Summers Heat (England) at Lowes

[jotul8e2]

The local Lowes has a Summers Heat Model #: 50-SHSSW02 . This does not appear on the current England Stove Works site. It is the same price as the England NC30 at Home Depot ($899), but the listed specifications state that it takes 22" logs, vs. the NC30 at 20". Lowe's specs claim the same "heating area" for both. Lowes also carries the Summers Heat NC30 version, but for a bit over $1,000.

My first guess was that this is a variation on the NC30 - square door rather than arched and with some kind of side shields. However, the specifications state it to be 40 pounds lighter. Here is the website: http://www.lowes.com/pd_669024-76845-50-SHSSW02_1z13zl0__?productId=999918850&pl=1&Ntt=wood+stove .

My interest is due to the 22" log length. This is about what I cut for my Jotul Oslo, and it would be handy to just have one size of logs to deal with.

As this will be used in a large shop, clearances are not an issue.

Anyone know anything about this model? Or any particular reason to get the NC30 instead?

 

[Michael6268]

That is their Madison model. It's not listed on their website. Not sure if 22 inch log length is accurate. I always thought the nc30 was larger. There's several on the site that have that stove and several threads on it if you do a search. I'm sure more will chime in. But in the meantime do a search. There's a lot of info out there on it.

 

[begreen]

That is their yet unnamed (Monroe?) 3 cu ft stove, just out this season. The Summers Heat Model #: 50-SHSSW01 is the Madison ($749 at Lowes). The new stove has the same AAS start system as the Madison and is pedestal only. It also has the much easier hearth requirements that the Madison has (ember protection only).

Sure do wish Englander would get their website updated to reflect the new products.

 

[MaintenanceMan]

The real differences between this new model and the NC30 are that it features the automatic air setback system like the Madison, it's a bit taller than the 30 and it doesn't have a leg option. It also has a bit larger door glass/view of the fire I think.

 

[begreen]

Also different firebox shape and big built-in ashpan.

 

[jotul8e2]

Also different firebox shape and big built-in ashpan.

That part sounds good. Taller is ok. No legs is ok. Three cu. ft. firebox sounds good. It will sit on 5" of concrete over four feet of gravel, and hearth requirements are not at issue. So... this AAS thingy, is it working out or not? I do not need to be buying maintenance issues. If it fails, can you just operate without it?

I need surprisingly little heat in my shop building. It is very heavily insulated, and about 60 deg. f. is the perfect working temperature. What I need is a large enough fire box that I do not spend all my time running back and forth between the one in the house and the one in the shop. And an overnight burn, of course.

I have retired a much smaller stove - a 1993 Dutchwest Cat. I have been using two "milk barn" heaters on a very low setting, and they do fine. My return on investment works out to about 20 years, but I hate paying for electricity when I sit on 60 acres of timber. And there are power outages from time to time out here.

 

[begreen]

The AAS on some early Madison stoves had some initial issues with the spring position reported here. Englander has been notified and hopefully has corrected the issue. AAS is not needed for stove operation.

 

[kennyp2339]

Sure do wish Englander would get their website updated to reflect the new products.

He's to busy building stoves in the shop, plus I hear he doesn't like office work that much.

 

[tradergordo]

I like the specs on this new stove (SHSSW02) especially the 22” log length and deep ash pan. But the first and only review on Lowe's website is negative (complaint of over firing and short burn time). I'm also wondering where they "cut back" to make it 40lbs lighter than the nc30? Still 435lbs is a hefty stove. Price is good at $900. Thinking about finally replacing my old Dutchwest beast which is still going strong but I figure maybe I should sell it while it still has some resale value.

 

[begreen]

Welcome back tg! Is the Dutchwest running on your original refractory repairs still?

Court is still out on the new Englander stove, but the complaint sounds like it could be operator error.

 

[tradergordo]

Welcome back tg! Is the Dutchwest running on your original refractory repairs still?

Yes, I haven't bought any replacement parts, there are a bunch of cracks in the firebox refractory parts but nothing serious. The rear everburn refractory has held up better than I expected, still looks OK.