recommendations for a hearthstone woodstove

[mark cline]

I am building a custom log home that is about 2100 sq ft. with cathedral ceilings at 26 ft at the peak. The floor plan is all open , so I will have about 5 ceiling fans to circulate the warm air away from the ceiling. . I want to put in a Hearthstone soapstone stove with a large front opening so it can be used as a fireplace to satisfy my wife's desire for a fireplace and then to be able to heat the loghome.. I'm currently heating my 1100 sq ft ranch with a Fisher Momma Bear stove and have been for 25 years, so heating with wood is nothing new. I want to size the Hearthstone to provide enough heat but not have it too big to where I end up with creosote problems.I'm leaning towards the Mansfield at 2500 sqft heating ability or an older 2 front door Hearthstone stove . Anybody know the name of the older 2 front door Hearthstone stove . Give me your feed back, thanks

 

[pen]

If this is all new, and you are used to working with seasoned wood (cut, split, stacked for 1 to 2 years depending on the species) then there's no way I'd be looking at an older unit. A new one will serve you much better with longer / cleaner burns.

The fireplace is a must? A heck of a lot cheaper to build a stone or similar wall behind a freestanding stove than to build a fireplace just to put a stove in it. But, that of course depends on what it takes to keep the lady happy.

Welcome to the site.

pen

 

[jrendfrey]

depends on were your located in northern canada i would use a equinox in say massachusetts i would use a mansfield. the mansfield throughs excellent heat although i always have thought bigger is better. if your wood is dry go big youll need it on the coldest nights all depends on location and winter severity i guess

 

[mark cline]

To use the stove as a fireplace is a compromise that took a long time to convince my wife that a fireplace is inefficient. I have 175 acres of hardwoods , so 2-4 years of dry seasoned wood is the norm . I'm building in Western New York near the PA border, so not as cold as northern Canada but colder than Mass.

 

[begreen]

A few days in winter without the stove running will convince your wife that you have made a good decision. Focus on the primary functions you need from the stove. You might want to consider however, a high-efficiency, EPA, zero-clearance fireplace that would make your wife happy, yet would be a good home heater.

 

[BrowningBAR]

With 26 ft high ceilings in a cold climate in a log home, I'm tempted to say Equinox. A log home isn't the greatest in terms of insulation if I recall.

Also:

I want to size the Hearthstone to provide enough heat but not have it too big to where I end up with creosote problems.

That is an incorrect statement. With dry fuel you can absolutely oversize a stove for your area without worrying about creosote. Just build smaller fires when it is called for.

 

[pen]

If you aren't sold on building a fireplace just to put an insert in it, I'd consider going through the gallery here https://www.hearth.com/gall/main.php and/or do some google image searches to find installs that are beautiful without being inside a fireplace.

My problem with an insert is they aren't worth poo w/out the blower running. The blower running means sound / moving air on a constant basis not to mention a no/low heat situation when / if the power goes out.

pen

 

[BrowningBAR]

To use the stove as a fireplace is a compromise that took a long time to convince my wife that a fireplace is inefficient.

My wife felt that way too. In the five years since we started using wood, she's done it once. I have four stove screens sitting in the attic.

Right now the wife is dead asleep in a toasty living room completely oblivious to the fact that I was right and her requirements were irrational. My victory dance is done quietly in the middle of the night with only the cat as my witness, but it is a victory none the less.

 

[mark cline]

Insulation in the roof is R 65 and the log walls are about R15. Energy efficient doors and windows throughout , so the Mansfield seems a better fit. I will have another woodstove in the basement with an open stair well above the stove to allow heat to move up into the house. If that doesn't provide enough heat , I can also fire up my antique wood fired cookstove in the kitchen .

 

[begreen]

The Mansfield is a good stove. Sounds like you have a plan.

 

[wellbuilt home]

I have a equinox and it burns good .
plenty of heat and a long burn time the stove stays hot for 24hrs .
I heat 3000 sq feet +
I had the 2 door stove it was a heritage i think .
I would go with the EQ It has a large glass door no need to leave it open .
If its 30o out side we lite a fire at 500pm feed the stove at bed time and let it burn out .
start over the next day .
No creasolt at all.
If its cold i stuff it with 13/ 14 logs and let it rip
5 log burn nice at 350o not to hot with a long burn i sit 5' from the stove and its not to hot .
John