I put in the Keystone in the Spring of '11 so didn't get to test it in cold conditions until recently, when we had nighttime lows in the teens on a couple of occasions in successive weeks. Keystone did OK but had to work pretty hard trying to keep up in this cabin with uninsulated walls. If I let the room temp drop too much, it was hard to recover, and heating the bedroom was out while trying to recover in the main room. My SIL has a Fireview so I've had a chance to run her stove and get familiar with it. Long story short, I decided to take advantage of the sale that Woodstock is running, and I picked up a Fireview in metallic blue. According to Woodstock's estimates, our square footage is at the low end of the Fireview's range and in the middle of the Keystone's. From what I've seen, I think their estimates are pretty good. The Fireview slid right in as the flue heights are the same on the two stoves. Luckily my nephews, three strapping young lads, were in town for the holidays. :cheese: The stove got here in about three days, and we were able to get it on the hearth without too much trouble. During the next round of temps in the teens at night with a fair breeze, the Fireview tossed enough heat to handle requirements easily. I think that going from a 1.5 cu.ft fire box to a 2.2 makes a noticeable difference in output; The entire stove seems to radiate more from its larger surface area, and runs a bit hotter on the sides and top. Heat keeps coming for a long time. Weather has been mostly mild here, and the larger fire box is also good for loading up on medium-heat woods that I have such as Cherry, and still getting some long burns. Too bad I had to give up the Keystone's big window and the ash pan. It's harder to get a good view of what's going on in the Fireview's box, and harder to see the combustor. I wonder if it would be possible to alter the front panel and put in bigger glass... I'd like to get or make an ash pan that fits inside the Fireview door, to totally eliminate dust escaping when shoveling the ashes out. Some folks don't care for the styling of the Fireview but I like the old-timey look and think it's a good fit in this rustic setting.
Here's a pic...it really did happen! :cheese:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/001-5.jpg
Here's a pic...it really did happen! :cheese:
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h407/2bnator/Hearth/001-5.jpg