Hello everyone. I've been happily burning for the past 2 seasons and all was going well. August 30, 2011 there was a wildfire that swept through OKC, OK and burned my house to the ground. The stove is a Summers Heat that i bought new back in 2009. I am including pictures of the stove in it's current condition. What I am wanting to know is if it can be saved or is it junk at this point. I am not sure if I am going to rebuild the house or not but I thought I might sell it to someone that can save it. Thanks for your help.
Victim of a house fire
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Another question can the stove be used without the ash drawer if the plug is in the bottom of the stove?
My Oslo heats my home
Minister of Fire
To stray from your original inquiry, I'm sorry for your loss of a burned down home. As for the stove, a real good inspection for visual damage seems to be in order. Can you collect anything with your homeowners for a replacement stove?
The stove won't be replaced anytime soon as my girlfriend has health issues and wood heat is a problem for her. She has a gas fireplace in her home and I have a big generator so we are going to be ok if the power fails. I really don't want to scrap it if it is still useable.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Sad to hear about the fire for sure.
As for the stove, knowing how hot it can get with a house fire, I would probably not be trying to salvage that stove at all. Sorry about that. Maybe others know better so we'll wait and see.
As for the stove, knowing how hot it can get with a house fire, I would probably not be trying to salvage that stove at all. Sorry about that. Maybe others know better so we'll wait and see.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
dante2 said:
You know, I would give England Stove Works a call (the maker of your stove) and tell them your story. They have fantastic customer service and would probably assist you in any way they could.
PapaDave
Minister of Fire
Good point BBar. I was going to suggest a shout out to Mike.
Hard to tell from here, but with a good brushing and some paint, it MIGHT still be saved. Take out all the firebrick and do a weld check with a flashlight looking for breaks.
House fires can be much hotter than stove fires, so there may be warping too.
Hard to tell from here, but with a good brushing and some paint, it MIGHT still be saved. Take out all the firebrick and do a weld check with a flashlight looking for breaks.
House fires can be much hotter than stove fires, so there may be warping too.
PapaDave
Minister of Fire
dante2, very sorry to hear about the fire.
Good point BBAR. I was going to suggest a shout out to Mike.
Hard to tell from here, but with a good brushing and some paint, it MIGHT still be saved. Take out all the firebrick and do a weld check with a flashlight looking for breaks.
House fires can be much hotter than stove fires, so there may be warping too.
Good point BBAR. I was going to suggest a shout out to Mike.
Hard to tell from here, but with a good brushing and some paint, it MIGHT still be saved. Take out all the firebrick and do a weld check with a flashlight looking for breaks.
House fires can be much hotter than stove fires, so there may be warping too.
BrowningBAR
Minister of Fire
PapaDave said:
If I was England Stove Works I would use it as an opportunity for some PR. He bought the stove new in 2009 and suffered a loss at no fault to him. I'd send him a new 13, at the very least at steep discount. But, that's me.
Thanks everybody for your responses. My first thought was to contact ESW and get their thoughts on it. I just hate to waste the stove if someone can benefit from it. I will let everyone know what happens after I talk to them.
I'd say it never hurts to make the call. The blower is obviously trash but the rest of the unit might just need a sandblasting and re-paint.
Very sorry to hear of the loss. Please let us know how you make out.
pen
Very sorry to hear of the loss. Please let us know how you make out.
pen
I'm very sorry for your loss. This has been a terrible fire season for your area. It's good to know you are ok.
This may be the picture, but the door appears to be sagging. If other parts of the stove are warped or welds weakened it may no longer be safe. I'd be reluctant to put it back in a house after the stresses it experienced during the fire.
This may be the picture, but the door appears to be sagging. If other parts of the stove are warped or welds weakened it may no longer be safe. I'd be reluctant to put it back in a house after the stresses it experienced during the fire.
BeGreen said:
Agreed. The problem is that you just don't know. Use it in a workshop? A sauna? Back-yard firepit? Sure.
If someone is looking for a house stove on a budget--maybe a young family starting out or older people on a fixed income--they might take a chance on a marginal stove because it was affordable. If it were to fail dramatically on them, I think you'd be haunted by that. Just not worth the risk. Take the decision out of their hands and let it go.
You could let the manufacturer know your position, let them pick up the tab to ship it back, check it out, and refinish it to donate to a family that was burned out or flooded. Good PR for them, good feeling for you, good heat for someone somewhere. That's the only way I'd want to see it back in use.
In taking a second look at that pic I see what looks like the door sagging also. Also looks like warp in the vicinity of the ash pan shelf.
About 10 years ago I worked for a fella who's house burnt and he burned wood. I showed up with the fire company when I got the security call. I was scared to death to think that the house burned because of something I did or overlooked with the chimney. Turned out the be the oil burner. Long story short, the wood stove other than being dirty looked fine right after the fire. Within a day or two because of being wet and covered in ash it ended up looking like your stove but it was able to be reused.
I agree erring on the side of caution here if that pic is accurate.
pen
About 10 years ago I worked for a fella who's house burnt and he burned wood. I showed up with the fire company when I got the security call. I was scared to death to think that the house burned because of something I did or overlooked with the chimney. Turned out the be the oil burner. Long story short, the wood stove other than being dirty looked fine right after the fire. Within a day or two because of being wet and covered in ash it ended up looking like your stove but it was able to be reused.
I agree erring on the side of caution here if that pic is accurate.
pen
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Random thoughts . . .
Sorry for your loss . . .
I'm no woodstove engineer . . . but I think I would write this stove off . . . a house fire can generate a tremendous amount of heat, not to mention it has been exposed to water from the fire suppression efforts or elements, exposure to who knows what chemical combinations from the items and chemicals in the house mixing together as they combusted and possible damage if anything tell on to the stove.
Sorry for your loss . . .
I'm no woodstove engineer . . . but I think I would write this stove off . . . a house fire can generate a tremendous amount of heat, not to mention it has been exposed to water from the fire suppression efforts or elements, exposure to who knows what chemical combinations from the items and chemicals in the house mixing together as they combusted and possible damage if anything tell on to the stove.
leeave96
Minister of Fire
I'm thinking that in as much as this is a steel stove, it might be OK. Check for warpage and squareness (if there is such a word), clean it up, repaint and do a few outside driveway burns. If everything looks OK - you might be fine. The same metal that takes the heat on the inside of the stove is the same on the outside - other than warping or some damper damage, you might be OK.
Let us know how it turns out.
Sorry about your house fire too.
Good luck,
Bill
Let us know how it turns out.
Sorry about your house fire too.
Good luck,
Bill
Benchwrench
Feeling the Heat
sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you recover quickly.
Regarding the stove; first someone should evaluate if the steel has cracks from trying to suppress the fire with water, then address that aspect of it's integrity. Allowing a handyman to take it home, someone who can appreciate it, due to it's present condition and the fact that you can't use it for the sake of your gf.
Regarding the stove; first someone should evaluate if the steel has cracks from trying to suppress the fire with water, then address that aspect of it's integrity. Allowing a handyman to take it home, someone who can appreciate it, due to it's present condition and the fact that you can't use it for the sake of your gf.
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