Need to replace XL Dutchwest

[2DutchWesthome]

We've been heating our 3500 sf house for 36 years with 2 consolidated dutchwest federal convection heaters, an FA 264 on end of the house and the XL FA288 on the other end of the house. Unfortunately, the XL has developed a warped inner top. While having it rebuilt is on the table, so is a replacement stove. I'm a bit concerned about the new stoves available - my sister has tried a couple different small EPA certified stoves and had nothing but trouble with creosote buildup ( I'm not gonna guarantee the quality of her wood or her burning technique, have not seen it personally.)

Any new stove has to load either from the left side or the top but I'm a bit mystified how a top loader doesn't emit smoke into the room during either initial startup or loading an ongoing fire. We use well seasoned wood ( currently offering and stacking wood for the 2026-27 heating season, this year wood had been in the woodshed since last September, all well split hardwood.)

The chimney on that stove is an insulted, stainless steel lined masonary chimney with 8" round flue. Stove sits on raised brick and slate hearth with brick wall behind. Chimney connector needs top exit. Prefer cast iron.

Any suggestions? Also, I'm having difficult accessing list of EPA certified wood stoves. Had it been removed?

 

[begreen]

Modern EPA stoves run cleaner and should not be gunking up a flue system unless run improperly (poor wood, insufficient draft, or always choked down and smoldering). Send your sister here for help in fixing the situation if it is systemic. If it is the wood, then only time will fix that or another source of truly dry firewood.

Why side or top load only? The FA288 is a large stove. To replace it, the only top loader of that size is the VC Defiant. Properly setup, it will not smoke when loading as long as the draft is sufficient. The Jotul F500 is a side loader, but with a smaller firebox and a large catalyst. Maybe also consider a Woodstock Progress Hybrid. There are also the Pacific Energy Alderlea T6 and the catalytic BK Ashford 30 that are worth considering but they are front loaders. Some Jotul dealers may have their model F55 left in stock but again, a front loader.

 

[2DutchWesthome]

Front load won't work with the room only 5 ft before corner of the couch and my big butt would be a bit cramped.

I've been looking at the Woodstock Progress but all the woodstock day 6" flue. Ours is 8". We had a new SS liner put in that chimney maybe 10 years ago. And he insulated between the old masonary and the new liner. Ceiling height in that room is 9' and chimney goes up through unheated attic another 8 ft before exiting the house. I like the stove but husband is wary of soapstone, says it's fragile.

I'll look at the others. Thanks for info.

 

[begreen]

Very few modern stoves require an 8" flue, but several 6" flue stoves will operate ok on that size flue system, especially if the draft is strong. The Progress Hybrid is not particularly delicate. They stand up well and have good factory support.

 

[2DutchWesthome]

A bit disappointed, i think. Pulled out the paperwork on our replacement chimney lining. It's a 22' 8x13 homesaver flexwall with thermax insulation. If i understand the 3x cross section calculation, than that chimney is too large for the progress hybrid.

Can anyone correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[begreen]

It's too large for a lot of stoves but a 6" stainless liner could be dropped down it to connect to a modern stove.

 

[2DutchWesthome]

It's too large for a lot of stoves but a 6" stainless liner could be dropped down it to connect to a modern stove.

It is a consideration but that liner was installed only 8 or 9 years ago. I do have a lead on a used FS288 that looks great from pictures, owner says used very little (suspect that's accurate as the picture of the cat was quite clean). He says there are no faults with the stove but i would have to take the top off and look myself -i believe where ours earlier is a known issue with this stove. Plus, no longer being made, we have to think about parts availability in the future. And it's a 600 pound stove, about 200 miles away with a lot of secondary roads, I just had a knee replacement last winter, hubby has hip issues...

And hubby says If ours can't be repaired, i was thinking buying, delivered, installed. But neither of us were thinking new chimney liner.

Question: if liner in the chimney was insulated with thermax, would the smaller 6" round also need to be insulted as well?