Wood burning stoves

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Itslay90

Feeling the Heat
Dec 16, 2022
356
Upstate,NY
why were pre epa wood burning stove bigger inside the firebox vs the new epa wood burning stove seems like it got smaller inside
 

bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
32,862
central pa
why were pre epa wood burning stove bigger inside the firebox vs the new epa wood burning stove seems like it got smaller inside
Efficiency. It's much harder to keep the firebox at the temps needed for proper combustion with big fireboxes. Which is why the only big ones now all have cats. Where firebox temps don't matter as much
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
102,482
South Puget Sound, WA
Lower efficiency. Wives saying 'not in my living room'?
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
102,482
South Puget Sound, WA
Which is why the only big ones now all have cats.
There are still several 3.0 and larger cu ft stoves that don't have cats. (Drolet, Osburn, SBI, Quadrafire, Lopi Liberty, etc.)
 

bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
32,862
central pa
There are still several 3.0 and larger cu ft stoves that don't have cats. (Drolet, Osburn, SBI, Quadrafire, Lopi Liberty, etc.)
Yeah but that seems to be the limit without a cat. And that is considerably smaller than the big old boxes pre epa
 

EatenByLimestone

Moderator
Staff member
Fewer 8” chimneys too. If companies thought they’d sell, they’d probably make the bigger stoves.
 

bholler

Chimney sweep
Staff member
Jan 14, 2014
32,862
central pa
Well that is absolutely all about efficiency although tge majority of older stoves had bricks as well. Many even added baffles as time went on
 

EatenByLimestone

Moderator
Staff member
They add durability as well. Shielding the walls, ceiling and floor from direct fire will keep the stove around longer. It’s easier to replace a baffle than the top of the stove. Similarly, bricks are cheap.