Summers Heat 50-SHSSW02

[rntdc]

Hello all. Just picked this one up from Lowes for around 800$ after 10% discount. I saw a few threads on it on this forum, but not really much in the way of real life performance. Wonder if anyone could chime in...

Initial impressions are that the fire box is not as big as I hoped. (of course this is replacing a Harman Tl300), so I have been spoiled. Steel feels really thin. And air control feels flimsy.

I have seen where people are saying the air control doesnt perform that well...should I consider a flue damper for those "oh s**t" burns?

Thanks in advance.

 

[edyit]

I have the smaller version of the stove you picked up, same thing just slight differences, firebox size being the main difference (yours has more cubic feet) the air control hasn't been an issue for me, check your gaskets make sure they pass the dollar bill test, i really like the AAS feature, set it to where you want the stove to be for your low air setting then just give it a 1/4 turn counter clockwise and it will turn itself down, never had an oh snap burn moment in mine and it is our primary heat source, that being said how tall of a chimney do you have, a 30' is going to pull a lot more than my 15' set up.

 

[rntdc]

Thanks for the info. I have 15 ft. I am familiar with the simple type stove as we had at pleasant hearth large stove prior to the tl300.
Just trying to gather more info on this one as it will be primary heat...

The pleasant hearth used to build up so many hot coals there wasnt much room for wood. What is the experience with yours edyit?

 

[edyit]

coal build up isn't too bad, a lot of that will depend on how hard you're pushing the stove though, i'm not familiar with the pleasant hearth model you had but both the large and small models of this stove have a "doghouse air" intake, an air inlet in the lower front of the fire box, piling coals up in front of this helps them burn down

 

[rntdc]

what kind of top temps do you get, just so im not surprised, edyit? I'm sure you push that thing pretty hard up there in Wilmington.

 

[edyit]

i have the thermometers placed on the top front corners of the stove as suggested in the manual and they usually peak and hold at around 550F

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Initial impressions are that the fire box is not as big as I hoped. (of course this is replacing a Harman Tl300), so I have been spoiled. Steel feels really thin. And air control feels flimsy.
Thanks in advance.

WOW rntdc,we both have the exact same stoves. I still have my harman 300TL . The Summers heat is not the high quality the Harman is, but it does have a great fire view and simple operation. Stove top temps avg in the 600s.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Initial impressions are that the fire box is not as big as I hoped. .

I believe the firebox is 3 CU FT Same as an Englander NC-30. Or the Harman 300TL

 

[begreen]

Hello all. Just picked this one up from Lowes for around 800$ after 10% discount. I saw a few threads on it on this forum, but not really much in the way of real life performance. Wonder if anyone could chime in...

Initial impressions are that the fire box is not as big as I hoped. (of course this is replacing a Harman Tl300), so I have been spoiled. Steel feels really thin. And air control feels flimsy.

I have seen where people are saying the air control doesnt perform that well...should I consider a flue damper for those "oh s**t" burns?

Thanks in advance.

This stove is a value stove, it is not going to have the same tank like qualities as the Harman. That said, it's a good stove. Be prepared for a very different running experience from the TI300. You shouldn't need a flue damper unless the flue is 27' or taller. More helpful will be knowing the flue gas temperature as a guide so that the air gets closed down sooner than later.

Early releases of this stove had some door alignment issues. This should be resolved by now, but it would be good to do the dollar bill test on the door to confirm a good seal all around.

 

[Highbeam]

Nc30 is 3.5 cubic feet and emits 1.63 grams per hour.

 

[rntdc]

WOW rntdc,we both have the exact same stoves. I still have my harman 300TL . The Summers heat is not the high quality the Harman is, but it does have a great fire view and simple operation. Stove top temps avg in the 600s.

I was well aware the summers heat would not be the harman. Just kind of disappointed at just how much smaller the firebox is vs the top loader.
My wife was always apprehensive with the tl300, thus the new summers heat.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I was well aware the summers heat would not be the harman. Just kind of disappointed at just how much smaller the firebox is vs the top loader.
My wife was always apprehensive with the tl300, thus the new summers heat.

Im not following you .Are you sure you have the 2400SF Summers heat model because that firebox is actually slightly bigger than the harman at 3.2 Cu ft for the 2400SF model Summers Heat vs 3.0Cu Ft for the Harman TL-300 according to each website.

 

[lsucet]

Im not following you .Are you sure you have the 2400SF Summers heat model because that firebox is actually slightly bigger than the harman at 3.2 Cu ft for the 2400SF model Summers Heat vs 3.0Cu Ft for the Harman TL-300 according to each website.

You are right it is 3.2cf and the madison is 2.45. I still have both but not in use.

 

[rntdc]

Im not following you .Are you sure you have the 2400SF Summers heat model because that firebox is actually slightly bigger than the harman at 3.2 Cu ft for the 2400SF model Summers Heat vs 3.0Cu Ft for the Harman TL-300 according to each website.

The model number matches. What is your take having both? When i got it home yesterday and inspected the firebox just looked smaller. Guess ill find out shortly enough.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

They seem about the same but you can pack a top loader right up to the lid. Both stoves put out a lot of heat but it seems to me the Harman has a longer burn time and can be dialed back further. The 50-SH has the bigger fire view but the Harman puts on a better light show. I like both stoves and i think the 50 is like a new and improved Englander NC-30 of which i have also been using for years. I do have a lot more hours of experience with the harman though. This season ill be using the 50 a lot more so ill get a better feel for it.

 

[rntdc]

First burns in the driveway today to season the new stove...
Found a crack in the ear on the cast iron door. Called customer service and waited on hold for about 20 mins. Not a big deal, and they are sending me a new door. Found the experience to be quite painless. I will have to install the glass from the old door and a new gasket on the replacment, which Englander are providing. Overall a satisfactory customer service experience, compared to when I called Harman about burn issues.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

I never did a driveway burn for any of the 5 EPA stoves iv purchased. Iv found that a breakin with small low and slow fires produced very little if any initial smoke from the outside of the stove. Now ill be checking my stove door hinge for cracks!

 

[rntdc]

Found the crack prior to the first seasoning burn per the manual.
As far as seasoning goes...I burned off the fumes for the last 2 stoves on the hearth. Smoke alarms went off on both. Gonna do it the smart way this time.

 

[rntdc]

Im sure the crack will hold up with no problems. Just wanted it to be "right".

Visions of 600 degree fires in February and the door falling off concern me...

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Found the crack prior to the first seasoning burn per the manual.
As far as seasoning goes...I burned off the fumes for the last 2 stoves on the hearth. Smoke alarms went off on both. Gonna do it the smart way this time.

Yes you have to ramp up the temps really slow if you dont want fumes and smoke. probably driveway burn offs are safer for most.

 

[rntdc]

So...finally a chance to update my experience so far. New stove door arrived...complete! It had glass and gasket.
Plus an additional larger gasket. With gasket cement...!
Took defective door off and installed the new one.
The stove is much harder to light and doesnt hold coals as well as the Harman. Which I figured. But this thing throws some heat!!
Overall happy with it. Specially since winter temps have already started for the last couple weeks in upstate ny.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

The stove is much harder to light and doesnt hold coals as well as the Harman. Which I figured. But this thing throws some heat!!
Overall happy with it. Specially since winter temps have already started for the last couple weeks in upstate ny.

Dont forget your comparing an $800 Stove to a $2600 stove. For the price the Summers heat is a great stove ,good value.

 

[edyit]

glad you like it, enjoy the heat

 

[rntdc]

Dont forget your comparing an $800 Stove to a $2600 stove. For the price the Summers heat is a great stove ,good value.

Agreed. When i was looking in the local stove shops at simple box stoves it amazed me the prices they were asking just for a name...
Those stoves were the same metal thickness for twice the money. I dont understand why people pay those prices just because its from a dealer.
Very happy with my choice. So is the wifey who likes the setup better.
Just have to see how it performs in February to make my final impression.

 

[robj80]

Agreed. When i was looking in the local stove shops at simple box stoves it amazed me the prices they were asking just for a name...
Those stoves were the same metal thickness for twice the money. I dont understand why people pay those prices just because its from a dealer.
Very happy with my choice. So is the wifey who likes the setup better.
Just have to see how it performs in February to make my final impression.

Same boat here and starting to lean toward the $800ish units instead of the damn near $3,000 ones. Quite a few less expensive items get some praise here and online reviews. Since I won't be burning 24/7 it seems to make more sense to go with the cheaper unit that has a smaller box with less burn time.

I am glad you are happy with your choice. I hope I am as well.