Hearthstone Heritage vs Manchester

[Jagtec1]

We are getting out of our Lopi Leyden (see my other thread about all the problems we've had), and getting a new stove. The Leyden heated our cape well when it worked, although it did struggle to keep up on the coldest of our days (single digit days-which happen, but are not frequent).

Here's our conundrum: We want to ensure burns lengthy enough to heat our space, but don't want to cook ourselves out of the room either. It is my understanding that the soapstone stoves will provide a more even/softer heat than regular cast or steel stoves. I have concerns that the heat output on the Heritage may not be adequate for us...but that the Manchester may cook us out.

Can anyone with experience with one or both stoves chime in? I'm not looking to another brand, as I need to stay with the dealer that sold us the Leyden in order to get credit back from our old stove.

Our home is about 2000 SF, but we heat about 1700 with exclusively. Heat to the upstairs has never been an issue as it is a cape.

Thanks!

 

[brad wilton]

Hey jag,i hear alot of worries about that but to be honest i've had my dovre cast stove keeping the house heated up to 28 29c and i just sit there and enjoy,soapstone is supposed to have nice heat but take long to get rolling.and like they always say you can build a small fire in a big stove but not a big one in a small stove , p.s i do work in 840 degree heat all day so that might explain it

 

[Smoked]

If you have decent insulation, I think the Heritage will heat 1,700 ft well. I am heating 2700 ft. Wall insulation is pathetic and my house is very exposed to wind. My first (oldest)Heritage did a grate job down to 30ish and if calm out, down to 20. It was also in an exterior fireplace and no blockoff plate so I am sure the azalea out there was enjoying it I moved the old dog down stairs for a rest and put a new one in the living room and both have blockoff plates. With two now, really not planing on much cash going to the gas company this year.

How long do you need the burn to last though and do you have access to good hardwoods? When in 24x7 mode, I am loading at 10:30 PM and up a little before 6 to reload. Do a small load at 6 AM then bigger chunks at 7 for the at work burn. Get back home at 5 ish and normally had decent coals to get things going again. I use big chunks of oak in the back of the stove to get the longer burns.

The bigger stove will get you the longer burn times easier for sure but big loads for those burn times will make a lot of heat. Really, if insulation is good and longer than 8 hour burns are not needed, the Heritage should do it. It is less expensive and you will like the side door. I have the ash tray but stopped using it and just shovel now so you can skip that and save some cash too! If Insulation is less than average, maybe the bigger one is best!

 

[rudysmallfry]

I don't know anything about the Manchester, so I'm no help there. I've had a Heritage for 11 years. I have an older raised ranch with typical 1978 crap insulation. My stove is in the basement and I do have trouble getting the heat to come up to the main floor, so I'm also not much help there. Like smoked said, down to about 20 degrees, it really does a nice job. It's a very soft, even heat and won't blow you out of the room. I agree with what smoker said about your insulation. If it's good in your house, you should be fine with that stove.

I love love love that side door. I never open the front one and don't use the ash pan. I don't know if you plan to put yours on your main floor, but I have 18' total chimney height and need every inch of it for that stove. It seems to need more draft than some stoves.

 

[Jagtec1]

Thanks for the input! My wife and I are leaning towards the bigger stove (Manchester), as we would rather have smaller fires/loads but retain the capability for added heat output when/if needed. The prices are identical for all intents and purposes, but the Heritage does not come with an ash pan-although it's an add on option at $350 (ouch!). The clearances for the Manchester are also tighter/smaller, which is nice for our hearth configuration. It is also a cast/soapstone stove, so the heat quality should be similar.

Keep the input coming though...always such good shared experiences here!

 

[cableman]

Shelburne is a great model too, heated my 1800sq' house nicely

 

[Smoked]

Thanks for the input! My wife and I are leaning towards the bigger stove (Manchester), as we would rather have smaller fires/loads but retain the capability for added heat output when/if needed. The prices are identical for all intents and purposes, but the Heritage does not come with an ash pan-although it's an add on option at $350 (ouch!). The clearances for the Manchester are also tighter/smaller, which is nice for our hearth configuration. It is also a cast/soapstone stove, so the heat quality should be similar.

Keep the input coming though...always such good shared experiences here!

I had the Mansfield on my brain from another thread I was reading so yes, you get the side door and bigger firebox for a similar price. Looks like a nice stove. Even with the stone jacket or lining, I think you will get warmth off of the top a little quicker so it should be a good combo. If we get crazy extreme cold, you'll be ready!

 

[Woody Stover]

From what I've heard, the Manchester likes to crank out the heat. Could you put a small fan down low to move cool air into the stove room (and move warm air to the rest of the house?) What is your chimney setup? The Manchester I saw looked great. Brown enamel, but that's extra of course.

 

[Jagtec1]

From what I've heard, the Manchester likes to crank out the heat. Could you put a small fan down low to move cool air into the stove room (and move warm air to the rest of the house?) What is your chimney setup? The Manchester I saw looked great. Brown enamel, but that's extra of course.

6" single wall pipe to a 90, out through the wall (may 8' tops inside), to double wall insulated outside stack, gotta be close to 20' tall.

 

[thinkxingu]

We have a Homestead for the top floor of our split and it's perfect down to the teens but then the heat cycle doesn't work as well as the heat it puts out as it's burning down can't keep up.

Soapstone stoves aren't molten rock heaters like steel it iron and prefer finesse to brute heat. That being said, the bigger stove will almost always be better.

 

[Woody Stover]

6" single wall pipe to a 90, out through the wall (may 8' tops inside), to double wall insulated outside stack, gotta be close to 20' tall.

Even with the 90 the Manchester should draft really well and throw out serious heat on that stack. Manual says it only needs 10'.

 

[sandie]

I have a related question. How do you compare the Hearthstone stoves with the Woodstock Soapstone wood stoves? I like the Woodstock stoves for their looks but I want a stove that will burn for 8 hrs at least and will have nice coals to get it roaring again. Pricing and quality of fire and warmth are my priorities.

 

[Smoked]

I have a related question. How do you compare the Hearthstone stoves with the Woodstock Soapstone wood stoves? I like the Woodstock stoves for their looks but I want a stove that will burn for 8 hrs at least and will have nice coals to get it roaring again. Pricing and quality of fire and warmth are my priorities.

I would like to have a Woodstock one day, so far have just not been able to make the configuration work. From this site, I can't say I have ever seen a complaint.

You are talking tube stoves (Hearthstone) vs cat stoves (Woodstock) though. I have never owned a cat stove but my understanding is they will get you longer burn times, at least when max output is not needed. They are clean and efficient. The only down side is the combuster is a service item so you will have that maintenance item every so often depending on your burning habits and the part. Query Woodstock owners and see how many years they are getting out of their cats. Cat stoves can be turned down for the longer burns and will still run clean.

The non cat stoves are more simple math. Bigger firebox = longer burn time. For the 2.3 cu ft box in the Heritage, I do normally have enough coals in the morning and after work to easily get something going again but you are not waking up to dancing flames! If you do not need the full potential of the stove, you control it with the load of fuel but you can't build a small fire and make it last a long time. Other than gaskets, you should have very little maintenance on them providing you don't run a split or your chimney brush through the baffle. If you need decent output beyond 8 hours on a Hearthstone, you do need a bigger box than the Heritage.

Really, that question is a whole new thread And you need smarter guys than me to chime in!

 

[begreen]

They make good stoves but just for the record there have been complaints and stoves returned too. Most were for the PH which had some teething pains in its first year.

 

[BrotherBart]

I have a related question. How do you compare the Hearthstone stoves with the Woodstock Soapstone wood stoves? I like the Woodstock stoves for their looks but I want a stove that will burn for 8 hrs at least and will have nice coals to get it roaring again. Pricing and quality of fire and warmth are my priorities.

If you can't get get an eight hour burn with coals for a relight out of virtually every EPA stove with 2.5 cubic feet of wood space or over on the market then you have bad wood or bad technique. Whether it will heat your house is a whole nother issue. That is gonna depend on the stove having a big enough belly. Cat/non-cat/nuclear reactor or whatever.

 

[izzyq]

We looked at both and ended up purchasing the Manchester. We have been very happy with our stove (this is season #3 with it). We get overnight burns with no problems and the stove does crank out heat. I loved the look of the Manchester (we got the brown enamel) and that's what really sold us on that over the Heritage. I must admit some days in the winter in my livingroom I crack open a window because it does put out a lot of heat but we are very happy with our choice. Good luck!

 

[CTSoxFan]

Another happy Manchester owner here. This will be our second season with the stove. I had read some complaints about the side door, which made me a little nervous, but we haven't had any problems with ours, and I think Hearthstone has worked out the kinks at this point. The large firebox is great, and we have no trouble getting overnight burns. Our stove is in a small living room in our cape, and it doesn't heat us out of the room. Operation is very easy. One thing to keep in mind is that the stove is an East-West loader only, and the dimensions make a it a little tough to use all 3 cubic feet of the firebox. Fine with me, as that configuration works best for my space, but it's probably not as versatile as, say, the Alderlea T-6

 

[Jagtec1]

Another happy Manchester owner here. This will be our second season with the stove. I had read some complaints about the side door, which made me a little nervous, but we haven't had any problems with ours, and I think Hearthstone has worked out the kinks at this point. The large firebox is great, and we have no trouble getting overnight burns. Our stove is in a small living room in our cape, and it doesn't heat us out of the room. Operation is very easy. One thing to keep in mind is that the stove is an East-West loader only, and the dimensions make a it a little tough to use all 3 cubic feet of the firebox. Fine with me, as that configuration works best for my space, but it's probably not as versatile as, say, the Alderlea T-6

This is exactly what I was looking for...as we also have a small living room in our cape, where our stove lives.

 

[pixelated]

Our Manchester is getting installed tomorrow, it will be heating about 1800 sq ft. So, by the end of the week, I should have a good idea of what living with one is like.
Looking forward to it, and am really happy that the weather is mild enough that small break-in fires won't be a problem.


Update….
The stove install went smoothly, it was installed by the dealer who did a great job, I am very happy that I didn't have to wrestle the 500 pound beast into place.
Got to do the first two break-in burns. So far I am very impressed. It's much easier to light than the old stove. Even better, the first small, 200 degree burn raised the room temp 2 degrees, which I wasn't really expecting.
Started the third burn this morning getting it up to full temp, as I think I expected, it took a bit to get there but it's producing a nice warmth into the far corners of the house. Got to try out the fan kit too, it seems to work well for moving the warm air off the stove. It's reasonably quiet on it's lower settings and isn't visible at all from normal viewing angles.
Hopefully all the new paint will be mostly cooked now and we can get down to actually using it after another cool-down.

 

[Jagtec1]

Our new Manchester should be here next week. I will install myself.

 

[Jagtec1]

Picked it up today, and removed the Leyden (which is for sale if anyone is interested). Wood stoves sure are heavy! I boogered up and incorrectly cut a piece of stove pipe, so we can't burn yet. Need to find a 32" piece of 6" pipe to go through the support box/thimble.

Meanwhile, the turkey is brining.

 

[begreen]

The Manchester is highly radiant. Are clearances being met? It's hard to tell from the picture. It needs at least 9" clearance on the right corner and at least 18 in of hearth and clearance on the left side. In corner installs the side door is to be locked unless clearances can be met. Page 9:

 

[Jagtec1]

9 3/4" on the right corner, and over 18" on the left side where the door is. Hard to tell in the photo.

 

[pixelated]

Looks nice.
The crate makes a handy source of wood for the break-in fire.