I purchased a hearthstone "Heritage" model wood stove in August of this year. I had been using a Jotul combifire 4 airtight non-EPA stove for many years for 100% of my home heating needs, but wanted to take advantage of the stimulus tax credit.
I did not try it right away, because the installer told me that part of the $5000 purchase package was a demonstration of how to use it.
This morning was the demonstration. The company (called Ashwood, in Long Island) sent a young man who spent 2 hours trying to light the "heritage" using finely split 18 month seasoned wood, kindling, and starter bricks ... with no success. He was only able to keep any kind of flame in the firebox with the loading door open.
After he left, I confirmed that there was no way to use the lower left hand air control to maintain a flame in the firebox. Even a lit firebrick, with no wood at all, would not stay alight. I conlucded that this device is delivering exaclty zero oxygen to the fire, which consequently smoulders and dies.
I attempted opening the ash pan swing door and sure enough the fire came back to life.
I have taken pictures of the bright yellow flames burning from a load of wood with the ash pan door open, followed by the immediate quencing of the fire when the ash pan door is closed. I also took pictures of the back, front, and both sides of the device. There is no visible air inlet anywhere (it must either be underneath, or this wood stove simply does not have an air inlet). Wiggling the air control has no effect on anything.
I took pictures of the reasonably clean burning emissions when the ash pan door is open, followed by the billowing plume of smoke that results when the door is closed. I also climbed on the roof and smelled the smoke, just to verify that it is indeed toxic wood smoke as opposed to "consensation" as the young man suggested.
Before buying this thing, I read a disturbing report about quality control problems with the "herthstone" company problems, but I chalked it up to people who did not know what they were doing. Now, I only wish I could have by old 1980 Jotul back instead of this broken "EPA cert" smoke manufacturing machine.
Can anyone help with this nightmare? I don't know how to post pictures, which I have and might help.
Thanks.
I did not try it right away, because the installer told me that part of the $5000 purchase package was a demonstration of how to use it.
This morning was the demonstration. The company (called Ashwood, in Long Island) sent a young man who spent 2 hours trying to light the "heritage" using finely split 18 month seasoned wood, kindling, and starter bricks ... with no success. He was only able to keep any kind of flame in the firebox with the loading door open.
After he left, I confirmed that there was no way to use the lower left hand air control to maintain a flame in the firebox. Even a lit firebrick, with no wood at all, would not stay alight. I conlucded that this device is delivering exaclty zero oxygen to the fire, which consequently smoulders and dies.
I attempted opening the ash pan swing door and sure enough the fire came back to life.
I have taken pictures of the bright yellow flames burning from a load of wood with the ash pan door open, followed by the immediate quencing of the fire when the ash pan door is closed. I also took pictures of the back, front, and both sides of the device. There is no visible air inlet anywhere (it must either be underneath, or this wood stove simply does not have an air inlet). Wiggling the air control has no effect on anything.
I took pictures of the reasonably clean burning emissions when the ash pan door is open, followed by the billowing plume of smoke that results when the door is closed. I also climbed on the roof and smelled the smoke, just to verify that it is indeed toxic wood smoke as opposed to "consensation" as the young man suggested.
Before buying this thing, I read a disturbing report about quality control problems with the "herthstone" company problems, but I chalked it up to people who did not know what they were doing. Now, I only wish I could have by old 1980 Jotul back instead of this broken "EPA cert" smoke manufacturing machine.
Can anyone help with this nightmare? I don't know how to post pictures, which I have and might help.
Thanks.
(I'd visited 3 other shops before theirs. )
! If not it will build up creasol and clog your flu and you will be out of buisiness. If the wood is wet, just toss your money out the window and put on a coat.
