Replacing a VC viglant 1977...What to do

[brads2002]

Hello, been lurking here for some time but new to the site.

Due to continous chimney fires and creosote buildup I am going to replace my Vigilant.

I moved into my home 5 years ago. This stove was included with the home and ignited my passion for burning wood. I consider it time well spent but need to move on. My residence is 2300 SQFT in souther NH. The location is living room. I have used this as my primary heat source for as long as i have lived here with oil as the secondary. The room it resides in is approx 35X15 2nd floor above the basement. There are bedrooms and bathrooms above in a bump out cape style home.

Most of our time is spent in this living room/kitchen. We work days and are home nights. I typically load the stove when returning from work, at night and in the morning before work. I almost never have to re-fire to get it started.

As this is the centerpiece of the room a nice looking stove is mandatory, i am thinking of going enamel. What are some suggestions? Would a Jotul 600 be a comparably sized replacement? I prefer used since I burn wood but could be talked into going new if there is a quality advantage.

Thanks so much for any feedback,

Brad

 

[begreen]

The Jotul F600 will be a good replacement. If you want a nice clean flue and the best heat, only burn fully seasoned wood.

 

[claydogg84]

I replaced my old Defiant with the smaller Oslo (F500). I wanted the 600, but my fireplace opening was an inch or so too short. Long story short, the Oslo has been a great replacement and heats my 2,000 sq ft raised ranch comfortably all winter long. I think the 600 will heat your home nicely.

 

[vasten]

I have been using a vigilant for a few years now and it does a great job, and knock on wood haven't had a single chimney fire. I am not suggesting to stay with it or buy a new one, but I would look at what else could be causing the problem. Things such as wood quality as suggested, running the stove too cool ( what are your flue temps are the over 250 deg) what type of chimney do you have prefab or masonry, is it internal or external to the building. all of these things can contribute to creosote build up in the chimney that could potentially lead to a chimney fire. I would suggest posting in the older stove forum your concerns about the chimney fires, and see if there are suggestions there first. A newer stove does produce less creosote and will burn less wood, but may not prevent a chimney fire if there are other factors that need to be looked at first.

Also have you had the chimney inspected, after numerous chimney fires it would be a good idea for safety to have it inspected and they can tell you if there is a problem with the chimney itself that could be causing the issue. As well as give you some ideas as to what could be contributing to it.

 

[brads2002]

Thank you for all the replies. I do like the Vigilant but I dont think its best for my application. Its a stainless liner internal to a big brick chimney. It was insulated until a chimney fire burnt a hole in the liner. At this point I am more comfortable with something I can turn low and not worry about buildup. Its in the room we spend the most time in so its hard to keep it running hot at all times. I dont blame the stove, its more my application.
I have been doing a bit of reasearch on the Woodstock Progress today. I am thinking it may be a good fit and I am really partial to made in NH products.
Any thoughts?

 

[begreen]

The Progress would be a good choice as would their Ideal Steel. For more even heating you also might want to investigate simple ways to distribute heat out of the room by blowing cooler air from adjacent areas into the stove room.

 

[brads2002]

Thanks, I am headed to tour their plant tomorrow and hopefully make my purchase. They have the progress in black available for pickup.

 

[Woody Stover]

Thanks, I am headed to tour their plant tomorrow and hopefully make my purchase. They have the progress in black available for pickup.

Look at the other colors too, while you're there. Both mine were metallic blue...less contrast with the lighter stone, and looks more like medium gray than blue.

 

[brads2002]

Good idea, I was just noticing the black is a very big contrast. Do they typically have many stoves in stock?

 

[vasten]

please post or PM me about the tour I have been researching them a lot recently and for under 2K right now for a soap stone stove I dont think you can go wrong. Especially with a product made in the NE that knows what are winters can be like. I would imagine they should have one of each model on the floor and from what I have read they can build you one in a week, I think they are custom built to order.

 

[brads2002]

Absolutely, am pretty excited about. Headed up in the next few hours. Will report back.

 

[firefighterjake]

If I was to ever replace my beloved Jotul, I would seriously consider the Progress Hybrid . . . most of Woodstock's stoves seem a bit funky or more at home in a Victorian . . . but I love the look of the Progress. Good luck shopping today.

 

[brads2002]

Jake, I agree. The look of their stoves was the only thing holding me back. The steel seemed more at home in a cabin and the ornateness of the others did make them seem Victorian. The Progress still seems a bit Victorian but will blend in nicely in most formats. If I were building the stoves I would go with a darker soapstone. That being said, I bought one on site today.

Ron the man I dealt with was very helpful and tried to downsize me on the stove. He was worried it might be too much for my house. I am a little worried too but he assured me that they have the 6 month return policy if I don't end up liking it. I really wanted the bigger stove since I like to cut longer wood lengths. Not often a sales person try's to down sell a product.

The factory is very impressive. I was able to take a tour and meet a few of the employees. Everything is built in house. They employ 35 people. The factory contained a laser & water jet table, breaks, welding section, soapstone cutting section and more. I think the only things they brought in were the center of the cats, steel, glass and soapstone. It was really interesting. I visit many manufacturers and it is rare to see one who directly handles so much of the process. They are built to order but do have a good stock on hand. I imagine in the slower times they keep their employees busy by adding to their inventory. I ended up with a charcoal stove, left hand door just as I had wanted. Also went with the ash pan upgrade. This is not built into the stove. Its a bolt on after the fact so it can be easily added to any Progress. All in all fun trip and seemingly great NH/All American company.

Hopefully have the stove up and running in a few days, just need to recruit some help moving it in!

 

[vasten]

That is cool, congratulations on the new stove we look forward to seeing picts of the install.

They sound very much like the original Vermont casting idea. small group of employees working to make the best stove possible for a reasonable price, right down to inviting people to tour their factory, and seeing the process.

Did he give you any tips on running the stove or idea of how long the Cat is supposed to last or cost to replace one etc.

Also I am curious they say it is a hybrid assuming that means having both the secondary air tubes as well as the cat system, and am wondering how that affects the flue temps. By extracting all the heat possible and getting it into the stone does that lower the flue temps? in theory I assume the stove could runner cooler temps as long as hot enough to keep a good draft as it is burning so much more of the volatile gases that lead to chimney fires.

 

[Woody Stover]

Great! Now, start reading all the PH threads on all the forums, and you'll be a pro before you even break the stove in.

went with the ash pan upgrade.

I don't know if you had an ash pan on the Vigilant, but once you have a good one, you never wanna go back.

 

[brads2002]

Thanks guys, yes this is my first ash pan. I am liking forward to less mess. The man I bought it from said its fine to run full closed and depending on the amount of wood inside it would still burn very hot. It should be ok from a buildup aspect.

 

[brads2002]

Thanks guys, yes this is my first ash pan. I am liking forward to less mess. The man I bought it from said its fine to run full closed and depending on the amount of wood inside it would still burn very hot. It should be ok from a buildup aspect.

The cat is guaranteed for 3 years prorated 3-6 and lasts longer usually. A new one is about 175

 

[Rearscreen]

As far as ash and soot, when I used to clean my old Mansfield I would get the usual flakes of black creosote both sitting in a pile at the bottom of the flue (on top of the insulation in the stove) and in the flue pipe. When I clean the cat on my Woodstock PH it is a very fine dust both in the cat an throughout the top under the cooktop. This summer I will sweep the chimney and will learn what it produces as far as creosote.