I've had this stove for about a week as this is a replacement for the cracked Quadrafire I previously had. There has been several discussions about the new 5700's not being as good as the old ones. Let me unequivocally state that this is very true…they are better. There was much intrepidation on my part to get this new one as there were so many grivences against it here at Hearth. I have come to the conclusion that problems were not the stoves fault but other just as important factors such as flue design and or wood quality.
It got to 28* at my place last night. I loaded the stove with oak and maple at 11:30 pm and it is still going strong at 9:30 am with 500* stove temp. I expect not to put in ay wood until 4 or 5 pm as outside temps will get into the mid to high 40's today. My installation is in an unfinished and uninsulated basement. The stove is heating 2600 sq feet that includes the basement, first floor and second floor. First floor is @ 68*. My home being a log home is pathetically insulated and rather drafty. The new a.c.c. (automatic combustion control) is working like a charm.
I have a new chimney that is lined with a 6" rigid pipe surrounded by poured perlite. I think this factor has been one of the major differences in why some of these stoves work and others fail their owners. I also have a hood on the stove ducted to the living room as I did my last one and this makes a world of difference. Its like having a hybrid "wood furnace" with the hood. The kicker of this is that this stove is doing this with less wood capacity. I can only fill this firebox with 6 chunks of wood where the last one I had I could put in 8 to 9 pieces ranging from 4" to 6" spitts. This new design in my opinion is head and shoulders above the old design and I am happy I took the chance.
It got to 28* at my place last night. I loaded the stove with oak and maple at 11:30 pm and it is still going strong at 9:30 am with 500* stove temp. I expect not to put in ay wood until 4 or 5 pm as outside temps will get into the mid to high 40's today. My installation is in an unfinished and uninsulated basement. The stove is heating 2600 sq feet that includes the basement, first floor and second floor. First floor is @ 68*. My home being a log home is pathetically insulated and rather drafty. The new a.c.c. (automatic combustion control) is working like a charm.
I have a new chimney that is lined with a 6" rigid pipe surrounded by poured perlite. I think this factor has been one of the major differences in why some of these stoves work and others fail their owners. I also have a hood on the stove ducted to the living room as I did my last one and this makes a world of difference. Its like having a hybrid "wood furnace" with the hood. The kicker of this is that this stove is doing this with less wood capacity. I can only fill this firebox with 6 chunks of wood where the last one I had I could put in 8 to 9 pieces ranging from 4" to 6" spitts. This new design in my opinion is head and shoulders above the old design and I am happy I took the chance.
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