Help me pick a new stove.

[edyit]

Currently we have a Magnolia 2015 which has worked really well heating our home for the last 5 years. Last night however it scared the living bejeezus out of me. The stove body where the door shuts on it has started to make a gap when it gets up to temp (600F). When it is cool (I checked it this morning) the gasket passes the dollar bill test all around it, and everything is flat and straight checking it with a straight edge. So here is what I'm looking for and am open to suggestions. I have 15 feet of chimney with 2 90's in it, that's not going to change. Current stove drafts fine has no problems with smoke spillage etc. Hearth is 48" x 60" with an R value of 1.19 (3 sheets durock + tile). So I'm looking for an easy breathing stove with a ~2.5 cubic foot fire box that I can load NS. If I can't load NS then I really don't want it. Just doing some quick browsing online the Madison has caught my eye, as has the Alderlea T5.

 

[begreen]

You're on the right track. Not sure how well the Madison will work with a pair of 90s there thought. There is also the Super 27 or Spectrum with the same PE firebox. Also take a look at the Enviro Kodiak 1700 or the Enviro Boston 1700 if you want it to be cast iron jacketed.

 

[edyit]

Thanks begreen. No it doesn't have to be cast jacketed, I was looking at the alderleas because i've seen you mention them before thanks for the tip on the enviro's.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

I would say the Super 27/T5 would fit the bill nicely. Pacific Energy stoves do seem to be easy breathers, I absolutely love my 27.

 

[begreen]

Thanks begreen. No it doesn't have to be cast jacketed, I was looking at the alderleas because i've seen you mention them before thanks for the tip on the enviro's.

In that case you would be fine with the PE Super 27 or the Enviro Kodiak 1700. Both are easy breathing stoves.

 

[Woody Stover]

Have you got it installed yet? How's it doing? We'll be needing pics soon.

 

[edyit]

found a shop close by that sells the enviro's, going to check them out tomorrow to see them in person, nearest PE dealer is a little further away, but i don't mind a nice sunday drive. pics will definitely be posted

 

[Pennstater]

I have had a great experience with the heatilator ecochoice WS22. Great output of heat with good burn time, at very reasonable price. 2.7 cubic foot box that loads N/S as you desired.

 

[edyit]

I went and looked at some stoves this weekend the enviro's and the heatilator dealers were both reasonably close by. Both looked nice but I didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling from the heatilator dealer, he either couldn't or didn't want to answer questions about that stove. My wife really likes the looks of the enviro boston so things are leaning that way now but not set in stone. The big question I have after looking at their manual online for both the kodiak and boston is this line "If the stove top temperatures exceed 550°F, you are overfiring. Overfiring your stove will void the warranty." On our current stove normal temp is 600F-650F. I'm hoping someone that owns one of these can chime in on what normal operating temps are.

 

[begreen]

That line about overfiring temp looks like it was added in 2015. As written it is ambiguous. You are correct, common cruising temp is 550-650F, if read on the stove top. The manual used to read:
c) DO NOT OVERFIRE. If the heater or chimney connector glows, you are overfiring. Overfiring could ignite creosote in the chimney and cause a house fire.

I note that they don't say where one would be reading that temp. The Boston has a convection top. So if one reads 550F on the convection top, then yes I would agree that would be overfiring. The devil is in the details here. On the Magnolia you are measuring the actual stove top temp.

@stovelark have you seen this change? Can you clarify?

 

[Woody Stover]

Maybe they chose mentioning the temps in the re-write, instead of something like this:

The manual used to read:
c) If the heater or chimney connector glows, you are overfiring...and by the time you see it, it may well be too late; There's a good chance you've already damaged your stove!

 

[stovelark]

Hi BG and all (edyit). Had seen that in the Boston manual myself- our sales rep said someone playing word games at Sherwood industries when asked about it... They too said if read that hot on the outside cast skin you would be overfiring, as the actual inner steel stove top would be twice that reading. I can see their point, but would have been better to just have suggested to read temp at an appropriate spot. I typically have 500-600 stove top temps on my Kodiak, with good seasoned wood, its kinda hard not to on a very cold day such as we are having now- I think someone just misprinted info in the manuals. Normaly stove top temps is just like BG said, 400-700ish. Been chilly last few days but warming up later this week.
BTW- I like the eco-choice line too, I think they are a great value for the money, espec the ws-22. A big stove with big heat if treated correctly.

 

[stovelark]

Wow- Just read the Kodiak 1700 manual online, "stress lines and overfiring" on pages 4 and 8 are interestingly stated. Will def have to check into this lawyer-ese and see if an answer can be gotten. Its pretty hard to only put a few pieces of wood in and run at lower than 550 on the stovetop... Good pickup guys.

 

[begreen]

Thanks. Keeping a stove top below 550ºF is near impossible and it would be near impossible for them to prove you burned it at say 650ºF. Unfortunately we have to deal with what is in the manual. As written I have a hard time recommending their stoves. They're setting their customers up for an impossible situation and it could lead to folks running their stoves too cool. Shame, I really like Enviros.

 

[Woody Stover]

Wow- Just read the Kodiak 1700 manual online, "stress lines and overfiring" on pages 4 and 8 are interestingly stated. Will def have to check into this lawyer-ese and see if an answer can be gotten.

Is "stress lines" a euphemism for cracks? Why would they write this into the instructions, unless it's been a problem?

"Stress lines located within the firebox at the secondary air channels may result from the repeated
expansion and contraction of metal during regular use. These lines, when narrower than the thickness
of a coin, do not compromise the safety or efficiency of the unit and as such do not necessitate repair or
replacement.
Similarly, stress lines that may appear on the firebox front due to regular use also do not compromise
safety or efficiency of the unit, with the possible exception of the door gasket. In the event that these
extend beyond the door gasket, they may have a minor effect on the integrity of the seal and will then be
covered by the warranty policy for repair.

The term "logs" here is pretty subjective...a "log" can be very big. Then again, they seem to be suggesting that the operator should only add enough wood to last "several hours." What if I want to sleep longer than "several hours?"

"b) DO NOT OVERLOAD THE STOVE.
Normally, three or four logs will provide heat for several hours.
Never operate this stove where portions glow red hot. Using more than five logs at a time can cause
overfiring. Keep logs a few inches from the lowest point of the top of the firebox. If any logs are touching
the tubes in the top of the firebox, you can damage the air tubes. Overloading the stove can cause
damage to the firebox and air tubes and will void the warranty."

It's possible they are just over-stating the whole thing, to scare users into being cautious. I imagine there are more than a few idiots that just burn the living hell out of these stoves. It would be good to know how they are actually handling problems that arise from normal use...

 

[edyit]

thanks for taking the time to respond I could definitely see 550F being too hot on the boston cast jacketed version, I just found it really odd to see that on the kodiak steel version. Our nearest PE dealer is a little over an hour and a half away, if the weather is decent i'll take the wife out for lunch and a stove tour (god bless her for putting up with me) I've also showed her the IS from woodstock online and she like the options there, might call them today and ask them a few questions.

 

[stovelark]

Woody and BG- Totally agree- don't understand where this change came from, sounds like legal advised them to re-write the manuals. I know Quad and PE have had in the past some welds/cracks issues, but haven't heard much on (or have been blind to them cause I really like Enviro stoves) this being an issue with the Kodiaks. Happily I know too that Quad and PE have for the most part stood behind their stuff. I have had to go out and repair loose air tubes by putting screws through the tubes so they can't shift and come out though. I looked at the Kodiak insert when they made the surround change and door handle change a couple of years back- everything else looked the same as what they had been producing. I know everyone is trying to save a dime in manufacturing, but darn this is a little disappointing. We'll have to wait and see....

 

[edyit]

so we've finally settled on this for our replacement.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Summers-Heat-2-000-sq-ft-Wood-Stove/999918844

The "Monroe" should be a nice little upgrade from the Magnolia. Bought it at Lowes for ~$650 after taxes. Will be picking it up friday. Pics of the change out coming soon.

 

[fishki]

That link is the SSW01 Madison stove ^^
not Monroe

 

[edyit]

my mistake then i thought the madison was the larger size and the monroe was the smaller version, but that is the one we purchased

 

[fishki]

my mistake then i thought the madison was the larger size and the monroe was the smaller version, but that is the one we purchased

It is, they are both Madisons, just two versions of the same stove
The SSW01 is the smaller one, The SSW02 is the larger one.

 

[stovelark]

Hi edy- Glad you got your new stove, burn it well.

 

[edyit]

thanks, hopefully going to get it this friday after all the snow gets cleaned up, got 40 inches dumped on us over night. pics to follow when it goes in.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

thanks, hopefully going to get it this friday after all the snow gets cleaned up, got 40 inches dumped on us over night. pics to follow when it goes in.

Congratulations, looks like a real nice stove at a great price. Look forward to the pictures once installed.

I was curious what they mean by the following:

• Automatic air setback for convenient start-ups and reloads; no more babysitting your stove

Any ideas?

 

[WoodyIsGoody]

Congratulations, looks like a real nice stove at a great price. Look forward to the pictures once installed.

I was curious what they mean by the following:

• Automatic air setback for convenient start-ups and reloads; no more babysitting your stove

Any ideas?

Sounds like you can open the intake when reloading/starting and it will automatically return to a preset position after the fire has a chance to get going. I don't see what else it could be.