Need Help Deciding - Woodstove Recommendation

[josde21]

I would really appreciate some advice here. I need to make a decision imminently on a new wood stove for this season - I have always been a Vermont Castings fan, but I went to our local store here and was pretty disappointed with the quality on the new stoves compared to other options at the store - specifically Hearthstone and Jotul models. The Jotul f500 v3 is beautiful too, but not a contender for me because I don't like not being able to run it and start fires with it not running through the catalytic. If anyone has a source for the prior version f500 oslo that has a bypass damper and wants to sell that to me I would be very interested!

I really like the look of the VC Defiant, but the Hearthstone Manchester just seemed to be a nicer quality and build comparatively.

House is about 2000 square feet with cathedral ceilings in the room where the stove is going - two ceiling fans to help move the air... I will use this as a primary heat source.

So I am reaching out before placing my order to ask the community - is my instinct to avoid that Defiant correct? Is the Hearthstone Manchester the better option? I'd like to hear experiences, and open to hearing that I am wrong on the build quality of the new VC's.

 

[Todd]

Yeah personally I’d stay away from VC. I’ve just seen too many reports of them being difficult or finicky to operate.

Heating a large space with cathedral ceilings you want a good radiant heating stove. I’m not familiar with the Manchester but I believe it is similar to the Jotul 500 V3, both being cat/noncat hybrids.

If it were me I would look into the Woodstock Progress for that kind of space.

 

[stovelark]

Hard to go wrong with a Jotul or Hearthstone, both quality stove companies. Many others too. I have had a Hearthstone and an Oslo F500 non-cat version, it was a super heater. In the long run, myself I prefer the simple to operate and very durable steel frame stoves, altho they are not as pretty as their cast sisters... IMO.

 

[begreen]

In the long run, myself I prefer the simple to operate and very durable steel frame stoves, altho they are not as pretty as their cast sisters... IMO.

That's where a cast iron jacketed steel stove is a good compromise.

 

[Rearscreen]

If it were me I would look into the Woodstock Progress for that kind of space.

Not only that, I'd plan a weekend to visit the friendly factory, take in VINS bird rehabilitation center in Quechee and then visit
the Montshire museum. What the hell, go for it.

 

[Jfior1983]

I absolutely love my jotul f45 Greenville that I bought last year. I have about 1600 sf and cathedral ceilings and live in alaska. Burned 3.5 cords all winter as primary source. Beautiful stove. Non cat, easy to operate, long burns. They discontinued it this year BUT I found a dealer with one in stock and got a good deal. The f55 is bigger and is still produced. Those are the 2 to look at IMO.

 

[V-snowplower]

I absolutely love my jotul f45 Greenville that I bought last year. I have about 1600 sf and cathedral ceilings and live in alaska. Burned 3.5 cords all winter as primary source. Beautiful stove. Non cat, easy to operate, long burns. They discontinued it this year BUT I found a dealer with one in stock and got a good deal. The f55 is bigger and is still produced. Those are the 2 to look at IMO.

The F55 has been taken off the market to get re-certified. When it comes back out it will have a CAT. I've been looking high and low for a non cat jotul and can't find one anywhere, unfortunately.

 

[Todd]

The F55 has been taken off the market to get re-certified. When it comes back out it will have a CAT. I've been looking high and low for a non cat jotul and can't find one anywhere, unfortunately.

First I heard about that. Still waifing on the F45 upgrade. I know they just reintroduced the Rockland Insert with the fusion tech.

 

[Jfior1983]

Man they must have JUST discontinued it, I was looking at Jotul's website very recently. Chances are very high that you'll be able to find a store with it still in stock, and some will ship. Same with the f45, but less likely since it's been discontinued for longer. Knowing what I know now, I would try very hard to find one. It performs that well, IMO. I am probably in the minority here, but to me, having a non-cat stove is like an old truck compared to a new one. Simpler. Easier to fix. Easier to operate. Yes, less efficient, but Less likely to have ridiculously priced repairs. I'm not saying cat stoves don't have some advantages as well, I just prefer the less complicated non-cat. Especially when Jotul can get them to operate ALMOST as efficiently as the cats. It's worth a day trip to drive and get one. I see some online still for sale.

 

[begreen]

Man they must have JUST discontinued it, I was looking at Jotul's website very recently. Chances are very high that you'll be able to find a store with it still in stock, and some will ship. Same with the f45, but less likely since it's been discontinued for longer. Knowing what I know now, I would try very hard to find one. It performs that well, IMO. I am probably in the minority here, but to me, having a non-cat stove is like an old truck compared to a new one. Simpler. Easier to fix. Easier to operate. Yes, less efficient, but Less likely to have ridiculously priced repairs. I'm not saying cat stoves don't have some advantages as well, I just prefer the less complicated non-cat. Especially when Jotul can get them to operate ALMOST as efficiently as the cats. It's worth a day trip to drive and get one. I see some online still for sale.

Pacific Energy, Regency, Quadrafire, etc still have some good non-cat stoves.

 

[V-snowplower]

Do you think the F45 Greenville would be able to heat the OP's 2,000 sq ft with cathedral ceilings? Or would a larger stove be better?

 

[begreen]

Sadly, the F45 Greenville has been discontinued along with the F55. The F45 would have worked well too.

There are a lot of variables that go into what works well including insulation, windows, and what folks think is a comfortable room temperature.

 

[Jfior1983]

Do you think the F45 Greenville would be able to heat the OP's 2,000 sq ft with cathedral ceilings? Or would a larger stove be better?

I have about 1600 square feet and cathedral ceilings. I live in Alaska. Jotul claims the f45 is good up to 1800sf, but most days it was actually a bit warm if I didn’t watch it. Lots of factors, but it would work well in my opinion up to 2000. You don’t want to roast yourself out. That’s what would have happened to me if I got the f55. Plus, it’s nice to use a stove to its full potential instead of always starting smaller fires because the stove is too much for the space

 

[josde21]

I appreciate everyone's responses on this - I have some research to do. I am now looking at the Hearthstone Shelburne vs the Lopi Rockport if anyone has experiences with these two options. Thank you

 

[stovelark]

1600 sq ft with partial cathedral ceilings (if the 1600 is fairly open area), I would think in a regular winter day might be ok with the F45, but in a cold snap, you'd think the extra oomph of the F55 would be appreciated. Of course, we are happy the F45 is doing good for you, but normally I'd suggest a stove with about 25-30% reserve power for the super cold days... its never perfect of course. I hope the new versions do as well as the previous ones, they were great performing stoves.

 

[Jfior1983]

1600 sq ft with partial cathedral ceilings (if the 1600 is fairly open area), I would think in a regular winter day might be ok with the F45, but in a cold snap, you'd think the extra oomph of the F55 would be appreciated. Of course, we are happy the F45 is doing good for you, but normally I'd suggest a stove with about 25-30% reserve power for the super cold days... its never perfect of course. I hope the new versions do as well as the previous ones, they were great performing stoves.

I wonder, since I have such luck with the f45, if there are some stoves known for “punching above their weight”. The f45 would definitely be one. Might be a good discussion topic. Same with stoves that fail to live up to the official output specs from manufacturer. I will say that one of the few drawbacks of the f45 is that the wood gets inserted long side in , so the fire doesn’t get that horizontal classic look. But that’s a very minor nitpick.

 

[begreen]

I will say that one of the few drawbacks of the f45 is that the wood gets inserted long side in , so the fire doesn’t get that horizontal classic look. But that’s a very minor nitpick.

That's a stong positive in my book. The fire still looks great and the firebox can be loaded fuller with no worry about the wood rolling up against the glass.

 

[Jfior1983]

That’s a good point! Hadn’t considered that before.

 

[GG Woody]

I wouldn't bother to own a stove that the splits go in horizontal (also known as east/west). Or I'd be splitting a whole lot shorter (not ideal) so they can go north/south. I dealt with one growing up that loaded east/west, it was scary as a kid, all that heat, logs igniting, and trying to shut the door with logs trying to roll out.

 

[stovelark]

Totally onboard for the N/S thing. The idea of loading E/W and having your hands in the firebox (even with fire gloves, which a lot of us still fail to use) is not appealing. N/S is easier, if I ever get another stove, that would be something I'd be looking for.

 

[Jfior1983]

All good points for sure. Sliding a log in n/s while fire is going is probably much easier and safer than e/w.

 

[Rearscreen]

Whatever stove you get, I made a video of a product that I ordered off of Amazon.
Your neighbors will suddenly become friendly.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies