Thoughts about the Quadrafire "Yosemite"

[VTPharmgirl]

Hubby & I are about to join the Woodstove community we are looking at the Quadrafire "Yosemite" (with mahogany enamel)..it would go on our upper level, about 800 to 1000 square feet..what we want is a user-friendly, attractive Woodstove that will warm but not overheat the space, the "Yosemite" seems like it fits those criteria...can the experts and other Yosemite owners provide input?
Thanks!

 

[lopiliberty]

Also consider a Woodstock Fireview. Its a catalytic and soapstone stove so it would give you a nice gentle heat without cooking you out

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Hi, thanks for your reply! Amazingly enough, minutes after posting my original message, we started looking at Woodstock soapstone stoves! We are thinking that the Keystone model would work, do you have any thoughts on the Keystone vs. Fireview models in the Woodstock line?

 

[Woody Stover]

We are thinking that the Keystone model would work, do you have any thoughts on the Keystone vs. Fireview models in the Woodstock line?

The Keystone should handle it, given decent insulation and sealing. Actually, it can handle our drafty 1000 sq.ft. It's a radiant-type heater, so the more open the floor plan, the better. Even heat, pretty long burn, big window, good ash removal system, cheap parts, great customer service.

 

[Pallet Pete]

Hubby & I are about to join the Woodstove community we are looking at the Quadrafire "Yosemite" (with mahogany enamel)..it would go on our upper level, about 800 to 1000 square feet..what we want is a user-friendly, attractive Woodstove that will warm but not overheat the space, the "Yosemite" seems like it fits those criteria...can the experts and other Yosemite owners provide input?
Thanks!

Hello and welcome VTPharmgirl to hearth.

Giving the two choices I would say go for the Woodstock soapstone they are great stoves and great customer service you won't regret it. Stone will really give a good warm long lasting heat that will also allow you to use less wood ! On the wood topic make sure your getting ahead know start stacking and drying wood for next year ideally you want to be 2 years ahead split stacked in the wind. EPA stove do not like wet wood and wet wood builds creasot like crazy. Just so you are aware you can burn any wood so long as its dry yes that includes pine too in fact pine is one of my favorites. User friendly means dry wood ! Be sure that if your buying the wood to let it set a year most firewood dealers cut it a couple of weeks before you get it from logs they will say 6 months to 2 years dry but believe me it is not dry ! This is just as important as the stove you buy.

Good luck
Pete

 

[BobMcG]

Hi VtPharmgirl!

I have a Yosemite and love it! Our home is about 1594 sq. feet, ranch style. The Yosemite heats our home nicely. We only burn in the evenings and then fulltime on the weekends as we both work and are not home during the day. We also live in a much warmer climate than most folks here.

The major drawback that I have found with the Yosemite is the size of the firebox. It is insufficient to permit overnight burns (unless you get up in the middle of the night to throw a couple more splits in).

The Yosemite is a nice looking stove (ours is the mahogany enamel) and for our purposes has been an excellent stove.

Best wishes on whichever stove you purchase! I am sure you will enjoy whatever flavor you decide to purchase!

Bob

 

[fox9988]

We love our Keystone. Heating 1536 sqft- typically do 12 hr reloads, switch to 8 hr reloads when over night temp drops into the mid teens and daytime highs are in the upper 20's. Very easy to operate, completely controlable, nice steady heat, ash pan works great, nice fire show with lots of secondary flames, floating fire, ribbons of flame, etc. Woodstocks have a six month like it or your money back guarantee.
Is the lower level the first floor or a basement? How many sqft?

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Thanks all for your replies!
fox9988 - our lower level is a walkout lower level, nothing below it but a finished level, the total sq ft is 2200 between upper & lower levels - pic is from back of house but stove will be along the narrow wall on the upper level

 

[northwinds]

Thanks all for your replies!
fox9988 - our lower level is a walkout lower level, nothing below it but a finished level, the total sq ft is 2200 between upper & lower levels - pic is from back of house but stove will be along the narrow wall on the upper level

For heating just the upper level,I would go with a Woodstock cat stove to enable you to go low/slow and overnight burns.

My last house is very similar to your photo, and I was able to heat all of it with the Quad Isle Royale. You will not get any of the stove heat from the upper level into
the lower level. How will you be heating the lower level?

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Hi Northwinds - We will have radiant floor heating (propane) on both the lower & upper levels, on zone control, will have slate/tile & wood (likely bamboo) flooring

 

[northwinds]

Hi Northwinds - We will have radiant floor heating (propane) on both the lower & upper levels, on zone control, will have slate/tile & wood (likely bamboo) flooring

Sounds great. pretty home.

 

[fox9988]

Hi, thanks for your reply! Amazingly enough, minutes after posting my original message, we started looking at Woodstock soapstone stoves! We are thinking that the Keystone model would work, do you have any thoughts on the Keystone vs. Fireview models in the Woodstock line?

Todd has owner a Fireview and two Keystones. A quote when I asked him how they compare:

With the Fireview you get a little longer burn time and a bit more heat output but I can still get 12 hour burns with the Keystone and I also have more than enough heat for my 2200 sq ft with 2 Keystones in fact I really don't need both burning except colder Winter days. Both stoves are heavy and only a 35lb difference between. The fire boxes are 1.8 verses 1.4 cu ft according to my measurements. Sometimes I wish I had that extra capacity of the Fireview but some smaller splits will help pack the Keystone full without sacrificing burn times.​

The main reason I switched was the looks, larger glass, ash pan and I had a friend that wanted my Fireview real bad.
Blaze King Princess Parlor
Woodstock Keystone
Todd, Jul 9, 2012 Report Bookmark
#23 Unlike Reply

 

[fox9988]

Thanks all for your replies!
fox9988 - our lower level is a walkout lower level, nothing below it but a finished level, the total sq ft is 2200 between upper & lower levels - pic is from back of house but stove will be along the narrow wall on the upper level

Nice house. Where is the walkout door from the basement?
Edit: I think I see it, behind the plywood with a 2x4 brace.

 

[begreen]

Propane is pretty expensive fuel. If lots of wood is available at a reasonable price then I would at least consider putting the stove on the lower level and going up a size to the Fireview. How does the lower level connect with the upper level? Big wide open stairway, or a conventional 3ft door at the top of a 3 ft stair? How thick are the walls? 6" or 4"?

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Thanks again to all, such a nice community our lower level is open to above, begreen, but the time to switch to Woodstove below has passed, also, want the ambience of the wood fire in our main (upper) living area.

New question fo all: since ours is new construction (so tighter) do you think that starting the Keystone (catalytic) will difficult re draft? We will have a straight pipe chimney with no horizontal components.

Thanks again for your generous info & guidance

 

[fox9988]

I'm in a new house, Very tight. The only time I have a sluggish draft is when the bathroom exhaust fans or dryer is running (pulling a vacuum on the house) and I'm trying to start a reload. I crack a window until the fire is burning good. An OAK (outside air kit ~ $50) would solve the problem. It would be easier to install during construction than after.

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Thanks fox!

 

[begreen]

If you can provide 16 ft or more straight up flue for the stove it should draft ok. An outside air kit is a good idea in a tight new home.

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Thanks begreen! 16 feet is what we are looking at!

 

[ArsenalDon]

Hi Northwinds - We will have radiant floor heating (propane) on both the lower & upper levels, on zone control, will have slate/tile & wood (likely bamboo) flooring

We have radiant floor heating...sounded like a great thing...30% more energy efficient...walking on warm floors....never added up to close to what it was made out to be. $600/month propane bills, takes days to get the thermal mass up to snuff. Now would not ever heat with it again. 100% wood stove now

 

[ddddddden]

New question for all: since ours is new construction (so tighter) do you think that starting the Keystone (catalytic) will difficult re draft? We will have a straight pipe chimney with no horizontal components.

Thanks again for your generous info & guidance

Specifically re starting a fire in a cat stove, they have a bypass that opens directly to the flue; getting a good draft is easier than on a stove without a bypass. It's having enough draft to maintain cat/secondary burn once you have a good fire going and close the bypass that's the issue. Should be fine with 16'. I have ~23', and it drafts like the proverbial Hoover with the bypass open. If I'm doing a cold start, I usually have to be careful that the match doesn't blow out! Draft increases as things heat up. With that clarified, +1 for what was said above re OAK, etc.

Oh, and +1 for Woodstock. They are verry niice.
How anyone in VT could buy any other stove is beyond my ability to comprehend. Visit the factory and hand-pick your stove!

 

[VTPharmgirl]

Our Keystone in our new home, moved in this past June, we love our home & the stove! So easy to use & keeps us really warm!!

 

[begreen]

The cat is pretty nice too.

 

[fossil]

Beautiful, all around.

 

[mfetcho]

I would also suggest rethinking the stove for the main floor. Heat rises so easily in your open space. Your upstairs would be toasty!

I have a Yosemite in my cabin and it is a great stove! Like another member said, the fire box is small and will not burn overnight. I am considering a cat stove for a longer burn time.