New Jotul 550/350 inserts - any experience?

[bluesisgreat]

Does anybody have any first-hand experience with the new Jotul 550/350 woodburing inserts? I could not find any comments on these models. I'm shopping for a wood insert, and am trying to get as much information as possible before making the purchase.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Wilson]

There are one or two guys here with the 350. I don't think anyone actually has a 550 yet, as last I heard they haven't begun shipping them... or if they did, it was very recently.

I love my 450 though...

-- Mike

 

[bluesisgreat]

I saw the 550 being installed in Rochester - but did not see it functioning, because it was not ready yet. I also saw the 450 at my local dealer - also not functioning.

I liked the aspect ratio of the viewing area of the 450 better than of the 550 - but the 550 has a variable speed blower, which theoretically I see as an advantage. I was also thinking that there may be more technological advances in the new model - even though this is a sticky area, because it could also have some new problems.

Was optimizing the operation of the 450 easy? Are there any tricks in keeping the glass clean? How long from when you start the fire until you feel the heat?

 

[Mike Wilson]

I saw the 550 being installed in Rochester - but did not see it functioning, because it was not ready yet. I also saw the 450 at my local dealer - also not functioning.

I liked the aspect ratio of the viewing area of the 450 better than of the 550 - but the 550 has a variable speed blower, which theoretically I see as an advantage. I was also thinking that there may be more technological advances in the new model - even though this is a sticky area, because it could also have some new problems.

Was optimizing the operation of the 450 easy? Are there any tricks in keeping the glass clean? How long from when you start the fire until you feel the heat?

Don't buy it for the fan, buy it for the size and appearance. Personally, I'd like to see a 550 just because I can fit one in my fireplace, and I wouldn't be opposed to a larger stove. One thing I do not like about wither the 350 or the 550 is the lack of an ash lip. My ash lip catches small amounts of ash pretty often, and I can just scoop it up and toss it back in the stove. I suppose I could do the same if it just fell out of the front... not sure, but I'd like to see the actual stove to make a determination. As for the fan, I have a 2 speed fan on my 450, and 90% of the time I keep it on low. Not sure what technology advances there have been in the last 5 years or so... if there is a baffle plate or tubes on the top of the inside of the stove, it's probably the same. Compare the manuals from the 450 and 550. As for optimizing, I didn't have to do anything to optimize the stove. I had to optimize me. Operation is easy, once you get the hang of it. It takes a few weeks to get used to it, a full season to become a pro, and I am still learning little things about her here and there. I burn 24/7 for 3 months, load it up 3 times a day, maybe 4 on the weekends, and easily get 8-10 hour burns from her. I just did a restart after 20 hours, with coals still in the stove. Right now it is the primary heat for one 1700sq/ft zone of my three zone house. The glass stays clean so long as your wood is dry, but that's the same in any stove.

-- Mike

 

[soxfan13]

I have ordered the 550 and it is going to be installed on Jan. 11. I also haven't found many reviews on it though. Jotul finally put the manual on their website in the last couple of weeks.

 

[bluesisgreat]

hi, Soxfan - did you have your Jotul installed? How did it go?

 

[soxfan13]

Well......I got a call on Monday, four days before the stove was going to be installed, telling me that they couldn't get the stove because it was back ordered. Supposedly, they didn't get as many stoves in their first order as they were expecting. Now I am going to have to wait until early February(they think!). They have a long waiting list for the stove and I am the next one in line. I should be breaking it in today while I watch the Pat's game. It sucks.

The whole reason we picked this company was because they told us they had some on the way and had a second order on the way. Now I am stuck. I can cancel the order and get my money back but I doubt another company will be able to install it in the next few weeks. Plus we saved 15 percent on the stove and install because they were having a sale so I have a hard time paying full price now to have the stove maybe a couple of weeks earlier.

Also I had asked for a silver(color, not material) stove handle and I was told it was not one of the options, even though it is pictured with a silver handle in the catalog and the showroom had a 350 with a silver handle.

Lastly, watch out for mantle clearance. The early catalogs had NA for 1" mantel trim clearance above the stove. Then I read the owners manual online and it changed to 51"(floor to 1" trim). Of course, I only have 46" so I might need a mantle shield now.

This has been more difficult than buying a car!!

 

[jgoodnow]

Here is a thread on the 550:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/13690/

 

[bluesisgreat]

Soxfan - sorry to hear your not=so=good news.

I think you're doing the right thing by just waiting. I noticed the same discrepancy between what the stores say regarding getting the new Jotul in, and when they actually get it. It looks like the demand is so high that the company has a hard time supplying it.

As a reference to your concern about the mantle - I have the same 46" clearance, which is low by any standards. It turns out that the only insert that only needs such low clearance is Hearthstone's Clydesdale. You may want to take a look at it - it looks totally different than the Jotul, but it has a larger viewing area, unobstructed by any decorations, so you can see the main attraction, which is the fire. It also has the liner made out of soapstone, which has a longer heat radiation life. I have another post on this topic - you can read a lot of comments about it there.

If you like it, you may be able to get that installed sooner than the Jotul, and maybe talk them into offering you the same discount, due to their mistake. I ended up chosing the Clydesdale over the Jotul, even before realizing the mantle problem. Have you seen the mantle shield? It looks pretty bad - I saw it in a store which was installing the Jotul 550.

Good luck, and keep us posted.