Hearth Mounted Stoves

Grady223 said:

Not sure I want a catalytic or soapstone stove besides which wife doesn't like the looks of the Woodstock.

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Even the Keystone?

Hi Grady223,

Looks like this thread took a detour through the familiar lands of soapstone vs. cast iron/steel, cat vs. secondaries, etc....

As to your question, I think I saw a few other suggestions. From my experience, both stoves recommended by your dealer are good. I have close friends with a Castine installed in their hearth and it works very well for them. A bit small as a primary heat source, but a great little burner that heats up most of their living space. Last year we installed a Homestead in our hearth and love it. I looked at Woodstocks, but I didn't have the clearance's necessary.

Sounds like both options are a good size for your house. May come down to which fits/looks better.

Good luck, and enjoy!

I have to ask. Can we rekindle this topic. I dont think an answer was ever reached due to some derailment.

I am curious mostly because i am looking to up grade and most certainly cant afford to make a mistake twice. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice....

Is a stove mounted on a hearth better than insert? Obviously size limited, as a large stove takes up more space on the available hearth space than large insert. Hence, the moniker..

Thoughts?

A hearth stove is a little more efficient imo unless you have it shoved way back into the fireplace without any way to reflect the heat back out. It also seems like inserts need a good blower to get most of the heat out in my experience. I think inserts would be more efficient if they lost the surround panels but not many like that look of a big gap between.

Todd said:

A hearth stove is a little more efficient imo unless you have it shoved way back into the fireplace without any way to reflect the heat back out. It also seems like inserts need a good blower to get most of the heat out in my experience. I think inserts would be more efficient if they lost the surround panels but not many like that look of a big gap between.

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I'm no expert as I am just getting into this but in all of my reading I think I have come to this same conclusion.

I need to clean up the Equinox a little. The stone is very clean. There is some discoloration of the black finish at the side door hinge area. The paperwork came with an "information about your stove paint" brochure. StoveBright High Temperature Paint. I guess all I'm asking is what is a proven cleaning procedure for light cleaning and touchup?

In my travels, i saw that equinox. Huge, i mean they used it to put another stove on top. Wife and i like the heratige and the pheonix. Why do they make a stove, advertise it for hearth use, and not make it avalible to put a blower on? The mounting im think a blower is goung to be a must. Same with jotul 400. Literature says hearth mount, but cant put a blower on. Kind of upsetting. I do like the nubers on the pheonix.

Stump_Branch said:

In my travels, i saw that equinox. Huge, i mean they used it to put another stove on top. Wife and i like the heratige and the pheonix. Why do they make a stove, advertise it for hearth use, and not make it avalible to put a blower on? The mounting im think a blower is goung to be a must. Same with jotul 400. Literature says hearth mount, but cant put a blower on. Kind of upsetting. I do like the nubers on the pheonix.

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My current catalog page 25 shows "Fan with built-in thermostat and rheostat (optional)" for the Equinox.

In the owners manual page 5 it lists a blower as optional equipment part 90-57502

So are you saying you cannot use the blower in the hearth mount situation? I don't see anything in the manual stating that.

This guy has a hearth mounted Equinox with the blower installed......

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/53289/#593568

No i imagine yours can does have a blower option. In my shopping i was told of two models, the hearthstone phoenix and jotul f400. Both are advertised as hearthmounts etc. But cannot be fitted with a blower. Seems odd. Heritage dies, smaller homestead models then skip over the phoenix and go mansfield. Equinox.

Same for jotul. Didnt know why. Bad for stove?

Stump_Branch said:

In my shopping i was told

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Careful who you listen to. Especially sales people.

The only model in the Hearthstone catalog that doesn't have a blower option is the Phoenix.

If you have a good block off plate or rear heat shield and the stove sits out far enough you may not even need a blower, just let it do it's thing. A blower could be a future add on if you think you really need it. You may also find a box fan blowing toward the stove to be more effective than a blower.

Ha the hearthstone book even states no blower on the hearthmounted homestead. Any one know why. Maybe its just a fitment issue...?

It looks like the Homestead comes in two models... 8750 H and 8750 F with the F coming with 6" legs instead of 4" like the H. At least the main catalog call it the 8750
It's a strange one in the Hearthstone lineup. Like you said it does state on a separate page that there is no blower option for the H model. It also has a very high hearth pad R value requirement.... 6.6

Now I'm beginning to see mistakes in the book and or website.

The main catalog on page 11 shows pictures of both models but they both appear to be mounted in or at a hearth. The one with the short legs might be freestanding (hard to tell by the picture) and the one with the long legs is definitely hearth mounted.
On the website there is no mention of the inability to use the blower option in the hearth application... it even looks like the only difference between the two is the leg height.
On the website when you click on documents the manual says.. 8570 not 8750

Page 46 of the Homestead manual lists the blower kit with this restriction..

"Not for use in an enclosure (such as a fireplace or
alcove). Must be installed with the Rear Heat Shield
Kit. For freestanding installations only."

I also notice the owners manual for my Equinox has a lot less information with respect to parts. The Homestead manual has a full parts and optional equipment list. My Equinox manual only lists a few option kits and what looks like user replaceable kit list.

Yeah is strange. Youd think you would want the blower. Oh well think im going to try fit bigger than homestead anyhow.

Yea it sounds like it's better off as a freestanding unit.