Kuma Cascade LE wood insert

[Jigsaw]

Hello all, new member here! After lurking here and reading the invaluable info over the last week or so, I have come to the conclusion that I want to purchase a Kuma Cascade LE wood insert. My local dealer, the one I feel very comfortable dealing with, sells Kuma, BK and Hearthstone stoves/inserts. Are there any Cascade LE owners here and can you give me any input on the performance of said insert? I want to augment my current source of heat, a gas fired boiler, with this insert. My 1970 ranch style house with original windows and upgraded insulation is 2500 square feet. That includes walk out basement. My plan is to put it in the basement fireplace. Thoughts please. Thanks!

 

[begreen]

Seems to be a good strong heater. Search in this forum on "Kuma Cascade".

Kuma insert, question for owners

Hey its me, I'm still shopping for the right insert for us. So, question for Kuma insert owners: How well does your insert radiate heat without the use of the blower? I talked to a dealer and he said he hardly ever sells the blowers because the inserts convect heat really well. I have a ceiling...

www.hearth.com

Is the basement also insulated? Is there a large open stairway nearby leading to the middle of the house so that the heat has an easy passage upstairs?

 

[Jigsaw]

I've searched and come up with some info. Not much.

The basement is finished and insulated. I was thinking of installing a register or 2 into the floor on either side of the fireplace in the kitchen/dining room directly above to promote warm air movement upstairs. I will also use a system of fans to move the warm air upstairs.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

We used to heat a ranch-style house of about 2,500 sq. ft. from a walkout basement in Virginia. We didn’t intend to heat the whole house when we bought the insert, just the basement that was too cool in winter. The insert did such a good job that it ended up carrying most of the load, though we still let the gas furnace even things out when it was really cold. We had really good insulation, airsealing, and new windows.

Our basement had an open staircase that heat did flow up, but there was a beam across the ceiling that trapped the hottest air away from the staircase. We did end up cutting registers from our living/dining room to the basement, and that allowed the warmest air up. It took us a few years to decide to do it, though, and we studied temperatures and airflow patterns pretty thoroughly. (We also avoided putting anything directly above the insert because we didn’t want young children dropping anything through a register on top of the stove which protruded about ten inches from our fireplace.). We also used fans, but the registers did help. I wouldn’t be quick to cut holes, though, until you’ve lived with the insert and studied how your heat moves.

I can’t tell you anything about the Kuma Cascade, but if it does have a 2.5 cubic foot firebox, that’s a nice size in my experience. Our current insert in Texas is that size, a bit bigger than what we had in Virginia. It’s nice.

 

[Jigsaw]

We used to heat a ranch-style house of about 2,500 sq. ft. from a walkout basement in Virginia. We didn’t intend to heat the whole house when we bought the insert, just the basement that was too cool in winter. The insert did such a good job that it ended up carrying most of the load, though we still let the gas furnace even things out when it was really cold. We had really good insulation, airsealing, and new windows.

Our basement had an open staircase that heat did flow up, but there was a beam across the ceiling that trapped the hottest air away from the staircase. We did end up cutting registers from our living/dining room to the basement, and that allowed the warmest air up. It took us a few years to decide to do it, though, and we studied temperatures and airflow patterns pretty thoroughly. (We also avoided putting anything directly above the insert because we didn’t want young children dropping anything through a register on top of the stove which protruded about ten inches from our fireplace.). We also used fans, but the registers did help. I wouldn’t be quick to cut holes, though, until you’ve lived with the insert and studied how your heat moves.

I can’t tell you anything about the Kuma Cascade, but if it does have a 2.5 cubic foot firebox, that’s a nice size in my experience. Our current insert in Texas is that size, a bit bigger than what we had in Virginia. It’s nice.

Thank you, that is some very valuable information!

 

[begreen]

There won't be a lot of reviews of the Cascade LE, it's new in 2020. Kuma is a small company with a good reputation for quality and customer service. Give them a call if there are specific questions about this stove.

Duae's advice is good. Before cutting holes, it's good to study airflow patterns and to understand convective loops so that there is a return air path as well as the hot air supply. Sizing and location can make a big difference. Also note that floor registers should have a fusible-link fire damper.

 

[kennyp2339]

I was thinking of installing a register or 2 into the floor on either side of the fireplace in the kitchen/dining room directly above to promote warm air movement upstairs.

Doesnt work like that, I'm a basement heater myself and find its easier to move cold air and establish a convective loop then passive holes to let warm air rise.
Last year I introduced a 6x10 vent hole with a register boot above my woodstove, inside the duct work I installed a 60 cfm inline fan (its quiet) to help capture the heat in the ceiling joist and transfer it upstairs, it works pretty good and I would turn it on when temps outside were 30deg f and below, if it was warmer then that I would just let the normal convective loop via the stair case do its thing to keep the upstairs part of my ranch between 68 in the back bedrooms to 73 in the living room

 

[Jigsaw]

Doesnt work like that, I'm a basement heater myself and find its easier to move cold air and establish a convective loop then passive holes to let warm air rise.
Last year I introduced a 6x10 vent hole with a register boot above my woodstove, inside the duct work I installed a 60 cfm inline fan (its quiet) to help capture the heat in the ceiling joist and transfer it upstairs, it works pretty good and I would turn it on when temps outside were 30deg f and below, if it was warmer then that I would just let the normal convective loop via the stair case do its thing to keep the upstairs part of my ranch between 68 in the back bedrooms to 73 in the living room

That's actually what I was referring to doing. I guess my wording/explanation wasn't the best. I do like the idea of the fan as well. I do plan to wait off until I have a season on the insert to better understand the air movement. Thank you very much for your input!

 

[Jigsaw]

Hey, begreen, where can I buy a fusible-link fire damper? I plan to experiment for a year with heat/air flow, but I would like to know for future reference.

Btw, the insert is due in to my installer in the middle of September. I talked to him yesterday and he told me it was good that I locked in when I did. Prices have shot up more than 25% over the last few weeks.

 

[begreen]

AtlantaSupply

Atlanta Supply is now JEDCO Supply

www.atlantasupply.com

 

[Jigsaw]

Thanks begreen!

 

[NWA_PeaRidge_Homestead]

I purchased the KUMA Cascade LE three (3) weeks after purchasing a house in North West Arkansas. It was a no brainer; I wanted a made-in-USA stove, with optimized burning (i.e., hybrid burn with catalytic), that was available (note: supply chain issues), for which a few installation specialists can be found in NWA (Ozarks).

If living in NWA, Bella Vista has a retail outlet.

So far = Loving it !

 

[NWA_PeaRidge_Homestead]

UPDATE: Now at year 2

Still loving this wood stove. It is a bit small; it will not stay alive past 10 hours. If I try to pack it full to get more sleep time, it will overheat or go dead, depending on the airflow intake. It is, was, a good stove, I think they have an upgrade. All in all, after 1 year, I really enjoy it, had no problems, and would recommend KUMA (made in USA).

 

[Sifan7x7]

UPDATE: Now at year 2

Still loving this wood stove. It is a bit small; it will not stay alive past 10 hours. If I try to pack it full to get more sleep time, it will overheat or go dead, depending on the airflow intake. It is, was, a good stove, I think they have an upgrade. All in all, after 1 year, I really enjoy it, had no problems, and would recommend KUMA (made in USA).

I also have the cascade LE. How often do you have to clean the catalytic? Mine seems to get clogged pretty quick. Also is your catalytic always cherry red? Thanks

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

I also have the cascade LE. How often do you have to clean the catalytic? Mine seems to get clogged pretty quick. Also is your catalytic always cherry red? Thanks

How much are you messing with your ash? I had issues with this initially and fixed it by doing two things with my Kuma.
Bypass control and door technique, make sure that you open you bypass well before you open your door and open your door slowly as to not "shake up the snowglobe" . I also leave the bypass open for a minute or so before closing it to allow things to settle.

I now give my catalyst a quick brush and shot of air once a month during burning season. And yes most of the time my catalyst is red but these cats can still work when not glowing.

 

[stoveliker]

How tall is your chimney?
Too much draft can suck ashes into the combustor. (At least this is known for BKs.)

 

[blades]

Stifan 7x7, big question how dry is your fuel - more cats are killed by fuel in excess of 20% moisture than anything else. rest of this has been covered a zillion times.