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mfglickman

Minister of Fire
Jan 17, 2012
676
NW CT
It's been a while since I've posted. Been in denial that winter is coming. But finally getting around to replacing all the gaskets on the Fireview 201 today and DH and I started talking about whether a bigger stove this year might make us more comfortable.

I've spoken with Woodstock extensively about this and they think that a new Fireview is not going to give us noticeably better results/more heat output. Now they could have sold me a stove last year if they'd said it would but instead they said the changes between the 201 and 203 are so minor it would not be noticeable at all.

So our house, for those who've not heard me whine before (lol) is an antique cape. The main house was built in 1758. This is where the very narrow, steep, short stairway is. We have a pellet stove in the keeping room at the bottom of the stairs, and vents in the floors, but the heat never seems to get up there.

There is an addition on one end that adds about 1000 SF to the house (family room 32X19 below, master bedroom with sloped ceilings above). Fireplace with Fireview 201 (completely refurbished) is located at the midpoint of the outer wall of this room. There are two large openings into the kitchen and dining rooms. Total living space is probably 1800 SF (assessor claims 2000 but I don't think so).

We've struggled with every configuration of fan to move heat out of this room, and frankly when it's below 30 or so this room is never above 70 and if it's in the teens the room struggles to be 65. WITH the woodstove running full bore and reloading every 8 hours or so (full loads of reasonably good 15-24 month wood).

So my wood the past 2 years has not been the bee's knees but I see no difference when I run a full load of wood from the grocery store or a full pack of bio bricks so it's not JUST the wood. The house EATS heat and spits it out.

We have 20" (at least) of insulation in the attic crawls, we blew insulation into all the walls last year and put foam on the floor and rims between the crawlspaces and living spaces. We do not have insulation under the "cathedral" ceilings at the roof level and I know this makes a "chimney effect" with heat but I'm not in a position to rip off the roof, add insulation, build up the roofline and add a new roof at the moment.

Woodstock recommends the PH. Which I love but I don't love the price. So I'm curious what else I might consider. I need a rear vent, prefer a side load option so the stove can sit out a bit from the fireplace, don't love the idea of an insert because of the need for a blower. Flue was lined 2 years ago with 6" pipe so I'd be looking for another stove that takes that size.

So folks hit me with your ideas please. Do keep in mind that this house is a very different bird than most and I know it doesn't fit with the general models. I really do need more BTU power than you think I should. It's my 5th house built prior to 1900 and I thought I knew a thing or two after the couple of 1880's homes I owned but going back another 130 years makes for some very strange (and beautiful) things.

Thanks so much for reading!

Mary
 
Welcome back Mary. For a large side loader with rear exit, take a look at the Hearthstone Manchester and Jotul F600.
 
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Manchester vs. Isle Royale vs. Cape Cod
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/manchester-vs-isle-royale-vs-cape-cod-output.115328/

Welcome back, Mary. Woody is looking for a similar stove. . .dunno how much cheaper than the PH any of these stoves would be. Maybe wait for Woodstock's new 3.3-cu-ft steel stove, ~ $2k price target. . .or maybe don't wait; they were looking for beta testers.

I will check the thread, thanks! Woodstock wasn't interested in me as a beta tester because I'm over 2 hours away, sadly. Maybe I will beg tomorrow. :)
 
I wonder if the range limit is because they deliver the stove to you or because they want to check up on you. . .maybe offering to pick up the stove from the factory would help.:)
 
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I wonder if the range limit is because they deliver the stove or because they want to check up on you. . .maybe offering to pick up the stove from the factory would help.:)

I think they are scared of a beta tester in a 1758 house. :p
 
I will check the thread, thanks! Woodstock wasn't interested in me as a beta tester because I'm over 2 hours away, sadly. Maybe I will beg tomorrow. :)
Hi Mary,
Those two beautiful dogs deserve a Woodstock Progress Hybrid to lay in front of. Think of it as a long term quality investment. Beauty and functionality all rolled up into one. Good luck in whatever stove you choose. :)
 
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I think they are scared of a beta tester in a 1758 house. :p
;lol

. . .I need a rear vent, prefer a side load option so the stove can sit out a bit from the fireplace. . .
Keep in mind that the Woodstock FV and PH can sit closer to the edge of the hearth because there is no door on the front. All of the other stoves, including the new steel Woodstock, have a front door and would require more hearth in front of the stove.
 
;lol


Keep in mind that the Woodstock FV and PH can sit closer to the edge of the hearth because there is no door on the front. All of the other stoves, including the new steel Woodstock, have a front door and would require more hearth in front of the stove.

I need a side door, for sure, would be great if I can lock the front door just in case because we'd never front load. FWIW, though, I've had embers burn on my wood floor in front of my FV despite it being 3" back and 13" up (so 16" of front clearance, well beyond what's supposedly "necessary"). I had to buy a hearth pad to protect my floor...
 
I have the Manchester, haven't used it yet but it ran me about $2800 with the blower which was considerably less than the PH was going to run after shipping.
 
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AFAIK, the steel Woodstock does not have a side door, so I guess you don't need to bother with beta testing.==c

I know what you mean about embers from the side door finding their way to the front. . .kinda silly but, AFAIK, the 16" hearth requirement is only on a side of the stove that has a door. This is different from the clearance-to-combustibles requirement on the sides of the stove without a door, which is determined by mfr testing. The 8" front requirement on Woodstocks is just CTC from the floor in front of the stove, since there's no door. Anyhow, that's my less-than-perfect understanding of it. Just be aware of this, and double check with the mfr, so you don't get a stove that requires you to modify your hearth if you don't want to. I think locking the door would reduce the requirement only if the mfr had tested the stove that way and published an official spec for it.
 
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AFAIK, the steel Woodstock does not have a side door, so I guess you don't need to bother with beta testing.==c

I know what you mean about embers from the side door finding their way to the front. . .kinda silly but, AFAIK, the 16" hearth requirement is only on a side of the stove that has a door. This is different from the clearance-to-combustibles requirement on the sides of the stove without a door, which is determined by mfr testing. The 8" front requirement on Woodstocks is just CTC from the floor in front of the stove, since there's no door. Anyhow, that's my less-than-perfect understanding of it. Just be aware of this, and double check with the mfr, so you don't get a stove that requires you to modify your hearth if you don't want to. I think locking the door would reduce the requirement only if the mfr had tested the stove that way and published an official spec for it.

Yeah, I've been over the CTC bit with Woodstock, but I've undeniably got burn marks on my wood floors from embers that were not there when we installed the stove. We've got about 5 feet on either side of the stove that's just brick and slate, and it's 13" raised up from the floor. The front of the stove is about 3" back from the edge of the hearth, and again, 13" high. So Woodstock calls it 16" but I call it not enough.

If they want me to beta test, I'll figure a way to extend my hearth. :p
 
Good to see you posting again Mary. You have a tough one and the new stove is front loader only so that probably won't work for you. If the Progress is not in your deal, then I'd suggest going with Begreen's plan. Good luck.
 
...it's 13" raised up from the floor. The front of the stove is about 3" back from the edge of the hearth, and again, 13" high. So Woodstock calls it 16"...

I s'pose that thinking works if all you're interested in is the radiant heat from the stove to the combustible floor. But I've had embers leap out at least a horizontal foot. Not very often, in fact rarely...but it still leaves a mark if it hits wood or carpet and it takes you a moment or two to do something about it. Rick
 
I s'pose that thinking works if all you're interested in is the radiant heat from the stove to the combustible floor. But I've had embers leap out at least a horizontal foot. Not very often, in fact rarely...but it still leaves a mark if it hits wood or carpet and it takes you a moment or two to do something about it. Rick


Tell this to Woodstock. :)
 
Likewise, I have had them pop out a good foot past the hearth. Scared the heck out of me.
 
First fire in the Manchester tonight. It's not real cold out tonight but cold enough to run with some windows open and burn off the new.
 
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