I am in the process of planning to build a house. Open floor plan of under 2000 square feet. I like the looks of Hearthstone but want a big firebox. I currently have a Avalon Olympic which I have been using for the last 4 years to heat a 3000 square foot home. Is the Equinox too big of stove? I want a large firebox at least as large as the olympic. I realize Hearthstone also sells the Mansfield that has a 3.2cft firebox. Is soapstone that much of a softer heat that it wont run us out of the house? Should I stay with the Olympic or will it run us out also?
is Hearthstone Equinox too large?
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I wouldn't worry about it until you have the heat load calculations done. When building new, one of the best investment you can make is proper insulation and sealing. It will save you money all year long. If you build to avoid thermal bridging across the studs, the house is going to need a lot less fuel to heat than a conventional house. For sure, locate the stove centrally and size it to be slightly larger than the heating system spec. The size might surprise you. My brother-in-law heats his 2200 sq ft., NY house most of the winter with just his wood-fired pizza oven. The wood-fired boiler is only run when it gets in the mid-teens or colder. They built it 30 years ago, but paid obsessive attention to thermal bridging and air infiltration. Since then it's been money in the bank for them.
Soapstone would be a good choice. I'd consider a Woodstock stove too.
Soapstone would be a good choice. I'd consider a Woodstock stove too.
Dakotas Dad
Minister of Fire
^^ what he said^^
and, if you have not seen an Equinox in person... you should try to.. That's one beautiful big rock.
and, if you have not seen an Equinox in person... you should try to.. That's one beautiful big rock.
Even though my house is not going to be that big, I want a large stove for long burns and so I can put in longer logs, but I am afraid of room being too hot.
If there is a stove too large it very well could be this one, 700 lbs of soapstone magic, it dont get any better than that!Pepp31 said:
Pepp31 said:
Then hold off until you know how much heat the area will need. With a house not even built yet, we would just be speculating. The heating engineer will tell you that when they do the heating load calculations. Though, FWIW, size isn't everything. Good long burns happen in other stoves like the Woodstocks and the mid-sized PEs.
I'm heating a little over 2000sf with an Equinox and it's not too much stove for my drafty old log home. Infiltration/heat loss, get it under control and the Eq. may be too big for you. I have learned good lessons this spring.......2 or 3 stick of wood can co a long way to take the chill off. During winter with all that firebox, it's so tempting to shove in more wood than you always need so you need to pay attention to what is happening outside.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
While it is true that the big EQ will hold enough for a long burn, it is also true that you won't be able to burn this stove at low temperatures to dial back the heat output. Non-cat stoves can not be run cool so that EQ when stuffed full for a long burn will burn hot the whole time and will cook you out of a well built home under 2000SF. They look great and I would love to have a huge stove like that to build a fire in.
I have the EQ's little look-a-like sibling the heritage and it works great for my 1963 1700SF. Almost too well now that I've done some insulating and air sealing.
I have the EQ's little look-a-like sibling the heritage and it works great for my 1963 1700SF. Almost too well now that I've done some insulating and air sealing.
yanksforever
Member
I heat 2300 sq. ft with Mansfield no problem. Beautiful stove and yes...I would definitely recommend it! Soap stone rocks!
So if the Equinox is too big how does the Mansfield compare to the Avalon Olympic? My Olympic has a 3.1 cuft firebox and the Mansfield a 3.2 cuft firebox. I noticed it says you can only put in 21 inch logs, while the Avalon can accept 24 inch logs east to west. Is there really a big difference? Does the Mansfield use an 8 or 6 flue?
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
Mansfield uses a 6" flue. EQ needs an eight.
My stove takes a 21" log E/W but I cut to 16" down from 18" last year to allow more flexibility in loading.
My stove takes a 21" log E/W but I cut to 16" down from 18" last year to allow more flexibility in loading.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
Fsappo
Minister of Fire
I wouldnt rule out the Equinox until you did the heat loss on the house, as our good moderator mentioned. If it does turn out grossly oversized on paper, you can feel very good about using the Mansfield. Overnight burns are very easy to get with that stove. 21" or 24" logs dont hinder the burn time, its all about the cubic feet. 24" logs are nice if you cut your own wood. Two less cuts per 8' log if you compare with the 16" lengths.
Either way, you'll love the stove. And yes, as Dakotas Dad said, you should view an Equinox in person if you havent already. Just for the WOW factor. That is a fine peice of equipment.
Either way, you'll love the stove. And yes, as Dakotas Dad said, you should view an Equinox in person if you havent already. Just for the WOW factor. That is a fine peice of equipment.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
BrowningBAR said:
Not a lot. Figure that's 2.5" on each end if the logs are all perfectly parallel. Trouble with cutting your wood to match the stove's max is that you can't load your stove intentionally creating air space for a hot burn. Logs must be loaded parallel.
Really, who cares if you have extra space on the ends? As Franks points out, it's the more about the lbs of wood that give you burn time than the small air gap on the sides. Bigger splits have more of an impact.
The wood world loves 16" splits. I can cut 4' lengths and load them nicely in a pickup plus I can sell or give away the extra to regular stove users. I gave away 6 cords last year.
Anyway, it's totally worth using slightly shorter wood to allow speed and flexibility in load placement.
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