Hi Folks! Coming in for a landing on a final decision about my stove purchase 
. Based on all the feedback on this forum I think I'm going to stay away from the F500 Oslo v3. I don't really want to spend that much money on a new stove and potentially have to do things like plug the ashpan holes with magnets, or Never use the front door, etc. I want it to just work.
I think my final contestants are the Jotul F55 v2 (non-CAT), the Hearthstone Shelburne (CAT), and the Hearthstone Manchester (CAT).
There seem to be some people who truly hate the Hearthstone stoves, but also some happy customers. The F55 v2 seems great but we far prefer the look of the hearthstone stoves.
recap of the setup is that the house is a 1200-1500Sqft open layout converted barn, and we only use the stove for supplemental heat when the mini-splits don't work well, and we just love to look at a fire. We may occasionally airBNB the house so ease of use for the stove is important, although detailed directions could be left to operate a CAT I think.
Chimney is brick with a liner (that we will be replacing), and is about 25'... the brick chimney comes right into the living room and has a thimble (no fireplace just a thimble that goes right into the chimney). Thimble height is at 28.75" on center, so all the above stoves would need a small elbow to lift the rear vent a few inches to the right height. Or maybe something to lift the legs a few inches higher?
The hearth is two big slabs of granite and measures 62" wide and 42.5" deep. F55 and Shelburne are no problem in terms of clearances, the Manchester would need double walled connector pipe and the various heat shields to meet approved clearances I believe even though all the surfaces below and behind are stove and 100% non-combustible, but would still be do-able.
And from slightly left field another contestant is the Woodstock Ideal Steel. My wife hates the look of this, but I'm sure she would hate battling with a frustrating stove even more, and I might be able to sell her on the all black version with none of the decorative gak all over it.
Obviously the 26% tax incentive for the hearthstone cat stoves (and accompanying install and flue replacement) is significant. But not worth having a stove that's frustrating.
Votes? thoughts? Words of warning? I'm going to make a move with this soon and appreciate all the great feedback from everyone on this forum!
best-
-N
p.s. images of existing install attached for context
. Based on all the feedback on this forum I think I'm going to stay away from the F500 Oslo v3. I don't really want to spend that much money on a new stove and potentially have to do things like plug the ashpan holes with magnets, or Never use the front door, etc. I want it to just work.I think my final contestants are the Jotul F55 v2 (non-CAT), the Hearthstone Shelburne (CAT), and the Hearthstone Manchester (CAT).
There seem to be some people who truly hate the Hearthstone stoves, but also some happy customers. The F55 v2 seems great but we far prefer the look of the hearthstone stoves.
recap of the setup is that the house is a 1200-1500Sqft open layout converted barn, and we only use the stove for supplemental heat when the mini-splits don't work well, and we just love to look at a fire. We may occasionally airBNB the house so ease of use for the stove is important, although detailed directions could be left to operate a CAT I think.
Chimney is brick with a liner (that we will be replacing), and is about 25'... the brick chimney comes right into the living room and has a thimble (no fireplace just a thimble that goes right into the chimney). Thimble height is at 28.75" on center, so all the above stoves would need a small elbow to lift the rear vent a few inches to the right height. Or maybe something to lift the legs a few inches higher?
The hearth is two big slabs of granite and measures 62" wide and 42.5" deep. F55 and Shelburne are no problem in terms of clearances, the Manchester would need double walled connector pipe and the various heat shields to meet approved clearances I believe even though all the surfaces below and behind are stove and 100% non-combustible, but would still be do-able.
And from slightly left field another contestant is the Woodstock Ideal Steel. My wife hates the look of this, but I'm sure she would hate battling with a frustrating stove even more, and I might be able to sell her on the all black version with none of the decorative gak all over it.
Obviously the 26% tax incentive for the hearthstone cat stoves (and accompanying install and flue replacement) is significant. But not worth having a stove that's frustrating.
Votes? thoughts? Words of warning? I'm going to make a move with this soon and appreciate all the great feedback from everyone on this forum!
best-
-N
p.s. images of existing install attached for context
