Sizing a Woodstock Soapstone stove

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Bsver

New Member
Nov 6, 2008
2
Western MA
I am trying to figure out if I should get a Fireview or a Keystone, and the answer has varied from the company reps themselves so I thought I'd try some of the great sources here. I live in W. Ma in an 1860 center chimney Cape with no chimney left. It is 1300+ sq. ft including a kitchen ell. It has old, refurbished windows and top quality storms. Blown-in cellulose in the walls and cap. Good, but not like new construction. There is no insulation on the underside of the 1st floor floors. There is a repointed stone foundation, and under the house varies from a belly crawl to standing up height depending where you are in the house. The stove will go in our living room (2 of the 4 rooms in the main block, with the dividing wall taken down long ago). It is long and narrow, maybe 14 x22 ft. We have two bedrooms upstairs, 2.5 other rooms on first floor plus bath, no large openings room to room, and 8 ft. ceilings on the main floor. We anticipate it being our sole heat source, burning 24/7, with us out of the house about 8 hours per day. I look forward to interior warmth (a rarity now), but as a native Canadian, I don't really like a 75 degree room in the winter. Chimney will be SS interior up through second floor bedroom and out the roof. I am concerned that we might get cooked out of living room with the Fireview, but I am sceptical about the smaller stoves being up to the task of generating enough heat over long periods of time to get around, through, over, etc. the rabbit warren of an old Cape. So first question is, which given the current set up?

Then, to throw one more kink in the works: at some point we hope to put up that dividing wall again so that our living room will be really small, and build a small addition at the end of the ell (maybe 400 sq. ft). We were thinking of running two wood stoves at that point, one in living room and one in ell, but would imagine that the Fireview would be way too small for the place where it is now once a wall makes the room 40% smaller.

Thanks for any advice. We are planning to buy one this Saturday.
 
Get the Fireview.
 
The difference between the Fireview and the Keystone in heat output in my opinion is primarily in the high end with the Fireview maxing out at 55k BTU while the Keystone maxes at about 45K. Because they are catalytic stoves, both are capable of running at a low idle with a much lower output. Their double wall soapstone construction minimizes their blast you out of the room type heat output. Instead they are just gently warm stoves with a lot more radiant heat capability than many stoves have. I'd go with the Fireview due to the lack of insulation in your floors and the ongoing need for at least an 8 hour burn. I love my Keystone due to the glass size and upfront combustor location (the Fireview's is towards the rear though its fire display is nice too) which create's very cool secondary burn displays even though it's a cat stove. But my stove is slightly undersized in the coldest weather. While I can dig up coals to start up a new fire as much as 18 hours later, the uselful heat output necessary in really cold weather only lasts for about 6 hours and falls off slowly but steadily from there. The Fireview is an even better looking stove in person than the pictures. You're within driving distance of West Lebanon NH so it might be worth your while to head up there and see them in person. You'd be sure to get the metal/stone color choice that you like the best that way. When even the reps are on the fence about which to recommend, the over riding advice most here would give you is to go larger. You can always build a smaller fire in a large stove but you can't do the opposite. Again, because it's a cat stove, even cooler fires can burn quite cleanly in the Woodstock stoves.
 
I agree with jpl1nh. Go with the Fireview. You can always use smaller fires in a larger stove for less heat, but a smaller stove can only do so much. Think about the coldest temps you have and the burn times. If you have to burn at max temp and only get 4 - 6 hours burn time or a larger stove set for 8 hr burn time, but the same heat. You will not have to get up and tend the stove as often. I think Woodstock is having a sale right now also. Good luck with your decision. The people at Woodstock are great to work with and the stoves are top notch. I purchased my Fireview this summer.
 
Are you going to the big pig roast to pick one up? Let us know what you choose. I am haveing the same quesions.
Rob
 
Here's another vote for the Fireview. 1300sq ft and poor insulation would in my opinion make the Fireview a good fit. Jpl hit on it that it's a cat soapstone stove, so you get long even heat output and if your looking for a 24/7 burner you will be better off with the extra firebox volume of the Fireview. During warmer weather just load less wood or use lower BTU woods like pine and soft Maple. Heck, if it turns out to be too much stove you can always return it (6 month Guarantee) for the Keystone and Woodstock will pay the return freight. Good luck
 
Another vote for the Fireview. You won't be disappointed!
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Off to make the huge purchase at the pig roast, going with all the Fireview recommendations. Won't be able to report for a while on use because we have to build chimney, hearth pad, etc. Probably won't be up and running for a couple of months at least.
 
2nd season with a fireview. 1000sq ft main floor, 650 sq ft second level. 100year+ house with blown in celulose in walls, same in the 2nd level ceiling. Limestone foundation with no insulation and no insulation between basement and first floor. updated medium quality windows. First year with the fireview I burned 4-5 cords of cottonwood, silver maple and elm. House was warmer then it ever was with natural gas and pellet heat that now serve as backups only. This year I expect even better performance with a better wood supply of oak, black walnut, ash, and red elm. You won't regret going with the fireview, with the cat it's really controllable and not hard to use like some earlier cat stoves out there.
 
Hope to also be at the Pig Roast! See you there.

See: http://www.woodstove.com/

Hearth.com forum posters should mark their foreheads with the word FORUM, in ashes of course. ;>)
 
Fireview.
I would have bought one too, but it doesn't have a top-venting capability, and having 3 elbows might have proven less than optimal for me. So far the keystone has been great for me, although I can't get it running higher than 425º with the cat on, something I aspire to do during the coldest winter days. I'll have to report back with the performance when we experience those cold days. However, I'm in southeastern PA, so my winters aren't nearly what everyone else experiences.
 
Go with the Fireview,
We are in our third winter with our Keystone, the quality is definately #1 with these stoves, but our 28 X 40 rancher, with a 18 X 20 addition is NOT warm when we get really cold temps here in MD. We could not use the Fireview due to the back vent option. You would think Woodstock would listen, and say, hey people are telling us something. They need to make the option of top vent, for the Fireview just like the Keystone The Keystone is great for normal temps in the 40's. but not for us when it gets really cold. We would trade up in a minute if we could to the bigger Fireview model. The house is insulated well, and in great shape, but the stove seems to put out less heat than most would want to do the entire home. Go with the bigger model and be warm.
 
We are in our third winter with the Keystone, a nice insulated rancher, 28 X 40, with a 18 X 20 rear family room addition. When it gets really cold, the Keystone does not do it for us. We love the stove, but it does not radiate heat like a steel or cast iron, so you should go with the Fireview if you are going to plan for really cold temps. Plus the fire box makes the stove, it would be great if the Keystone had a option for a larger fire box. Due to space limitations we could not go with the Fireview. The stove is center located in the dining room/kitchen area. Most of the time it heats great though. Just think like the people above said, you can always have a smaller fire, but never go larger once you have the Keystone 1.5 cubic fire box. Price is not much of a difference either. The staff is great when you call them up too, very nice and very friendly. Good luck!
 
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