Recommendations for very large freestanding wood stove

[LAndrim]

Hi All, I have a large Lennox Canyon ST...20 years strong!But, a very, very knowledgeable chimney sweep came to clean, and he would not "certify" it. Seen its day. So, looking for a replacement. Need a "beast" of a stove. It heats the entire downstairs. The Canyon was a dream , so thinking of a Jotul or Vermont Castings .Need BIG and BAD to accommodate a "great room" with very high ceilings. Would appreciate recommendations. Thanks in advance to all!

 

[begreen]

Yes, that is a heating beast. What is wrong with the stove? Anything serious? I think parts are still available.

 

[LAndrim]

Chimney sweep said the innards are rusted out, the pipe was never installed properly and has leaks. Had it for 20 years with no issues. But he would not "certify" it as safe. They don't sell wood stoves, so he has nothing to gain. Made me me nervous when he showed me pictures of the insides. So I'm looking for recommendations for equivalent size stoves. I'm investigating Jotul & Vermont Castings. Thank you!

 

[begreen]

I would stick with a big steel stove and skip the VC and Jotul. Are you still ok with that look? There are several good choices, most are hybrids these days, but the big ~ 3 cu ft stoves by Drolet/Osburn and Pacific Energy are still non-cat. Good hybrids are the Lopi Liberty and Regency 3500. If you want hot, large, and radiant, the Drolet Austral is unshielded, just make sure the clearances work.

 

[LAndrim]

I would stick with a big steel stove and skip the VC and Jotul. Are you still ok with that look? There are several good choices, most are hybrids these days, but the big ~ 3 cu ft stoves by Drolet/Osburn and Pacific Energy are still non-cat. Good hybrids are the Lopi Liberty and Regency 3500. If you want hot, large, and radiant, the Drolet Austral is unshielded, just make sure the clearances work.

Thanks begreen

 

[chimneychick]

If the sweep said it is bad, have him/her deliniate WHAT is wrong exactly. You can still get most parts for that Lennox Canyon
and, just for your knowledge, Sweeps cannot 'Certify' a stove, they can only attest to to whether it is Code Compliant or not.
Back to the stove issure.... Best big stove we have seen is the Osburn 3500, a beast and Canadian Made, stay away from the big cast units and Catalytics

 

[LAndrim]

If the sweep said it is bad, have him/her deliniate WHAT is wrong exactly. You can still get most parts for that Lennox Canyon
and, just for your knowledge, Sweeps cannot 'Certify' a stove, they can only attest to to whether it is Code Compliant or not.
Back to the stove issure.... Best big stove we have seen is the Osburn 3500, a beast and Canadian Made, stay away from the big cast units and Catalytics

Hi Chimneychick, Sweep took extensive pictures and explained 1) flue pipe connection seams had improper seals (holes) and showed rusting and explained that smoke and heat could escape and cause fire hazard 2) components inside of firebox (tubes) showed rust and over firing. Curious why you are recommening avoiding cat stoves. thank you!

 

[Todd]

A good radiant stove will do better in a great room with high ceilings. I wouldn’t shy away from cast iron or cat stoves. A couple other stoves to take a look at are the Woodstock Progress and Ideal Steel.

 

[kborndale]

If the sweep said it is bad, have him/her deliniate WHAT is wrong exactly. You can still get most parts for that Lennox Canyon
and, just for your knowledge, Sweeps cannot 'Certify' a stove, they can only attest to to whether it is Code Compliant or not.
Back to the stove issure.... Best big stove we have seen is the Osburn 3500, a beast and Canadian Made, stay away from the big cast units and Catalytics

What is wrong with cat stoves? They certainly don't work in every application but they do work in many. Especially somewhere like Philly that has a relatively long shoulder season.

 

[LAndrim]

Attaching parts of the report with pictures. Sweep said not safe to use ... thoughts? Am i being overly cautious?

 

[begreen]

The stove interior doesn't look too bad. Is the stove connected with double-walled stove pipe? If so, that is the source of the "holes".

 

[bholler]

If the sweep said it is bad, have him/her deliniate WHAT is wrong exactly. You can still get most parts for that Lennox Canyon
and, just for your knowledge, Sweeps cannot 'Certify' a stove, they can only attest to to whether it is Code Compliant or not.
Back to the stove issure.... Best big stove we have seen is the Osburn 3500, a beast and Canadian Made, stay away from the big cast units and Catalytics

Why stay away from cats?

 

[bholler]

Attaching parts of the report with pictures. Sweep said not safe to use ... thoughts? Am i being overly cautious?

I dont see anything in those pics that look bad of the stove. The chimney and connections absolutely need attention but i cant really tell what's going on with them

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

Get that flue straighted out, and keep the stove. No need to replace it from those pics.

Also from outside of Philly. My experience with professional chimney sweeps around here have not instilled confidence (bholler is an exception to my experience, he's great, just not local enough to use).

Your sweep may not sell stoves, but he'd sure like to get paid to take that perfectly good one out and install a new one for you. That, and him saying that he can't "certify", I'd end my relationship with him and find someone who doesn't say stuff like that in an effort to mislead you.

 

[bholler]

Get that flue straighted out, and keep the stove. No need to replace it from those pics.

Also from outside of Philly. My experience with professional chimney sweeps around here have not instilled confidence (bholler is an exception to my experience, he's great, just not local enough to use).

Your sweep may not sell stoves, but he'd sure like to get paid to take that perfectly good one out and install a new one for you. That, and him saying that he can't "certify", I'd end my relationship with him and find someone who doesn't say stuff like that in an effort to mislead you.

Absolutely right on the certify thing. There is no certification to be done. And any sweep who deems something "safe" is asking for trouble. You can only say it is installed according to code and manufacturers instructions and no defects were found.

 

[begreen]

It looks like there was a section of stove pipe on the stove when those pictures were taken. That can be deceiving. Can you pull off the stove pipe and take some good pictures inside and out of the flue outlet. Front and back on the outside.

Then, tape a light-tight cover over the flue outlet, then have a helper shine a very bright light at various points around the flue outlet base where it joins the stove top while you look inside for any light leaks.

 

[LAndrim]

Thanks everyone! It's double walled, and to begreen, sorry I'm not capable of pulling of the pipe. But it seems the concensus is stove is ok, but replace the piping. Will save me big bucks to not replace the stove. Thanks again for all your sage wisdom!

 

[bholler]

Thanks everyone! It's double walled, and to begreen, sorry I'm not capable of pulling of the pipe. But it seems the concensus is stove is ok, but replace the piping. Will save me big bucks to not replace the stove. Thanks again for all your sage wisdom!

It may be ok. I would get a second opinion because we are just looking at a couple pics

 

[begreen]

I think it would be worth getting a second opinion, preferably from someone that actually knows this model stove.

Also, it might be the photo, but I can't see the baffle in the shots posted. Were the baffle bricks and baffle blanket properly reinstalled? The stove should not be operated without them back in.

Can you post a few pictures of the flue collar on the stove? This is where the stove pipe attaches at the top of the stove.

 

[LAndrim]

Pixs of the tubes were taken as it was being cleaned, so he took the baffle boards and blanket out. I checked; they were reinstalled correctly ,so I'm OK with that. Attached are pix of flue on stove ... hope this is what you want begreen. Again, thanks to all!

 

[bholler]

Pixs of the tubes were taken as it was being cleaned, so he took the baffle boards and blanket out. I checked; they were reinstalled correctly ,so I'm OK with that. Attached are pix of flue on stove ... hope this is what you want begreen. Again, thanks to all!

Im not sure but that looks almost like an 8" collar with 6" pipe

 

[begreen]

Im not sure but that looks almost like an 8" collar with 6" pipe

Yes. The Canyon has an 8" collar but is ok to run on an 6" vertical flue according to the manual. The stovetop looks ok, but I don't recognize that 8 x 6 reducer.

 

[bholler]

Yes. The Canyon has an 8" collar but is ok to run on an 6" vertical flue according to the manual. The stovetop looks ok, but I don't recognize that 8 x 6 reducer.

I dont think it has a reducer. I think its just a trim collar

 

[begreen]

Could be, I don't recognize this brand of adapter.