BK Sentry S14

[firestickasteroid]

Hi Everyone. I've seen the previous thread about the Blaze King Sentry S14, but wanted to start a new thread to see whether or not there's any members using one yet.

I know it's only available in Canada (where I'm located) at this time.

I don't know if the S14 is right for me but it looks like an incredible stove with exceptional value for its cost. As a first time wood burner, I initially wanted something which can have a small fire for a few hours and provide some supplemental heat when needed (especially during a power outage).

I'm having a hard time trying to pick the S14 or something like a smaller Morso.

 

[GG Woody]

Hi Everyone. I've seen the previous thread about the Blaze King Sentry S14, but wanted to start a new thread to see whether or not there's any members using one yet.

I know it's only available in Canada (where I'm located) at this time.

I don't know if the S14 is right for me but it looks like an incredible stove with exceptional value for its cost. As a first time wood burner, I initially wanted something which can have a small fire for a few hours and provide some supplemental heat when needed (especially during a power outage).

I'm having a hard time trying to pick the S14 or something like a smaller Morso.

I have no experience with Morso, but I have great experiences with our BK. I think the Sentry looks like an awesome option for lots of people! Those really are two different choices.

 

[Dieselhead]

Just fyi The sentry 14 is now available for order in the us after it passed epa testing per BKVP.

 

[stoveliker]

I think you'll not be able to get a reasonable review of the S14. Someone saying something now means he had two fires in it. Not two seasons of fires

So you'd have to go by the reviews of other BK models. Technology will be the same. Heat output, loading experience will of course differ.

 

[firestickasteroid]

@stoveliker Yeah that's kind of been my assumption. I was hopeful someone in Canada had a change to do a few burns, at a minimum, before the end of the season but doesn't seem like it.

I'm sure this time next year we'll have lots of feedback...maybe mine! The low price up here is insane for what you're getting.

 

[Highbeam]

I went to check out the legitimate test results for the S14 on the EPA list and found that the list no longer exists, replaced with this note:

"The Burn Wise Program ran from 2009 to 2025. The website serves as a historic record; EPA is no longer updating program content as of October 30, 2025. "

Lame. Does anybody have a live link to an EPA list that might show the S14?

 

[stoveliker]

Can't have data pertaining to environmental impact floating around there in cyberspace, now, can we...

 

[bigealta]

yup

Can't have data pertaining to environmental impact floating around there in cyberspace, now, can we...

Yup, And go dump your used motor oil into the stream nearby. It's All good now.

 

[bigealta]

I do hope the new Sentry S14 does well. I'd definitely be looking at it if my house was smaller.

 

[firestickasteroid]

@bigealta It seems absurdly incredible especially for its price. I have to believe it's going to become a serious seller when the US market realizes as it becomes available.

Or I'm just nuts 🤪

 

[stoveliker]

@bigealta It seems absurdly incredible especially for its price. I have to believe it's going to become a serious seller when the US market realizes as it becomes available.

Or I'm just nuts 🤪

Welcome to the club 😁

 

[firestickasteroid]

I went to check out the legitimate test results for the S14 on the EPA list and found that the list no longer exists, replaced with this note:

"The Burn Wise Program ran from 2009 to 2025. The website serves as a historic record; EPA is no longer updating program content as of October 30, 2025. "

Lame. Does anybody have a live link to an EPA list that might show the S14?

There a third-party test report here for the S14: https://www.blazeking.com/test-reports/

 

[Highbeam]

There a third-party test report here for the S14: https://www.blazeking.com/test-reports/

It's something, I don't know if you ever had a chance to see the EPA list but that list allowed comparisons of all the stoves and had the important information. This 633 page report has more information but isn't consumer friendly.

At least BK got a smart and switched back to ceramic combustors! Then in the manual the pictures show a metal cat, doh! You can only use what was tested so ceramic for the win.

The bypass control lever/rod is up front so that's different. It's not just a scaled down princess. Huge door with a low bottom so no/low ash belly.

The S14 manual only requires 2' of vertical flue before the flue goes horizontal, not 3. Still "recommends" a 15' flue. Good luck getting that in a typical small space as would be typical with a small heater like this.

Nice low mid 8000 BTU low output rate. That's where this stove shines.

Fantastic that during testing they had to attach a protractor for a dial gauge to the thermostat knob because the unlabeled swoosh was a always a bad idea.

FIrebox depth is 13.5 inches so be sure to custom cut your firewood unless you want to chuck them in sideways.

Bolt in bypass gasket retainer system! yay, no more cutting and welding when the retainers melt.

 

[firestickasteroid]

@Highbeam I have seen the EPA list and yeah I agree. It's a real loss not seeing models you're interested in side-by-side. Hopefully a future government will restore it.

The bypass "tray" is probably one of my least favorite features and it's one of the things I disliked about the Hearthstone Lincoln. I'm very petty lol. I guess they probably didn't have enough room to do a swinging door setup.

 

[Highbeam]

@Highbeam I have seen the EPA list and yeah I agree. It's a real loss not seeing models you're interested in side-by-side. Hopefully a future government will restore it.

The bypass "tray" is probably one of my least favorite features and it's one of the things I disliked about the Hearthstone Lincoln. I'm very petty lol. I guess they probably didn't have enough room to do a swinging door setup.

Having not stuck my head in one, what is the bypass tray? Is this just a sliding bypass plate that lays flat to expose and hide the bypass opening? In the parts diagram I see bolt in bypass gasket retainers as well as some sort of protective shield that bolts in as well. There is no bypass plate in the parts diagram. It's a little unclear what's going on up there.

 

[firestickasteroid]

Having not stuck my head in one, what is the bypass tray? Is this just a sliding bypass plate that lays flat to expose and hide the bypass opening? In the parts diagram I see bolt in bypass gasket retainers as well as some sort of protective shield that bolts in as well. There is no bypass plate in the parts diagram. It's a little unclear what's going on up there.

I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about, but have a look at this video, starting around the 2:50 mark:

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[Highbeam]

I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about, but have a look at this video, starting around the 2:50 mark:

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Nice video. So a sliding plate bypass, no tension on it other than just the weight of the plate. But it does have a gasket and replaceable gasket retainers! I think it's a good setup that can actually be maintained. When the retainers melt out in the other models it is so hard to fix that the stove is junk. If the sentry can get 78% efficiency with a sliding plate then this whole tension thing seems overrated.

Also on the video you can see the front corners are not welded but formed, so that saves cost and I think makes it stronger. I also noticed the thick plate top, much thicker than my princess where you can actually see the weldments from below.

They still have the 10 year cat warranty for now, thank goodness it's ceramic and not shrinkomatic clogomatic steel.

The cat meter from the factory is out of adjustment. Easy to fix but come'on.

Firebricks all the way up the sides and back, no heatshields to fill up behind with junk.

They've made some changes that would be a great benefit to the princess and other stoves.

Now if we could just get them to attach that metal protractor they used for testing over the stupid swoosh!

 

[stoveliker]

I like the no heat shield.
I am not sure I like the sliding bypass; it's bound to ruin the gasket there at some point.
Odd (literally) flame shield in front of the cat.

 

[firestickasteroid]

@Highbeam I also forgot that in the Lincoln, it is an actual sled you move into place with the cat on it and it's not a door being closed.

That being said I do wonder what the lifespan on that bypass gasket is as @stoveliker also noted. At least that area isn't getting prolonged abuse once you close it and the cat is active.

 

[firestickasteroid]

I was able to stop in this week to get a few more pictures of the Sentry, especially of the bypass.

I also realized that the BK Boxer 24 has the same type of sliding bypass damper as the Sentry, so at least we have a model with a similar setup which has been in the market for several years.

Really loving the Sentry. Probably going to pull the trigger on it soon..

 

[stoveliker]

I see the gasket is in a U channel. That'll help.
Good to know the boxer has the same bypass indeed.

 

[Todd]

Is the Sentry a radiant stove? I don’t see any side convection panels. The clearances are awful close for a radiant stove.

 

[Highbeam]

Looks like you can lift off that metal curtain from behind the cat to allow pretty easy access to the area right behind the cat for cleaning.

The bypass plate doesn't look really thick. It feels like 1/2" thick on the princess and I'd think they would want it thick so it would be heavy enough to help seal and not warp.

Since the bricks go all the way up the sides this stove may not need exterior heat shields to stay relatively cool for those low clearances. All stoves are radiant and convective to some degree.

It almost feels like they listened to the stove nerds and fixed some of the flaws of the previous stove models. Maybe some new blood in the BK company not stuck on old design elements out of pride.

Looking forward to user experiences. The Boxer stove is the way it is because it is an insert firebox on a pedestal.

 

[firestickasteroid]

@Highbeam Are you asking me to go back and measure it?? 😂 At least it looks like a 10 minute replace job IF it proves to start warping.

 

[Todd]

Too bad BK doesn’t design a reversible flue so you could vent out the back if desired.