Empire Gateway 1700 Wood Stove Size Guide

The Empire Gateway 1700 is rated by the manufacturer to heat 500 to 1,800 square feet. Heat output ranges from 9,800 to 52,200 BTU per hour under EPA test conditions, with a maximum heat output of 65,000 BTU per hour on dry cordwood. Average efficiency is 68% HHV / 73% LHV; particulate emissions are 2.4 g/h. Maximum burn time is 7 hours on a single load.

• Small to medium homes (1,000 to 1,800 sq ft). The 1700 is sized for the lower end of typical North American homes and works as primary heat in moderate climates.
• Single rooms in larger homes. Family rooms, basements, and converted garages where 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft of zone heating is the goal.
• Cabins, hunting camps, and seasonal homes. The 7-hour burn time supports overnight heat through with one reload per evening.
• Supplemental heat for grid-tied homes. Use the 1700 as a backup heat source when paired with a primary heat pump or furnace, reducing electricity or gas usage during cold weeks.
• Tight installation footprints. The cabinet measures 24-1/8 inches wide by 18-3/4 inches deep, the smallest in the Gateway series.

• Whole-home heating in homes over 1,800 sq ft. Step up to the Gateway 2300 for homes up to 2,100 sq ft or the Gateway 3500 for homes up to 2,700 sq ft.
• Cold-climate primary heating in larger homes. IECC zones 6-7 typically need the 3500 in a 1,500+ sq ft home; the 1700 will struggle on the coldest nights.
• Burning logs longer than 18 inches. The 1700 firebox accepts 18 inch logs east-west maximum. If your firewood supply runs 20 inch logs or longer, choose the Gateway 2300 (20 in max) or 3500 (22 in max).
• Cooking applications. The Gateway 1700 is a room heater, not a cook stove. The top of the stove is not engineered as a cooking surface.
• Burning anything other than dry cordwood. The Empire warranty explicitly limits approved fuel to cordwood. Coal, treated wood, painted wood, garbage, plywood, plastics, and accelerants are prohibited.

• Mild climate (IECC zones 1-3): The 1700 covers most homes up to 1,800 sq ft as a primary heater.
• Moderate climate (IECC zones 4-5): Size to the lower end of the rated range. A 1,500 sq ft home with average insulation is at the upper limit of comfortable 1700 operation; a 1,200 sq ft home is well-matched.
• Cold climate (IECC zones 6-7): Use the 1700 for zone heating only or in well-insulated homes under 1,200 sq ft. For primary whole-home heating in cold climates, step up to the 2300 or 3500.
• Ceiling height and layout matter. Cathedral ceilings, open multi-story spaces, and homes with poor insulation lose heat faster than rated. Drop one model size in those cases or rely on the 1700 only for zone coverage.

• Non-combustible material: continuous steel sheet minimum 0.015 inch (0.38 mm), or ceramic tiles sealed with grout, cement board, or brick. No R-factor required.
• Front extension (USA): 16 inches measured from the door opening.
• Side extension (USA): 8 inches from each side of the stove.
• Tile installations: a continuous non-combustible sheet beneath the tile is required to prevent embers from passing through cracks or grout failures.
• Non-combustible floors (concrete, brick, slate): no additional floor protection is required.

• Flue outlet diameter: 6 inches.
• Recommended connector pipe: 6 inch diameter, blued or black steel, minimum 24-gauge. Galvanized or aluminum pipe is not acceptable.
• Approved chimney types: UL 103 HT (2,100°F rated) factory-built chimney, ULC-S629 in Canada, or code-approved masonry chimney with a stainless steel flue liner.
• Minimum chimney height: 12 feet measured from the floor protector.
• 3-2-10 rule: chimney must extend at least 3 feet above the roof penetration point and 2 feet higher than any portion of a building within 10 feet horizontally.

• Build on a hot coal bed. Add new wood when the previous load has burned down to bright embers; this keeps secondary combustion lit during the reload.
• Load east-west. Place logs with the sides visible through the glass (parallel to the door). The EPA loading test used 16 inch logs in east-west orientation.
• Leave space for air circulation. Stack with enough gaps between logs for combustion air to flow. Over-packing the firebox results in poor combustion and increased smoke.
• Stay within the EPA loading volume. The 1.44 cu ft EPA loading volume is the maximum recommended fuel load. Loads above this volume reduce combustion efficiency.
• Run the air control wide open after loading. Let the load light off and reach full secondary combustion before stepping down to a lower burn rate.

• Approved fuel: dry cordwood only, at or below 20 percent moisture content. The Empire warranty explicitly limits the approved fuel to cordwood.
• Hardwood vs softwood: hardwoods (oak, hickory, maple, beech) burn longer and produce more heat per cord; softwoods (pine, fir, spruce) burn faster and produce more creosote. The EPA test used beech as the test fuel for the Gateway 1700.
• Seasoning: typical 6 to 12 months under cover with airflow, depending on species and climate. A moisture meter is the best way to verify moisture content before burning.
• Loading density: EPA loading density 7 to 12 lb/cu ft; maximum heat output density 15 to 20 lb/cu ft on dry cordwood.