the case, or if I'm actually able to get away with something a little bigger, to keep the heat longer through the night that can handle larger pieces of wood.

I tried searching for a similar topic but couldn't find anything, so if you are aware of an existing one that discusses this, please let me know what to search

Thank you!

snobdds
Member
# Posted: 29 Sep 2022 18:57
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Just get a Jotul F602 and call it a day...

Fanman
Member
# Posted: 29 Sep 2022 19:03
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If it's feasible to bring it in, you might consider a coal stove. We have a small old (1920s vintage, same as the cabin) coal stove in the bedroom, once you get it going you can damp it down and it'll run all night long. You can also light a small quick wood fire in it to take the chill off.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 29 Sep 2022 19:39
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Be aware that any combustion device will consume oxygen and in that small space you dont have a lot to spare.
A CO detector will be a must have.
A cold/fresh air intake for the stove may be a good idea.
Wood stoves have serious 'clearance' issues in small cabins.
Could LP or diesel/fuel oil heater be an option? A small direct vent furnace along with a well insulated cabin could be snug.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 29 Sep 2022 20:32
Reply 


Do you have a fundamental aversion to use of a fossil fuel burning heater? Propane may be easier to keep from overheating and to keep warm overnight.

Is there grid power available?

Small wood burners like the Jotul602 and VC Aspen take up a minimum of about 17 sq. ft. when proper clearances are maintained.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 09:56
Reply 


10x10 is to small for any stove that your not going to get up and feed. I have a 10x14 and its tight and I have to get up and feed a stove with a 16x12x12in fire box. The look is cool and it heats the place but sucks at night when it's cold.

Use some type of propane heater that's vented or get a bunch of heavy blankets.

travellerw
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 11:20
Reply 


It agree with Brettny. Your space is going to be too small for any stove big enough to run all night.

Not sure if you have power. If so, maybe look into a pellet stove. Self feeding, some are even thermostatically controlled.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 11:23
Reply 


Or 3 dogs.

Having both a wood stove and LP wall heater, one difference is all the hot metal of the wood stove (mine is a couple hundred pounds as I recall from moving it) keeps the cabin warm longer through the night than the wall heater.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 12:25
Reply 


Your biggest problem is the building size of 160 square feet and the floorplan makes a Big Difference in air circulation throughout.

You can look at something like:
CB-1008 CUB Cubic Mini Wood Stove
https://cubicminiwoodstoves.com/collections/all/products/cb-1008-br-cubic-mini-wood-s tove

This is designed for 200Sq Ft, can be wall / floor mounted with reduced clearance requirements making them ideal for small places. The company has all the required bit's & bobs required including insulated chimney pipe & double wall pipe. TIP: Do NOT go through the roof, better to go out the wall and then up.

Alternately, 9000 BTU Mini Split Air Conditioner - Heat Pump - SENL/09CD
Now CAD: $899.99
Only needs 120V/20A Circuit. This would give you heat in winter + AC in Summer and the price is right...
https://senville.ca/9000-btu-mini-split-air-conditioner-senl-09cd/
* The "Arctic Series rated to -30C temps requires 240VAC

If you have walls and/or a complicated interior that buggers air circulation in such a space it can be a challenge.

Anything that requires a fire will need a fresh air intake for it to burn properly and not smoke you out. Plus no hauling logs or paying for propane.

A Mini-Split does not need much for installation and covers winter/summer needs. It does require a 120V/20A circuit.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 14:28
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If you have power and its insulated just get a $40 electric heater with a built in digital thermostat.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 30 Sep 2022 20:30
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My city house has an old brick fireplace outside the back wall with a stove insert. Probably less efficient than inside the room but it takes up no space.

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 2 Oct 2022 09:08
Reply 


There are fuel oil drip stoves that are very economical, very simple to use. And don't need electricity to run. The newer ones are made pretty tiny. And they don't need a lot of clearance around them. They may offer an option

countrygirl
Member
# Posted: 4 Oct 2022 10:43 - Edited by: countrygirl
Reply 


We built 2 of those small Bunkie cabins this year as well 108 sq feet wall half inch thick, double pane windows. The second Cabin is 200 sq feet 2 inch thick walls, triple pane windows. Wood stove for the cabin is all depending on the thickness of the walls, and if you plan to use the cabin year round. We are located Manitoba nice and cold in winter.

The small cabin seasonally and close up at the end of October. so we purchased a cubic mini wood stove. Making sure the chimney goes out the roof so you have more draw with the fire. This is the second tiny store we purchased. I think the cabin heats up pretty decently but to put out the BTUs it won’t be able to in the cold winter. Fire box not Big enough.

The second bigger cabin we’re just in the process of putting in a regular woodstove. it will be a year round cabin.
Small cabin
Small cabin
Cubic min wood stove “Grizzly”
Cubic min wood stove “Grizzly”
108 sq feet
108 sq feet
200 sq feet cabin
200 sq feet cabin


mbturner
Member
# Posted: 8 Oct 2022 23:31
Reply 


I would get the old fashioned kerosine perfection heater. Just crack a window and CO2 monitor.

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