Do kuma make good wood stove ? Will you say they’re better than Pacific energy?

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What have you learned from your research on Kuma stoves? If you have specific questions maybe you can get more direct answers.

Better is a very subjective word.
 
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Is that the only reason it’s better? Canada has cold winters and has to make good products too.
 
Better is ill-defined.
What's good, better, best, depends on whether the appliance meets the needs of the user.
 
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I only asked because my dealer said kuma is better because it’s made in the USA
It's good for American employment, but made in Canada means lesser quality? I don't think so, Lucy. That's also where Regency, some Blaze Kings, SBI, Napoleon, RSF, etc. are made.
 
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It's good for American employment, but made in Canada means lesser quality? I don't think so, Lucy. That's also where Regency, some Blaze Kings, SBI, Napoleon, RSF, etc. are made.
True, but all he was saying was kuma has a true lifetime warranty. And kuma is much cheaper than the summit. The only reason I didn’t get it because it has catalytic. And I just didn’t want to deal with the extra maintenance.
 
True, but all he was saying was kuma has a true lifetime warranty. And kuma is much cheaper than the summit. The only reason I didn’t get it because it has catalytic. And I just didn’t want to deal with the extra maintenance.
Pretty soon they will all be catalytic unless they change the new testing methods back.
 
True, but all he was saying was kuma has a true lifetime warranty. And kuma is much cheaper than the summit. The only reason I didn’t get it because it has catalytic. And I just didn’t want to deal with the extra maintenance.
So because something has a lifetime warranty and is cheaper it's better?
I don't that reasoning as valid.

You have to define what qualities make something better or worse before making a judgment call about which one is better.

But the "best" stove (whatever that means) that can't do what you need is worthless to you.
 
Pretty soon they will all be catalytic unless they change the new testing methods back.
No they will not be. There are many noncats that have passed just fine
 
True, but all he was saying was kuma has a true lifetime warranty. And kuma is much cheaper than the summit. The only reason I didn’t get it because it has catalytic. And I just didn’t want to deal with the extra maintenance.
You do know regency has pretty much the same lifetime warranty as Kuma right? Taking a salesman's word as fact is never advisable.
 
No they will not be. There are many noncats that have passed just fine
You have to admit there’s a trend here to add cats. Maybe it will calm down since they did away with the 75% efficiency rebate. Still that one manufacturer ruined it for everyone else when they cheated on the cordwood test so the EPA decided to change the testing method again. I’m not sure if every manufacturer has retested with this new method yet?
 
You have to admit there’s a trend here to add cats. Maybe it will calm down since they did away with the 75% efficiency rebate. Still that one manufacturer ruined it for everyone else when they cheated on the cordwood test so the EPA decided to change the testing method again. I’m not sure if every manufacturer has retested with this new method yet?
Yes there is a trend to because of the 75% rebate. But that wasnt required and many have already passed the crib wood tests with non cats.
 
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Hello from Montana. IN December, EPA is required to release a a updated NSPS. They are not required to necessarily change anything, only review the 2015 NSPS. It is likely, very likely, that what will happen is a new cordwood test method will be introduced. Currently, manufacturers can request an ATM (alternative test method) using cordwood, but that would not be an FRM (Federal Reference Method).

The difference is the FRM will have gone through the promulgation process which includes an extensive comment period. The crib method (dimensional lumber) is the only FRM currently for wood stoves. The test method for cordwood used between 2015 and 2024 was an ATM, known as ASTM3053. It was NOT and FRM.

Changing the test method may in fact direct the technology employed to meet emission standards (passing grade). And yes, there has been a massive % increase in catalytic wood heaters, both for the increase in efficiency but also because states and regional air agencies can create their own requirements, example being the first hour filter pull max PM by ADEC (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation). And for the past 6 years, an agency in the Northeast has been working on a new IDC test method (integrated duty cycle) where the ability to repeat performance in replicate testing might be required.

As for warranty, you all know that product warranties (lifetime or otherwise) for consumer products are state defined. It's not human lifetime, it is product lifetime. "Hey Google, do states define product warranties?"

Yes, states define and regulate product warranty coverage primarily through implied warranties under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and individual state consumer protection statutes. While federal law (like the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) sets standards for written express warranties, state laws dictate unwritten baseline guarantees.

BKVP
 
Sounds confusing and a complete cluster. I know Woodstock is still waiting on recertification of some stoves from the last change of test method. I don’t even know if they will survive. All their stoves are either sold out or not in production.
 
True, but all he was saying was kuma has a true lifetime warranty. And kuma is much cheaper than the summit. The only reason I didn’t get it because it has catalytic. And I just didn’t want to deal with the extra maintenance.

Another thing to consider is that there is no large Kuma stove. Their biggest is much smaller than a princess and not nearly as big as the summit so if you need a larger stove you aren't getting one from Kuma anyway. Maybe a super sized PE firebox like a T5 would be a better comparison.

Kuma had some kick butt efficiency numbers.