NordicStove Basic Model With Convector, 13,000

A. No, the NordicStove NBC130 is a natural draft oil heater, not a direct vent heater. Hot exhaust rising up the chimney creates the suction that pulls combustion air into the burner, so the stove needs no fan, no blower and no electricity. A direct vent heater works the other way: it is sealed, draws outside air through a pipe in the wall and pushes exhaust out with a fan, which is why models such as the Toyotomi Laser need 120 V power. The trade-off matters when you plan the install. The NBC130 keeps heating through any power cut, but it cannot vent sideways through a wall; it needs a vertical chimney. Our NordicStove oil heater guide compares the two approaches, and direct vent oil furnaces are listed separately.

A. The NBC130 needs a dedicated chimney matched to its 4 inch flue outlet and between 10 and 16 feet tall. Height controls draft on a natural draft stove: a chimney that is too short does not pull enough combustion air and gives a smoky, sooty burn, while one that is too tall pulls in too much air and cools the burner, which builds carbon. Run the chimney as straight and vertical as you can, since every offset weakens draft. Wherever it passes through a ceiling, wall or roof, use insulated Class A all-fuel chimney pipe with the correct support and flashing. If you are using an existing masonry chimney, fit a stainless steel liner sized to the 4 inch flue, because a masonry flue is far larger than the stove needs and will draft poorly.

A. The NBC130 burns about 0.053 to 0.150 gallons of fuel oil per hour, from its lowest to its highest setting. Run around the clock, that is roughly 1.3 gallons a day on low and 3.6 gallons a day on high, or about 9 to 25 gallons a week. Your real figure depends on the setting you keep, outside temperature, wind and how well the building holds heat, so log a week of use in the first cold spell and plan deliveries from that. If you store fuel on site for the season, keep it clean and dry and rotate it: our guide to storing heating fuel through a winter covers containers, water contamination and how long stored fuel keeps.

A. A full 3.75-gallon tank runs the NBC130 for roughly 25 hours on the highest setting and up to about 70 hours on the lowest. That makes the optional tank and quick connect hose a good choice for emergency heat, a weekend cabin or a workshop heated only during the day. For a building heated all winter, refilling every one to three days becomes a chore, so many owners connect the stove to a larger supply tank instead. Because the NBC130 is fed by gravity, that tank must sit higher than the stove, with a fuel line sized and routed to the installation instructions. Mount it where you can fill it without carrying fuel indoors, and keep a shut-off valve between the tank and the stove.

A. The NBC130 is rated at 20,307 BTU per hour input and 13,000 BTU per hour output, so about 64 percent of the energy in the fuel reaches the room as usable heat. Input describes how much energy the stove burns; output describes what it delivers, and output is the figure to size a heater on. The gap matters when you compare heaters: a spec sheet that leads with input makes a heater look larger than it is. Compare the NBC130 with any other heater on output against output, and compare running costs on gallons per hour, since two heaters with the same output can burn different amounts of fuel to get there.

A. Yes, the NBC130 keeps heating through a power outage, provided its fuel reaches it by gravity. Nothing in the stove needs electricity to light, burn or move heat, which makes it a practical backup for homes whose main furnace, boiler or direct vent heater shuts down without power. The one exception is the fuel supply: if the tank sits lower than the stove and an electric pump lifts the oil, the stove stops when the pump does, unless a generator keeps the pump running. If outage protection is the reason you are buying, mount the supply tank above the stove and keep enough fuel on hand to ride out the longest outage you expect.

A. Choose the NBC130 convector when you want even warmth across a whole room, and the NB130 Basic when you mainly want strong heat close to the stove. Both deliver 13,000 BTU per hour. A radiant stove heats the people and surfaces facing it, which suits a workshop bench, a boat cabin or a spot where you sit. The convector's shroud moves warm air around the space, so far corners warm up more evenly, which suits a living area or a cabin you heat as one room. If you want the stove to hold a set temperature on its own, the NBC130T is the same convector model with a thermostat.

A. Step up from the NBC130 when the space loses heat faster than 13,000 BTU per hour can replace it, which is most likely in a drafty, poorly insulated or high-ceilinged building on a very cold site. NordicStove builds 6,800, 13,000, 25,000 and 40,000 BTU output sizes, and the 25,000 BTU model is the usual next step for headroom on the coldest nights. Avoid going too far the other way, though. A natural draft stove that is oversized and run constantly on its lowest setting cools its own exhaust, which weakens the chimney draft and leads to a sooty burn. The right size is the one that runs in the middle of its range most of the winter. Compare the full range on our NordicStove page.

A. To install the NBC130 you need a chimney, a fuel supply and, on some floors, floor protection. For the chimney, plan 4 inch flue connector pipe from the stove and insulated Class A chimney with its supports, thimble and flashing wherever the run passes through a ceiling, wall or roof. For fuel, choose either the optional 3.75-gallon tank with quick connect hose for short-term use, or a larger tank mounted above the stove with a fuel line and shut-off valve for full-season heating. Over carpet or any combustible synthetic floor, add a floor protector. It is also worth keeping common wear items on hand before winter; the NordicStove parts page lists replacement parts and diagrams.

A. Yes, professional installation is recommended, because the chimney and the fuel line decide whether a natural draft oil stove burns cleanly and safely. Chimney height, flue size, clearances to combustibles and the way the pipe passes through the building all have to suit the stove, and the fuel supply must feed it by gravity with a proper shut-off. Ask the installer to follow NordicStove's installation instructions and your local codes for oil-fired heaters, to check draft on the first burn, and to show you how to light, adjust and shut the stove down. Rural Energy support staff can help you plan the chimney and fuel setup before you order, so the installer arrives with the right parts.