Mansfield or Equinox pros cons

[jwscarab]

Hey guys, I am pretty much sold on the Hearthstone Soapstones stove from what I have read. Right now, (dont laugh) I have a Dutchwest 2479 Neverburn - what a total waste of money and I am fed up!! I need to have overnight burns and long burns when I am at work. Hopefully without having to spend an hour getting it going again, then I am late for work, like I do with the neverburn.

Anyway here is a quick rundown of the house setup. I have a Log Home 6" thick, in southern Indiana. It is 1200 sq ft on the main floor, very open floor plan (back two bedrooms are closed up as the kids are gone) with a 700sq ft open lofted master bedroom. Now, I want to put the wood burner in the basement, which is also 1200 sq ft.

Only 1/2 of the basement is living space - other half is garage. The basement is burried on 2 sides and full walk out on two sides. I wheel barrow the load right in the basement door to the stove - mess is always down stairs! My "future" plans is to convert the garage into more living area.

My Chimney is on an external wall - unfortunatly. The total flu run will be 30-32 feet. I currently have a 9x13 liner with a 6" stainless flex pipe runing down to the Dutchwest.

SOOOO, I like bigger is better. But one thing I dont like with the 2479 is you have to load sideways. I have already broke the glass once due to a log rolling forward when I stacked the wood up high. So it seems the front/rear direction loading of a square box would be excellent!! But I guess my question is - is the Mansfield going to be big enough??

The other thing is if I go with a Equinox, I have to change out my SS liner to an 8" and my basement flu has a few jogs in it. Not sure a 8" flex would snake down the 9x13 very easily if at all. So for the reasons of the liner redo, and the front/rear loads, I lean towards the Mansfield. I also have a limited height as the basement was set up as a fireplace. So I have to immediatly go 90 degrees and go back a few feet as soon as the pipe goes out the top of the stove - the rear exit would have been nicer.

My biggers two questions are 1) do you find the logs rolling into the glass an issue like I do? I never hear anybody else state that. 2) Is the mansfield going to be sufficient size? and 3) is the pipe out the mansfield being an elbow then going straight back a few feet then up an issue?

Please comment ao any other issue you feel as well I love this forum - wish I found it before I bought the Dutchwest!

So anyway, let me have it guys - any thoughts are awesome!

 

[Todd]

How does the current stove heat your house? Is it enough or not quite? Look at the firebox sizes and compare it to your Dutchwest.
Also you stated your chimney is 9x13? Is that inside or outside diameter. If it's in good shape the Equinox may vent just fine as it is and not need a s/s liner.

 

[wellbuilt home]

I have a DW cat stove and heat 3000sf +. I think your house is around 2000 feet and the Mansfield would be a good choice .I think the equinox would cook you out. I have been happy with my DW but is old and i need a bunch of parts to make it burn like new. I have a new Equinox coming this week (I hope) but i have a open area of 1700 sf to burn the stove in. Ive never had a problem with my glass I think the Mansfield is around 75000btus so it should be large enough . I think a 90o elbow is no big deal you will have lots of draft from the bacement.

 

[Heat Miser]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

 

[Todd]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

Hey, what's the dimension's (in inches) of your Mansfield's firebox? I've always wondered if they included everything above the baffle for their firebox?

 

[Heat Miser]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

Hey, what's the dimension's (in inches) of your Mansfield's firebox? I've always wondered if they included everything above the baffle for their firebox?

I have no idea. It's running right now and I can't measure it without an asbestos ruler.

When it cools down I'll try to remember to measure it. It heats just as well as my Defiant which was 3+ cu. ft. It holds as much wood as well. The specs say it's 3.2 cu. ft. and I think that is probably pretty close to actual capacity.

 

[Todd]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

Hey, what's the dimension's (in inches) of your Mansfield's firebox? I've always wondered if they included everything above the baffle for their firebox?

I have no idea. It's running right now and I can't measure it without an asbestos ruler.

When it cools down I'll try to remember to measure it. It heats just as well as my Defiant which was 3+ cu. ft. It holds as much wood as well. The specs say it's 3.2 cu. ft. and I think that is probably pretty close to actual capacity.

What the heck! Your burnin? Can't be that cold yet is it?

 

[Heat Miser]

What the heck! Your burnin? Can't be that cold yet is it?

It's in the upper 50's and my wife and her friends were cold so I fired it up this evening. I think this is a new record. I kind of missed running the stove. Go figure!

It's a nice and warm mid-70's in the house now.

 

[pumiglk]

Unless the basement has a walkout entrance with easy acess to the delivery truck the size/weight of the Equinox might be another factor. It nearly killed two very big guys with a hydraulic hand truck to get it 30 ft across my porch and up onto a 16 inch hearth. I shudder to think of people trying to manhandle this beast down a set of stairs. It 750 very akward pounds. The mansfield is no lightweight but I think it is almost 200lbs less.

 

[doug60]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

Hey, what's the dimension's (in inches) of your Mansfield's firebox? I've always wondered if they included everything above the baffle for their firebox?

I did so measuring on my Equinox & the numbers come up short.
26 x 16.5 x 13 usable firebox area.

 

[bebopin]

I have the Mansfield and the usable space is 22''x18.5''x12.5''.

 

[wellbuilt home]

Ive seen both stoves side by side and the EQ is much bigger then the mansfeild . I think the bottom of the fire box will make a big diffrence when it gets full of coles . The 25" long logs will throw more heat then say 18" becauce you can get more fire box burning . I think both stove will be good heaters Ive look inside both stoves and the EQ looks to be deeper & wider then the mansfield the hight is about the same.

 

[Todd]

I have a Mansfield and it is a phenomenal heater. I almost bought the Equinox but it was too much stove for my house. The loading is easy and the logs on the glass is not a problem. In fact, it loads almost as easy as the VC Defiant top loader it replaces and burns one heck of a lot better. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but the Equinox is a huge stove.

Hey, what's the dimension's (in inches) of your Mansfield's firebox? I've always wondered if they included everything above the baffle for their firebox?

I did so measuring on my Equinox & the numbers come up short.
26 x 16.5 x 13 usable firebox area.

That's 3.2cu ft. Almost 1cu ft short of what they advertise. The Mansfield is a little short also at 2.7. My Fireview came in short too.

 

[jwscarab]

Well thanks for the help so far guys! I guess I need to actually go look at them in person and not just onthe web! I may opt for the mansfield - but when my basement is finished I am heating 1200 sq ft basement, plus 1200 sq ft main floor, plus 700 sq ft lofted maser bedroom, plus cathedrial cielings. That is where I was concerned with the capacity. The basement is completly above grade on two sides.

Plus - any extra burn time is music to my ears!

The DW2479 heats the house ok - my furmance still kicks on on the colder nights tho.

I am still concerned with fitting an 8" flex down my chimney - cant get up there yet to measure actual internal measurements until my leg is back together!

Thanks for all your input

 

[Heat Miser]

Well thanks for the help so far guys! I guess I need to actually go look at them in person and not just onthe web! I may opt for the mansfield - but when my basement is finished I am heating 1200 sq ft basement, plus 1200 sq ft main floor, plus 700 sq ft lofted maser bedroom, plus cathedrial cielings. That is where I was concerned with the capacity. The basement is completly above grade on two sides.

If the heat has to traverse many closed-in stairwells you may be better off with a convection type heater stove instead of a more radiant heater such as the Soapstone.

My house has an almost identical configuration (the loft is an office though). However the stairwells are all open with open gaps between the stairs and hot air moves easily. The Mansfield heats the 3,000 sq. ft. without a problem in my temperate climate.

 

[Highbeam]

I'm burning my Hearthastone too. House is 60 inside and 50 degrees outside. Doing the "seasonal" rebreaking in as advised in the manual with a 350 degree fire though. I had a little 200 degree fire last night just to check for draft and fumes.

At least I waited until September!

The mansfield is an excellent heater with no unhappy owners that I am aware of. I don't really like the looks of it compared to the Heritage or the Equinox which are virtual twins. The EQ can vent top or back, and can be loaded front or side so you have maximum flexibility.

Breaking glass? Well it isn't very likely due to high breakage requirements for the fancy ceramic glass. I would bet that you are more likely to break glass by shutting a glass door into a log than you are from a log rolling into the glass under its own weight. I run under the assumption that once I have a stack of logs burning and the door shut nciely that any rollage will be safely contained in the firebox. I load my heritage to the gills without any glass issues yet.

 

[jwscarab]

Great info! My only stairwell is the one from the basement to the main floor - from there - it is ALL wide open house floorplan. The biggest issue I am seeming to have with the Equinox is the 8" pipe. I would really like to not have to redo my 32' of 6" SS liner. I like the idea of the liner too, so I do not want to just let it go up the 9x13 clay. I plan on insulating around my liner with the mix and pour in insulation!

I have to admit, I think the glass breaking was a fluke thing. I put a log in the side and it rolled and just hit the glass just right - right on the edge of the glass - and there I was - ordering new glass at like $150 I think!!

I am now doing reading on the T6. Seem so many people like it too. It may now be more of a toss up between the T6 and the Mansfield. Longest burn times are a huge plus in my eyes.

Now this topic will get you guys going - I installed a squirrel cage blower fan that runs on a thermostat and a speed control switch. Once the basement get to 80 degrees at the ceiling (10 ft ceilngs), then this thing kicks on!! It basically sucks the air into an air intake up by the ceiling - not too close to the stove. Then it blows it out into two floor registers on in the great room I love the thing - except it is a bit noisy which I am working on by with relocating the fan, and using flex to keep the vibes down. Once the heat gets to main floor - its a wide open house. When the basement cools down due to the fire going out - the blower kicks off.

 

[blackdog69]

I have the Mansfield, for over 15 years. I love it, accept I never use the ash dump as it to hard to get ashes into it. I would prefer the new Equinox as I wish I could load longer wood (25" vs 20") and my house is 6000 sq ft.

In over 15 years I have only needed to replace a door gasket!

But the new Equinox is now about $3800, plus shipping...wow.

I paid $1700 delivered for the Mansfield, many years ago.

 

[frwinks]

our new house layout is going to be almost identical to yours.. 1360sqft main, same up top but lofted/open to below . We just purchased the Equinox to replace the HII we're currently running (with the Gov. of ON incentive program of $600 towards new wood burning appliance it was an easy decision ). I personally love the side loading door on our HII and it was a must for our new unit. Given the fact that you're putting this unit in the basement and have two more floors you're planning on heating, I would suggest going with with the EQ...massive stove and long burn/heat times...that's what we're all after right??

 

[thechimneysweep]

blackdog, frwinks and others who may wish to tender advice to jwscarab:

This is an old post, dated Sept. 1st. Jwscarab has since decided on a Pacific Energy Alderlea T6, which is currently sitting in his garage, waiting for his broken leg to heal up so he can install it.